It all began back in 1995 where 3 young and talented men of Maui, began the… Read Full Bio ↴It all began back in 1995 where 3 young and talented men of Maui, began their musical journey. Lukela Keala, Akoni Dellomes & Makapu Hoopii attended Baldwin High School and were enrolled in the music class. Day after day they would have little jam sessions but always tried to perfect what they played. As the year went by, their talents allowed them to perform in front of an audience for the first time at Brown Bags to Stardom. Although they took 2nd place to ballerina dancers, it didn't stop them. Former Baldwin High school teacher, Kevin Brown plays a great role in their music history today. He's not only their ukulele and slack key guitarist teacher but also Lukela's uncle. He taught them the values of becoming a musician but most important, to be humble. Since then Lukela, Akoni and Makapu strived to become the entertainers they are today.

Tia
Ekolu Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Ohh, Tia, Tia, Tia
Why do you have to go
Why don't stay awhile
Let me take a look at your smile
And tell me what's on your mind

Is there someone out there that you love
Is he someone you're always thinking of

Does he know that you feel this way
Tia, don't let your heart starve another day

Ohh, Tia, Tia, Tia
Why do you have to go
Why don't stay awhile
Let me take a look at your smile
And tell me what's on your mind

T is for the tenderness in you
I is for your inspiration
A is for admiring the things you do
Girl, let him see all these things I see in you

Ohh, Tia, Tia, Tia
Why do you have to go
Why don't stay awhile
Let me take a look at your smile
And tell me what's on your mind

Rap:
That's right, T-I-A, gonna be better someday
Take it easy, my sistah, you'll find a way
Cuz I know it's not easy what you're going through
Man, dealing with your drama and feeling blue
Gotta find the inner strength, try to ease the pain
Find the rainbow, the sunshine, and chase the rain
Let me see the pretty smile that we all once knew
If you think it's that bad, you got friends that love you

Ohh, Tia, Tia, Tia
Why do you have to go
Why don't stay awhile
Let me take a look at your smile
And tell me what's on your mind

Is there someone out there that you love
Is he someone you're always thinking of
Does he know that you feel this way
Tia, don't let your heart starve another day

Ohh, Tia, Tia, Tia
Why do you have to go
Why don't stay awhile
Let me take a look at your smile
And tell me what's on your mind

Tell me what's on your mind
Tell me what's on your mind
Tell me what's on your mind
Tell me what's on your mind

Tell me what's on your mind
fade

Overall Meaning

The song "Tia" by Ekolu is a heartfelt plea to a loved one named Tia who is struggling with something emotional. The lyrics express the singer's desire for Tia to stay a while longer so he can see her smile and know what is weighing on her heart. The chorus repeats this sentiment, asking why Tia has to go and begging her to stay a while. The singer asks if there is someone Tia loves and if that person knows how she feels. He encourages Tia not to let her heart starve another day and to share the tenderness, inspiration, and admiration that he sees in her with the one she loves.

The song's rap verse highlights the difficulty of Tia's situation and calls on her to find strength to ease her pain and chase the rain. The singer reminds Tia that she has friends who love her and encourages her to find the pretty smile that they all once knew. The final chorus repeats the questions about Tia's love and feelings and pleads with her once more to stay a while and share what's on her mind.

Overall, "Tia" is a touching song that recognizes the struggle of emotional pain and seeks to comfort and encourage the one who is hurting. The lyrics are simple and direct, but convey a deep empathy and desire to connect with Tia in her pain.

Line by Line Meaning

Ohh, Tia, Tia, Tia
The singer addresses Tia with affection and concern.

Why do you have to go
The singer questions Tia's departure, wondering about the reason behind it.

Why don't stay awhile
The singer wants Tia to stay longer and spend more time with them.

Let me take a look at your smile
The singer wants Tia to smile and show her happiness and contentment.

And tell me what's on your mind
The singer encourages Tia to share her thoughts and feelings with them.

Is there someone out there that you love
The singer wonders if there is anyone Tia loves romantically.

Is he someone you're always thinking of
The singer questions if Tia has someone on her mind frequently.

Does he know that you feel this way
The singer asks if the person Tia loves is aware of her feelings.

Tia, don't let your heart starve another day
The singer advises Tia not to deprive herself of love and emotions.

T is for the tenderness in you
The singer uses an acronym to describe Tia's positive qualities and attributes.

I is for your inspiration
The singer continues the acronym and praises Tia's ability to inspire others.

A is for admiring the things you do
The singer concludes the acronym by appreciating Tia and her actions.

Girl, let him see all these things I see in you
The singer encourages Tia to let the person she loves see her positive qualities and attributes.

That's right, T-I-A, gonna be better someday
The singer reassures Tia that she will improve and get through her struggles.

Take it easy, my sistah, you'll find a way
The singer advises Tia to take things slowly and confidently, assuring her that she will overcome her difficulties.

Cuz I know it's not easy what you're going through
The singer acknowledges and empathizes with Tia's struggles.

Man, dealing with your drama and feeling blue
The singer describes Tia's difficult situation and emotional state.

Gotta find the inner strength, try to ease the pain
The singer advises Tia to find strength within herself and work to lessen her emotional distress.

Find the rainbow, the sunshine, and chase the rain
The singer encourages Tia to find the bright and positive aspects of life and pursue them, even during difficult times.

Let me see the pretty smile that we all once knew
The singer wants to see Tia's beautiful smile, which she may be struggling to show due to her emotional distress.

If you think it's that bad, you got friends that love you
The singer reminds Tia that she is not alone in her struggles and has supportive friends who care for her.

Tell me what's on your mind
The singer continues to encourage Tia to share her thoughts and feelings.

fade
The song fades out, ending with the repetition of the previous line as the singer continues to seek a deeper understanding of Tia's situation and emotions.

Contributed by Wyatt H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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