John Kanaka
Trad shanty (Pacific / Hawaiian work-song origin, 19th c.)
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a-cappellachorusdronehalyardmaritimepublic-domainshantysingalongtraditionalworking-song
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19th-century halyard shanty from the Pacific trade — "Kanaka" is Hawaiian for "man/person", "tu-lai-e" is a Hawaiian vocable carried over from the islands' shanty tradition. Canonical text from Stan Hugill's 'Shanties of the Seven Seas' (1961). Public domain (pre-1928, no single author). Reference recording: The Longest Johns — 'John Kanaka' (YouTube `HeQVgHawfzQ`, from 'Pieces of Eight: Horizon Collection', 2025).
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