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Johnny, Come Down to Hilo

from Jam by The Elderberries

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about

This shanty comes from the former slaves who found work as stevedores or longshoremen in the American South after the Civil War. Hilo is not a reference to the port in Hawaii. While the origin and actual meaning of "HiLo" are a bit unclear, it is generally understood to mean "having a good time."

lyrics

I never seen the likes since I been born
Of that pretty little thing with the blue dress on
Johnny, come down to Hilo, poor old man

Oh wake her, Oh shake her,
Oh wake that girl with the blue dress on
Johnny come down to Hilo, poor old man

She's a down east girl with that down east style
She's a dollar a time and she's all worth while.
Johnny, come down to HIlo...

You know them down east, they girls dress so fine
They ain't got Jesus on their mind
Johnny, come down to HIlo...

I don't care where in the world I go,
I can't get away from the calico
Johnny, come down to HIlo...

Well my wife died in Tennessee,
And they sent her jawbone back to me
Johnny, come down to HIlo...

So I hung that jawbone on a fence
And I ain't heard nothin' but the jawbone since.
Johnny, come down to HIlo...

Hand me down my riding cane
I'm going to see my Sarah Jane
Johnny, come down to HIlo...

credits

from Jam, released February 22, 2015

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about

The Elderberries Oakland, California

We are "fine lads," or so some say, but that cannot be
because, among other reasons, we are not all lads. We are all friends
who met at the Starry Plough in Berkeley, united by our love of
traditional Irish music and dance. You can expect from us free and roving
sets of several hours or more, comprising jigs, reels, hornpipes, aires,
waltzes, slides, slip jigs, a variety of songs, and dance.
... more

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