Tom's Gone to Hilo
The vowel sound "aye" is easier and more dignified to sing than the vowel sound "ee", at the top of your lungs on an open deck. Therefore some place names were creatively revised in the sea chanties. The Rio Grande became the RYE-oh GRAND, and the Peruvian port Ilo (EE-low) became Hilo (HIGH-low).
Hilo was apparently a popular port; it is featured in many sea songs. Or it may have just been memorable for the quantity of guano shipped from there.
My Tommy's gone, what shall I do?
Away, Hilo!
My Tommy's gone and I'll go too.
Tommy's gone to Hilo!
Now, Tommy's gone to Mobile Bay,
Away, Hilo!
A-screwin' cotton by the day.
Tommy's gone to Hilo!
Tommy's gone to Baltimore
Away, Hilo!
And where they carry the cotton ashore.
Tommy's gone to Hilo!
Now, Pull her up and show her clew,
Away, Hilo!
One more pull and that will do.
Tommy's gone to Hilo!
My Tommy's gone, what shall I do?
Away, Hilo!
My Tommy's gone and I'll go too.
Tommy's gone to Hilo!