A song with roots among enslaved workers in the American South. It goes back at least as far back as the mid-19th century. Hilo can be read as a reference to Hilo, Hawaii, which was involved in the 19th century sugar and whaling trades
Well, I never seen the like since I’ve been born
A railroad navvy with his sea boots on
When Johnny come down to Hilo, poor old man
Oh, wake ‘er, oh, shake ‘er
Oh, wake that gal with the blue dress on
When Johnny come down to Hilo, poor old man
I met a little gal across the sea
She’s a ‘Badian beauty and she says to me
(Chorus)
Well, who’s been here since I’ve been gone?
Pretty little gal with a josey on
(Chorus)
Well, my wife died in Tennessee
And they sent her jawbone back to me
(Chorus)
Well shake her, bullies, helms alee
She’ll get washed out with the big green sea
(Chorus)