Irvine later became affiliated with Loki Obrero Sasil and Malia Rosa Kahahawai, who, as the group Leahi, were former protegés of producer Matt Young. Sasil and Kahahawai had left Young's organization and were trying to use the knowledge they'd gleaned to set up and run their own local independent record label. Irvine performed and recorded with Leahi, and the duo also released her first two solo albums on their label.
Eventually Irvine moved on up to Roni "H-Diggler" Yurong's Hobo House on the Hill label, and became one of the new label's first artists to hit the local music scene when her first album, "Princess," was released in 1998. The album was a hit with Jawaiian/island music fans, but Irvine dropped off the radar afterward.
"I had my baby girl and I just felt like I had to get back to the basics. I got burned out really fast, and it was only through working with kids that I realized how hard we make life -- life is simple, just follow the basics: Respect one another, respect life itself (and) everything will fall right in place."
IRVINE and Hobo House have several projects in the planning stages. After she finishes her R&B album, she'll work on a Hawaiian contemporary project. A Hobo House Christmas album, featuring Irvine and others, is also on the way.
"My heart in always in Hawaii. I love the R&B stuff, but this is where my heart will always be. Home is a special place and will always be," she said, slipping into the lyrics of "Special Place," a song from her "Princess" album.
"Fiji and I grew up in the same church," she said, referring to her partner on the song. "He's always the
re for me. Mr. Danny Kennedy is another one who's helped me throughout my career. I've had lots of good influences.
Open arms
Ilona Irvine Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Feeling your heart beat with mine
Softly you whisper, love so sincere
How could our love be so blind
We sailed on together
We drifted apart
And here you are by my side
[Chorus:]
So now I come to you, with open arms
Nothing to hide, believe what I say
So here I am, with open arms
Hoping you'll see what your love means to me...
Open arms
Living without you, living alone
This empty house seems so cold
Wanting to hold you, wanting you near
How much I wanted have home
But now that you've come back
Turned night into day
I need you to stay
[Chorus:]
So now I come to you, with open arms
Nothing to hide, believe what I say
So here I am, with open arms
Hoping you'll see what your love means to me...
Open arms
In Ilona Irvine's song Open Arms, the singer expresses her overwhelming sense of love and longing for her partner. The opening lines describe how she lies next to her lover and feels their heartbeat alongside hers, and how they whisper to each other. The next lines convey a sense of regret and acknowledgement that their love had drifted apart for some time: "We sailed on together, We drifted apart". The singer is hopeful that their love can be revived and rekindled by asserting her love with openness: "So now I come to you, with open arms, Hoping you'll see what your love means to me... Open arms".
The second verse speaks of the loneliness that the singer has experienced without her partner, and how their absence has made their home feel cold and empty. She yearns to be reunited with her partner: "Wanting to hold you, wanting you near, How much I wanted to have home". The final lines of the verse express how their reunion has filled their world with brightness: "But now that you've come back, Turned night into day, I need you to stay". The chorus repeats the singer's declaration of openness and vulnerability, urging her partner to believe her love.
Overall, the song portrays the aching desire for love and affection, and the willingness to be vulnerable and open about it. The lyrics are simple yet meaningful, with the song's melody adding an emotional depth to the words. The song has been covered by various artists and has become a pop classic over the years.
Line by Line Meaning
Lying beside you, here in the dark
Being next to you, I feel the presence of your heart and soul
Feeling your heart beat with mine
I sense a deep connection between us, where our hearts align
Softly you whisper, love so sincere
You express your feelings for me, with a heart that is genuine and clear
How could our love be so blind
We couldn't see our love for what it was until now, it's like we've been living in a bind
We sailed on together
We've been through rough waters but we persevered and stayed together
We drifted apart
But something came between us and we grew distant, couldn't hold on to our hearts
And here you are by my side
Despite the passage of time and distance, you're here again, by my side
So now I come to you, with open arms
I'm reaching out to you, with a heart that is open, pure and warm
Nothing to hide, believe what I say
I want you to know that I'm being honest, and that what I express to you is nothing but true
So here I am, with open arms
I'm here for you, with a love that is all-encompassing, without any qualms
Hoping you'll see what your love means to me
I'm hoping that you'll understand the depth of my love, and what it truly means to me
Open arms
My heart and soul are open, waiting for you to return, with open arms
Living without you, living alone
Without you, life feels incomplete and lonely, and the emptiness is shown
This empty house seems so cold
The space where love is supposed to dwell feels barren and old
Wanting to hold you, wanting you near
I yearn for your embrace, for your presence to be near
How much I wanted have home
Your love is what makes me feel at home, it's where my heart belongs
But now that you've come back
Since you returned, my heart has filled with an abundance of love, it's like I've been given a new pack
Turned night into day
Our love has brightened my world, it's illuminated my path, showing me the way
I need you to stay
I want you to remain with me, forever and always, each and every day
Contributed by Camilla C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Bravehorn
I'll never call her a princess lol, but ya ,aloha Ilona. Ka lahui, I going patreon you asap. Open arms, always sista Ilona
Ka Lāhui o Hawai'i Nei
no rush braddah🤙