Hawaiian War Chant
His Hawaiian Serenaders Lyrics
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It 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 singing it
And the hula hula maidens starting swinging it
Like a tropical storm, that's the way it hit
Au we ta huala
Au we ta huala
Though 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
Au we ta huala
Au we ta huala
Au we atuala
Au we atuala
There's a sunny little, funny little melody
It 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 singing it
And the hula hula maidens starting swinging it
Like a tropical storm, that's the way it hit
Funny little gay Hawaiian chant
Au we ta huala
Au we ta huala
Au we atuala
Au we
Funny little gay Hawaiian chant
Funny little gay Hawaiian chant
Funny little gay Hawaiian chant
The Hawaiian War Chant, also known as "Ta-Hu-Wa-Hu-Wai" or "Kāua I Ka Huahuaʻi", is a classic Hawaiian song that tells the story of how a native Hawaiian from Waikiki created a catchy melody that soon became a favorite of the islands. The singer describes the scene of how the melody began, with the native gathering a crowd beside the sea to play his "gay Hawaiian chant". As more natives joined in and started singing and dancing to the tune, it quickly spread like a tropical storm across the islands.
Although the song originated on the island of Hawaii, it has become popular in many other parts of the world including Tennessee and Iowa. The song's catchy melody has become an international hit and can be heard in many cabarets around the globe. The lyrics are playful and upbeat, capturing the essence of the islands with the hula hula maidens swinging to the rhythm of the song.
Overall, the Hawaiian War Chant is a fun and lively song that highlights the rich culture of Hawaii and its music. The lyrics celebrate the joy and happiness of the islands, while the melody captures the rhythm of Hawaii's unique sound.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a sunny little, funny little melody
A pleasant, amusing tune exists
It was started by a native down in Waikiki
A resident of Waikiki created the melody
He would gather a crowd down beside the sea
He would bring people together near the ocean
And they'd play his gay Hawaiian Chant
They performed his cheerful Hawaiian music
Soon the other little natives started singing it
Before long, other locals also sang the tune
And the hula hula maidens starting swinging it
The female dancers began moving to the rhythm
Like a tropical storm, that's the way it hit
The melody spread quickly and widely like a storm
Au we ta huala
A phrase that is repeated in the song
Though it started on an island down Hawaii way
Although originating from an island in Hawaii
It's as popular in Tennessee or Ioway
It is just as popular in states like Tennessee and Iowa
If you wander into any cabaret
If you go to any nightclub
You will hear this gay Hawaiian chant
You will likely hear this cheerful Hawaiian music being played
Au we atuala
Another phrase that is repeated in the song
There's a sunny little, funny little melody
The melody is once again described as upbeat and amusing
He would gather a crowd down beside the sea
Once again, the creator gathers people near the ocean
And they'd play his gay Hawaiian Chant
The music is performed again
Funny little gay Hawaiian chant
The song's title is repeated
Funny little gay Hawaiian chant
The title of the song is repeated yet again
Funny little gay Hawaiian chant
The song's title is repeated a final time
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JOHNNY NOBLE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Phiyedough
My father played accordion in this band in the late '40s.
louswire
This is the cleanest recording of the Hawaiian war Chant I've heard yet...
Tab Lature
Agreed. Love the traditional Hawaiian instrumentation, as well -- slack key guitar and uke. And the singer sounds so very native. Big band renditions sound very good, too, it's such a lively, beautiful tune. But you can't beat true cultural authenticity in performance. Simply awesome.
Mellyboy 58
I used to sing this on the way to school 👊👊
Edmond Scott
Great orchestra. When and where recorded please?
Vicky Geagan
Radio Caroline with Rohan Riley and Barry Moore on the Good ship Caroline used to use this to warm up their transmitter on the North Sea. Their Morning Prelude back in 1964 - 1966 when the Caroline sunk and was replaced by the Mi' Amigo.
Melzmum
Fabuous!
pot head
How many versions of this song are there ? The one I heard it back in 1976 but it was slower and had no singing in it .someone let me know .
Tab Lature
Who knows? It's been around for quite awhile. Originally written as a love song (not a chant, bellicose or otherwise), by a Hawaiian royal, in the 1800's. Many, many additions, subtractions, renditions, and arrangements, in lyrics (both Hawaiian and English) and musical phrasing, since.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawaiian_War_Chant
One thing in common I have noticed in more nearly authentic renditions: they always slip into the minor of the tonic/key for a verse/chorus -- highly unusual in western music (here, assuming Hawaiian music is somewhat separate and distinct from western, although theoretically, not so much), where the minor for that particular key is usually used if ever called for. (e.g. minor for G is Em in western music, but here, in G they go to Gm. However, this particular version goes to G#m, and then continues the modulation to the resolution key of A. ) Listen for it. It's a great arrangement.
Mike Schmidt
I'm also thinking this may not be THEE Felix Mendelssohn... Don't think he did a lot of Hawai'ian music. 🙃