(1) Jakob Ludwig Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy, known generally as Felix Mendelssohn (1809–1847) was a German composer, pianist, organist, and conductor of the early Romantic period.
Mendelssohn was born on 3rd February 1809 in Hamburg, Germany into a notable Jewish family (his grandfather was the philosopher Moses Mendelssohn). He was a child prodigy, though his family were careful not to allow this to distort his upbringing, and only approved of his following a musical career when it was clear that he was serious about music.
Early success in Germany was followed by travel throughout Europe; Mendelssohn was particularly well received in Britain as a composer, conductor and soloist, and his ten visits there (during which many of his major works were premiered) form an important part of his adult career. His essentially conservative musical tastes however set him apart from many of his more adventurous musical contemporaries such as Franz Liszt, Richard Wagner, and Hector Berlioz. The Conservatory he founded at Leipzig became a bastion of this anti-radical outlook.
Mendelssohn’s work includes symphonies, concertos, oratorios, piano works, and chamber music. He also had an important role in the revival of interest in the music of Johann Sebastian Bach. After a long period of relative denigration due to changing musical tastes and antisemitism in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, his creative originality has again been recognised, and re-evaluated. He is now among the most popular composers of the Romantic era. He died on 4th November 1847 in Leipzig.
(2) The other Felix Mendelssohn was a popular British crooner of the 1930s and 1940s. He became fascinated with Hawaiian music and became best known performing as Felix Mendelssohn & His Hawaiian Serenaders. See the Wikipedia article about this band and their Last.fm artist profile.
Sing Me A Song Of The Island
Felix Mendelssohn Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My serenade that the trade winds blow
Sing me a song of the islands
Where hearts are high and the moon is low.
Where rippling waters seem to say Aloha au-I-o-ei
Bring me the fragrance of ginger
Strum your guitars while I dream away
Where rippling waters seem to say Aloha au-I-o-ei
Bring me the fragrance of ginger
Strum your guitars while I dream away
Then sing me a song of the islands Aloha au-I-o-ei
The lyrics of "Sing Me a Song of the Islands" by Felix Mendelssohn & His Hawaiian Serenaders encapsulate the essence of Hawaii and the aloha spirit, inviting the listener to indulge in the island's musical and natural beauty. The opening line immediately sets the tone of the song, calling for a serenade that embodies the trade winds, a constant presence in the Hawaiian atmosphere. The singer requests a song that captures the heart of the islands, where emotions run high, and the moon casts a dreamy glow upon nature's splendor.
The second verse expands on the lush and tropical ambiance of Hawaii, expressing a desire to breathe in the scent of ginger, a common flower in the state. The singer asks for musicians to strum their guitars, a nod to the Hawaiian music tradition, and creates a dreamy atmosphere where the listener can escape into the beauty of the islands. Overall, the song's lyrics aim to transport the listener to Hawaii's paradise-like setting, where music and nature combine to create a unique and alluring atmosphere.
Line by Line Meaning
Sing me a song of the islands
Please sing a melody from the Hawaiian islands
My serenade that the trade winds blow
A tune that is carried by the winds blowing over the ocean from faraway lands
Where hearts are high and the moon is low.
A place where people are joyful and the sky is dark with a crescent moon.
Where rippling waters seem to say Aloha au-I-o-ei
The water sounds like it is saying 'hello, I love you' in Hawaiian
Bring me the fragrance of ginger
I want to smell the sweet scent of ginger
Strum your guitars while I dream away
Play the guitar softly so I can fall asleep and dream.
Then sing me a song of the islands Aloha au-I-o-ei.
Sing another Hawaiian melody and say 'hello, I love you' with the music.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: HARRY OWENS, MACK GORDON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind