He was born in Glasgow, Kentucky, where his father was a barber who loved music and inspired Billy to teach himself to play the mandolin at age 3, while suffering a case of the measles. He went on to learn a number of other instruments.
In 1941, Vaughn joined the United States National Guard for what had been planned as a one-year assignment, but when World War II broke out, he was sent abroad till the war ended in 1945. He decided to make music a career when he was discharged from the army at the end of the war, and attended Western Kentucky State College, now known as Western Kentucky University, majoring in music composition. He had apparently learned barbering from his father, because he did some while studying at Western Kentucky to support himself financially, when he was not able to get jobs playing the piano at local night clubs and lounges. While he was a student there, three other students, Jimmy Sacca, Donald McGuire and Seymour Spiegelman, who had formed a vocal trio, The Hilltoppers, recruited Vaughn to play the piano with them. He soon added his voice to theirs, converting the trio to a quartet. As a member of the group, he also wrote their first hit song, Trying, which charted in 1952.
In 1954 he left the group to join Dot Records in Gallatin, Tennessee as music director. He subsequently formed his own orchestra, which had a big hit in that same year with Melody of Love. He went on to have many more hits over the next decade and a half, and based purely on chart successes, was the most successful orchestra leader of all time.
Hawaiian War Chant
Billy Vaughn Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That was started by a native down in Waikiki
He would gather a crowd down beside the sea
And they'd play his gay Hawaiian chant
Soon the other little natives started singin' it
And the hula hula maidens started swingin' it
Like a tropical storm that's the way it hit
Funny little gay Hawaiian Chant
Tho it started on an island down Hawaii way
It's as popular in Tennessee or Ioway
If you wander into any cabaret
You will hear this gay Hawaiian Chant
The lyrics of Billy Vaughn's song, Hawaiian War Chant, portray a catchy little melody that started down in Waikiki, Hawaii. A native would gather a group of people down by the sea and play his lighthearted and fun Hawaiian chant. Other natives and hula hula maidens soon joined in on the singing and swinging, making the chant as lively as a tropical storm. While the chant may have originated on an island down Hawaii way, it has gained popularity in states like Tennessee or Ioway, and you can hear it in any cabaret.
The lyrics here not only tell us about the origins of the Hawaiian War Chant but also about how music can connect people from different parts of the world. It is fascinating to see how this fun and gay Hawaiian chant has transcended boundaries to become popular in different parts of the world. Vaughn's song celebrates and acknowledges the power of music to bring people together, no matter where they come from.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a sunny little funny little melody
There exists a cheerful and amusing tune
That was started by a native down in Waikiki
A native of Waikiki initiated the tune
He would gather a crowd down beside the sea
He would gather people near the sea
And they'd play his gay Hawaiian chant
And they would perform his cheerful Hawaiian melody
Soon the other little natives started singin' it
Soon, other natives began singing it
And the hula hula maidens started swingin' it
And the hula hula maidens began dancing to it
Like a tropical storm that's the way it hit
It spread rapidly like a tropical storm
Funny little gay Hawaiian Chant
Amusing, cheerful Hawaiian melody
Ow way tah tualan Me big bad fightin' man
Nonsensical gibberish lyrics as part of the melody
Tho it started on an island down Hawaii way
Although it originated on an island in Hawaii
It's as popular in Tennessee or Ioway
It is equally favored in Tennessee or Ioway
If you wander into any cabaret
If you visit any cabaret
You will hear this gay Hawaiian Chant
You will hear this lively Hawaiian melody
Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing
Written by: JOHNNY NOBLE, RALPH FREED
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ignacio Altuna
¡QUÉ BUENO, PERO QUÉ BUENO! Ésto llegó a la Argentina en 1959 y fue un suceso (pero no de magnitud). Estaba en línea con el sonido inaugurado con la formación de "Sail along silvr'y moon de l957" (y que pervivió por un par de Lp más). Realmente, el "Canto de guerra hawaiiano" sostiene un ritmo y una fuerza singular, aún con el paso de seis décadas tras de sí...
Chau! Desde BA, Nacho
VintageMusicFm
Un saludo amigo Nacho. VintageMusicFm
Ignacio Altuna
¡Hola amigos de Vintage! Es un gran gusto retomar el contacto con grata gente amiga.
Yo estuve enfermo, hace dos años atrás, y durante 2017 me fui restableciendo, casi por completo. Allí avisé que cortaba nis comentarios, pues me sentía mal.
De modo que me alegra este encuentro y quedo, como siempre a órdenes vuestras.
Con afecto,
N.