51 - John the Slacker, Slacker

Words by Traditional
Tune by Traditional

We love this song! We originally learnt it as "John Kanaka".

But… 'kanaka' is a word from the Hawai'ian for man, which came to be used in English to describe workers from the Pacific Islands who were employed by their colonisers. Sadly, in Australia it is a charged and hateful racist term, where descendants of kanakas are recognised to be even more disadvantaged than indigenous populations. This song gives some specific racial identity to complaints of mistreatment on the ocean, with a cheery melody.

We're not sure what to do with this one - we liked what the London Sea Shanty Collective had done with it at a recent workshop, replacing 'John Kanaka' with 'John, the slacker', so we've adopted that. We've also got a 'space shanty' version here

I thought I heard the old man say
John, the slacker, slacker, too rye ay
Today, today is a holiday
John, the slacker, slacker, too rye ay

Too lie ay, oh, to lie ay
John, the slacker, slacker, too rye ay

We’ll work tomorrow but no work today
John, the slacker, slacker, too rye ay
We’ll work tomorrow but no work today
John, the slacker, slacker, too rye ay

Too rye ay, oh, to rye ay…

We’re bound away for 'Frisco Bay
John, the slacker, slacker, too rye ay
We’re bound away at the break of day
John, the slacker, slacker, too rye ay

Too rye ay, oh, to lie ay…

We’re bound away 'round Cape Horn
John, the slacker, slacker, too rye ay
We wish to Christ we’d never been born
John, the slacker, slacker, too rye ay

Too rye ay, oh, to rye ay…

Oh haul, oh haul, oh haul away
John, the slacker, slacker, too rye ay
Oh haul away and make your pay
John, the slacker, slacker, too rye ay

Too rye ay, oh, too rye ay…