Gibb,
"If the "hilo" in "Tom's Gone" is the same as the one in "Johnny come down," then the Peruvian port idea seems highly unlikely. The question is whether shantymen or folksingers first took up the idea."
Sampson gives both shanties.
He says of "John's Gone..."
This is the most beautiful of all the halliard shanties-unfortunately, if sung in proper time, it is not looked upon with favour by the afterguard, as it takes too long to masthead the yard, and when you are making sail on a ship, the utilitarian value of a shanty rather than the aesthetic, is the one that finds most favour with the powers that be.

His verses use one line repeated for each.

Oh johnnie's gone, what shall I do

Hilo town's in old Peru

He never kissed his love goodbye

Which broke my heart and made me cry

He signed for two pounds ten a month

Oh Johnnie's gone for evermore

First v repeat.

Of "When Johnny Comes Down..." he says,
This shanty in common with "Let The Bullgine Run" is of purely negro origin and was very rarely sung by white sailors, at any rate in English ships.