For more than 20 years I must have heard John Kanaka literally hundreds of times whilst attending the Festival Maritim in Bremen-Vegesack. It was also much heard, and by some detested, by those good folk living within hearing range of the festival. Now, it is not a bad shanty/sea song at all but it was, and no doubt still is, sung by every amateur German shanty choir that took part. A visitor could wander from stage to stage and admire/hear/detest the same song over and over. It is much like going to Rhodes, Greece in the tourist area and hearing only Zorba..
However, now (November 2016) having left Germany some 5 years ago I have sentimentally taken this song into my repertoire.

Lyrics