Good Lovelies is a Canadian folk/country harmony trio comprising Caroline B… Read Full Bio ↴Good Lovelies is a Canadian folk/country harmony trio comprising Caroline Brooks, Kerri Ough and Sue Passmore, each being a solo artist in the Toronto area when they came together in 2006 to perform at a Christmas concert at Toronto's Gladstone Hotel. Their 2009 eponymous album won the Juno Award for Roots & Traditional Album of the Year by a Group at the 2010 Juno Awards, they also won the 2009 New Emerging Artist Award at the Canadian Folk Music Awards.

Coming together in 2006 to perform at a Christmas concert, they subsequently decided to continue working together, releasing their debut EP, Oh My, in 2007. They released their first full-length album, The Good Lovelies, in 2009, and followed up with the Christmas-themed EP Under the Mistletoe later the same year.

"Let the Rain Fall" was released in 2011, and "Burn the Plan" in 2015.

In February 2018 Good Lovelies released the digital version of their album, "Shapeshifters", which featured a shift from their usual folk to a more pop music sound.

"Evergreen" followed in 2019 and "We Will Never Be The Same " in 2023.

Mele Kalikimaka
Good Lovelies Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

(Jingle bells upon a steel guitar
Through the chords we see the bright star)

Mele Kalikimaka is the thing to say
On a bright Hawaiian Christmas Day
That's the island greeting that we send to you
From the land where palm trees sway

Here we know that Christmas will be green and bright
The sun will shine by day and all the stars at night
Mele Kalikimaka is Hawaii's way
To say Merry Christmas to you
(Musical interlude)

Here we know that Christmas will be green and bright
The sun will shine by day and all the stars at night
Mele Kalikimaka is Hawaii's way
To say Merry Christmas to you

Mele Kalikimaka is the thing to say
On a bright Hawaiian Christmas Day
That's the island greeting that we send to you
From the land where palm trees sway

Here we know that Christmas will be green and bright
The sun to shine by day and all the stars at night
Mele Kalikimaka is Hawaii's way
To say Merry Christmas, a very Merry Christmas

A very Merry very Merry Christmas
to you

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to "Mele Kalikimaka" by the Good Lovelies are a playful and upbeat celebration of Christmas in Hawaii. The opening lines describe the instrumental accompaniment of the song, jingle bells and a steel guitar, which evoke the unique sound of Hawaiian music. The following lines introduce the island greeting "Mele Kalikimaka," which is the Hawaiian way of saying Merry Christmas. The chorus repeats this greeting as a joyful expression of holiday cheer sent from the land where palm trees sway.

The song paints a picture of a warm and sunny Christmas, with green and bright surroundings instead of a snowy winter wonderland. The chorus repeats the idea that in Hawaii, Christmas is celebrated in a different way, and "Mele Kalikimaka" is the perfect expression of this unique island culture. The song ends with a musical interlude before the final repetition of the chorus, emphasizing the joyful and festive spirit of the holiday.

Overall, "Mele Kalikimaka" is a fun and lighthearted take on the traditional Christmas song, emphasizing the joy and warmth of the holiday as celebrated in Hawaii. Through its playful lyrics and its fusion of Hawaiian and Christmas sounds, the song celebrates the diversity and cultural richness of the holiday season.

Line by Line Meaning

Jingle bells upon a steel guitar
The sound of jingle bells accompanied by the distinctive sound of a steel guitar.

Through the chords we see the bright star
The chords played on the steel guitar give a visual representation of the bright star shining on Christmas Day.

Mele Kalikimaka is the thing to say
The Hawaiian greeting 'Mele Kalikimaka' is the traditional thing to say on Christmas Day.

On a bright Hawaiian Christmas Day
The greeting of 'Mele Kalikimaka' is said on a day where the Hawaiian sun shines brightly on Christmas Day.

That's the island greeting that we send to you
The Hawaiian people send their warm island greetings to those who celebrate Christmas.

From the land where palm trees sway
This greeting is sent from the beautiful land where palm trees gently sway in the breeze.

Here we know that Christmas will be green and bright
In Hawaii, Christmas is celebrated with the warmth of the sun and the lush greenery that surrounds them.

The sun will shine by day and all the stars at night
The sun will shine bright during the day and the stars will be just as bright at night, a perfect setting for a beautiful Christmas celebration.

Mele Kalikimaka is Hawaii's way
Hawaii celebrates Christmas by saying 'Mele Kalikimaka,' the unique and special way that they express joy towards this holiday.

To say Merry Christmas to you
The Hawaiian greeting 'Mele Kalikimaka' is a way to say 'Merry Christmas' to everyone.

Musical interlude
A break in the lyrics for a brief instrumental part of the song.

A very Merry very Merry Christmas to you
A heartfelt and enthusiastic wish for a very Merry Christmas.

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

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