Mele Kalikimaka
John Scott Trotter Lyrics
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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
Mele Kalikimaka is the thing to say on a bright Hawaiian Christmas day
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
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 will 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, very, very Merry Merry Christmas to you
The song Mele Kalikimaka is a classic Christmas song that celebrates the unique Hawaiian Christmas traditions. The song opens with the line "Mele Kalikimaka is the thing to say on a bright Hawaiian Christmas day," which means that "Merry Christmas" is the appropriate greeting to use when meeting someone in Hawaii during the festive season.
The lyrics also highlight the beauty of Hawaii during Christmas time. The reference to palm trees sway and the green and bright Christmas is a contrast to the traditional snow-filled scenes of Christmas in many Western countries. It emphasizes the sunshine and warmth that Hawaii experiences at Christmas time.
The chorus repeats the opening line, "Mele Kalikimaka is Hawaii's way to say Merry Christmas to you," emphasizing the theme of the song. It's Hawaii's own unique way of celebrating the holiday season.
Mele Kalikimaka was written by R. Alex Anderson in 1949, and it gained popularity after it was featured in the 1953 film "White Christmas." It's been covered by various artists over the years, including Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters, and has become a holiday staple in Hawaii.
Line by Line Meaning
Mele Kalikimaka is the thing to say on a bright Hawaiian Christmas day
The proper and traditional way to cheerfully greet someone on a sunny and cheerful Hawaii-based Christmas Day is by saying 'Mele Kalikimaka'
That's the island greeting that we send to you
This is the principal message and courtesy that we extend from this beautiful and exotic island region
From the land where palm trees sway
From the area where the palm trees always move gently with the light breeze
Here we know that Christmas will be green and bright
We are aware and fully convinced that Christmas in Hawaii shall be colorful and shiny in a very distinct way
The sun will shine by day and all the stars at night
During this season, we will experience warm and sunny days and beautiful starry nights
Mele Kalikimaka is Hawaii's way to say Merry Christmas to you
This phrase is our version of the customary way to extend warm and happy greetings for the Christmas celebration
A very Merry Christmas, a very, very, very Merry Merry Christmas to you
We earnestly wish you a joyful, delightful and incredibly happy Christmas time
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: R. Alex Anderson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind