Tom's Gone to Hilo

Hugill says this was a tops’l halyard song which didn’t find favour with “the afterguard” as it took too long to hoist a yard to it on account of the slow and lethargic way it which it was sung by a good shantyman. It was rather difficult to sing correctly, but even so it was popular, particularly for heavy lifts. The place name Hilo is in both Hawaii and Peru.

 

 
Tom's Gone to Hilo
 
Oh Tommy's gone on a whaling ship
Away to Hilo
Oh Tommy's gone on a damned long trip
Tom's gone to Hilo
 
He's never kissed his girl goodbye
Away to Hilo
He's left her and he's told her why
Tom's gone to Hilo
 
She's robbed him blind and left him broke
Away to Hilo
He's had enough he gave her the poke
Tom's gone to Hilo
 
His half it went it went like chaff
Away to Hilo
She's hung around for the other half
Tom's gone to Hilo
 
She's drank and boozed his pay away
Away to Hilo
With her weather eye on the next pay day
Tom's gone to Hilo
 
He's shipped around away Cape Horn
Away to Hilo
His clothes and boots was in the pawn
Tom's gone to Hilo
 
Ah Tommy's gone on a whaling ship
Away to Hilo
Ah Tommy's gone on a damned long trip
Tom's gone to Hilo