Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977) was an American sin… Read Full Bio ↴Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977) was an American singer and actor. Regarded as one of the most significant cultural icons of the 20th century, he is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King".

Presley was born in Tupelo, Mississippi, and relocated to Memphis, Tennessee, with his family when he was 13 years old. His music career began there in 1954, recording at Sun Records with producer Sam Phillips, who wanted to bring the sound of African American music to a wider audience. Accompanied by guitarist Scotty Moore and bassist Bill Black, Presley was a pioneer of rockabilly, an uptempo, backbeat-driven fusion of country music and rhythm and blues. In 1955, drummer D. J. Fontana joined to complete the lineup of Presley's classic quartet and RCA Victor acquired his contract in a deal arranged by Colonel Tom Parker, who would manage the singer for more than two decades. Presley's first RCA single, "Heartbreak Hotel", was released in January 1956 and became a number one hit in the United States. With a series of successful network television appearances and chart-topping records, he became the leading figure of the newly popular sound of rock and roll. His energized interpretations of songs and sexually provocative performance style, combined with a singularly potent mix of influences across color lines during a transformative era in race relations, made him enormously popular—and controversial.

In November 1956, Presley made his film debut in Love Me Tender. Drafted into military service in 1958, Presley relaunched his recording career two years later with some of his most commercially successful work. He held few concerts however, and guided by Parker, proceeded to devote much of the 1960s to making Hollywood movies and soundtrack albums, most of them critically derided. In 1968, following a seven-year break from live performances, he returned to the stage in the acclaimed television comeback special Elvis, which led to an extended Las Vegas concert residency and a string of highly profitable tours. In 1973, Presley gave the first concert by a solo artist to be broadcast around the world, Aloha from Hawaii. Years of prescription drug abuse severely compromised his health, and he died suddenly in 1977 at his Graceland estate, just 42 years of age.

Presley is one of the most celebrated and influential musicians of the 20th century. Commercially successful in many genres, including pop, country, blues, and gospel, he is the best-selling solo artist in the history of recorded music. He won three competitive Grammys, received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award at age 36, and has been inducted into multiple music halls of fame.

Aloha-Oe
Elvis Presley Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Aloha-oe, aloha-oe, ikeona ona noho ikanipo
One fond embrace ahoea ea
Until we meet again
Until we meet again

Overall Meaning

In these lyrics to Elvis Presley's song "Aloha-Oe", he is evoking feelings of parting with a sense of unresolved longing, uncertainty and nostalgia. "Aloha-Oe" is a Hawaiian song commonly translated to mean "Farewell to Thee" or "Goodbye to You". The first lines "aloha-oe, aloha-oe" mean "farewell to you, farewell to you". The next line "ikeona ona noho ikanipo" translates to "until we meet again, take farewell of thy dwelling-place". This can be interpreted as a goodbye to someone's home or place of residence, emphasizing the sense of finality in the verse. The next verse "one fond embrace ahoea ea until we meet again" reiterates the theme of longing and the desire for a reunion. This touch of affectionate consolation is also reflected in the tender melody of the song.

The song has historical significance as it is often associated with the final departure of Queen Liliuokalani, the last monarch of Hawaii before it became a republic. She is said to have often sung this song to express her love and farewell to her people. Therefore "Aloha-Oe" is not just a song to say goodbye to distant or departed loved ones, it also carries deeper layers of meaning about cultural identity, political upheaval and the royal legacy of Hawaii.

* "Aloha-Oe" was composed in the late 1800s by Queen Liliuokalani, who was also a skilled musician and writer.
* The song's melody is said to be derived from a Hawaiian chant and the lyrics reflect the queen's sadness at being forced to leave her people after a coup d'état.
* "Aloha-Oe" became popular in the US when it was featured in the musical "Bird of Paradise" in 1932.
* Elvis Presley performed "Aloha-Oe" as part of his famous 1973 concert at the Hawaiian International Center.
* The song has been covered by numerous artists, including Johnny Cash, Bing Crosby, and Harry Belafonte.
* "Aloha-Oe" is often played or sung during Hawaiian cultural events, such as Lei Day and Aloha Festivals.
* The song has been parodied in several films and TV shows, including "The Simpsons" and "SpongeBob SquarePants".
* The melody of the song is also used in the opening credits of the anime series "Lucky Star".
* The version of "Aloha-Oe" recorded by Elvis Presley was included on his album "Aloha from Hawaii via Satellite".
* The chords for "Aloha-Oe" are C, F, and G7.

Line by Line Meaning

Aloha-oe, aloha-oe, ikeona ona noho ikanipo
Farewell, farewell, until we meet again at the place where one's home is

One fond embrace ahoea ea
A warm and affectionate hug, goodbye for now

Until we meet again
We will part ways for now, but our paths will cross again in the future

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ELVIS PRESLEY, UNKNOWN COMPOSER AUTHOR

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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Comments from YouTube:

Garrett Miles

45w↑6

When I was a kid, one night, my dad had a ball game, and then afterward, on his way home, he stopped and picked me up the Blue Hawaii soundtrack album of Elvis, which had this song on it. I had a fit over that album and him getting it for me, because I always welcomed anything new to add to my Elvis stash. I listened to it a lot. As of now, do I think it’s his best work? Maybe not. But there are certain songs that stand out for me. Obviously, “Can’t Help Falling in Love”, “No More”, and “Hawaiian Wedding Song” to name a few.