COUNTRY: Hawaii
LANGUAGE: Hawaiian
GENRE: Hawaiian Mele
The most beloved Hawaiian song of all time is Queen Lili’uokalani’s “Aloha ‘Oe,” which means “farewell to you.” The Queen wrote the lyrics, in part to a melody borrowed from a popular song of the day, when she witnessed the parting of two people in love. As we sing “Aloha ‘Oe” we will appreciate the fact that Lili’uokalani told this bittersweet tale of love in the context of Hawaii’s glorious nature. Here is Huapala.org’s translation: “Proudly swept the rain by the cliffs/As it glided through the trees/Still following ever the bud/The ‘ahihi lehua of the vale, Farewell to you, farewell to you, The charming one who dwells in the shaded bowers, One fond embrace, ‘Ere I depart, Until we meet again.”
Lyrics of All Around This World’s version:
As the rain drifts gently down upon us
As your beauty washes over me
Oh my flower I will always remember
How you embrace me when you leave
Aloha ‘oe, aloha ‘oe
Goodbye, I love you now, forever
One fond embrace, aloha ‘oe
Until we meet again.
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