Tommys Gone to Hilo

My Tommy's gone, what shall I do?
Away, Hilo!
My Tommy's gone, what shall I do?
Tommy's gone to Hilo!

Now, Tommy's gone and I'll go too,
My Tommy's gone and I'll go too.

Now, Pull her up and show her clew,
We'll h'ist her up and show her clew.

One more pull and that will do. (2x)

Tommy's gone to Baltimore
And where they carry the cotton ashore.

Now, pull away my bully boys,
Oh, pull away and make some noise.

Now, Tommy's gone to Mobile Bay,
Tommy's gone to Mobile Bay.

A-screwin' cotton by the day (2x)

My Tommy's gone, they say to Bombay,
Tommy's gone, they say to Bombay.

From Doerflinger, Shanteymen and Shanteyboys
Note: Halyard Shantey. Hilo is really Ilo, a south Peruvian port
active in the guano trade. According to Hugill, invariably sung
High-Low.
RG