Honolulu City Lights
Keola & Kapono Beamer Lyrics
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Got my ticket for the midnight plane and its not easy to leave again.
Took my clothes and put them in the bag; try not to think just yet of
leaving.
Looking out into the city night and it's not easy to leave again.
Each time Honolulu city lights stir up memories in me.
Each night Honolulu city lights bring me back again.
Put on my shoes and light a cigarette.
Wonderin' which of my friends will be here
Standin' with their leis around my neck.
It's not easy to leave again.
Each time Honolulu city lights stir up memories in me.
Each night Honolulu city lights bring me back again.
Bring me back again.
In Keola & Kapono Beamer's song "Honolulu City Lights", the singer is expressing their inner conflict about leaving the city and their memories behind. The lyrics describe the stunning view of the city lights and stars above the ocean that captivates the singer. However, they have a ticket for a midnight plane and must pack their clothes, which gives them anxiety about leaving. Every time they see the city lights, it fills them with a sense of nostalgia and longing for the past. They view the city as their home, their island sunset, and their island dream.
As the singer prepares to leave, they put on their shoes and light a cigarette, wondering which of their friends will be there to give them leis around their neck. Leaving again is not easy for them, but they must say their goodbyes and start a new adventure. These lyrics portray the bittersweet feelings of leaving home and moving on to new experiences, while still cherishing the memories of the past.
Line by Line Meaning
Looking out upon the city lights and the stars above the ocean,
Observing the beautiful view of the city lights and stars shining over the ocean
Got my ticket for the midnight plane and its not easy to leave again.
I have the ticket for the late-night flight, but it's difficult to depart once again
Took my clothes and put them in the bag; try not to think just yet of leaving.
Packed my belongings in a suitcase, avoiding the thought of leaving at the moment
Looking out into the city night and it's not easy to leave again.
Staring at the city in the night, leaving is not going to be easy
Each time Honolulu city lights stir up memories in me.
Every time I see the Honolulu city lights, it reminds me of the past
Each night Honolulu city lights bring me back again.
The city lights of Honolulu bring me back every night
You are my island sunset; you are my island dream.
Referring to Honolulu as a beautiful dream-like island that is hard to forget
Put on my shoes and light a cigarette.
I wear my shoes and light up a cigarette
Wonderin' which of my friends will be here
Thinking about which friends will be there
Standin' with their leis around my neck.
They will greet me with a lei around my neck
It's not easy to leave again.
Leaving again will be difficult
Bring me back again.
The Honolulu city lights bring me back again and again
Contributed by Ella D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@user-fq4yz5ek3r
I spent a month on Oahu and my sister toured me around the islands for a month,and this song breaks my heart. Mahalo and Aloha.🕯️
@nathanielstaples8230
I grew up in cold Indiana and Hawaii was my dream place. I moved to Honolulu in 2016 but had to move back to the mainland after only about 3-4 months I was so sad. I used to listen to this song missing Hawaii. Recently I lined up a place there on vacation and I’m moving back!!! I’ll be much more thankful the 2nd time around and I never want to leave!
@fungi4591
sorry to burst ur bubble but the "honeymoon" part of hawaii does fade.. i didn't believe it at first when i moved to hawaii but its true.. it will be like living in any other city (except of course sunny weather and the people ARE noticeably way nicer). theres a reason why "locals" dont like befriending transplants, because they know they will leave again. usually by 2 years or less. it is a GREAT place to vacation, maybe a week or a couple months but moving there forever is unlikely.. anyways enjoy it
@fohponomalama5065
For us locals, living in Hawaii is more than the sunny weather or the nice people, but the childhood memories of friends and family, neighborhoods where we grew up, our high school adventures and graduation, and everything that embeds us in a place we call home. It’s a major adjustment for locals to uproot and move, because Hawai’i is in our DNA … it’s a part of us.
@Zeebrungis
they think they're Ichiban and Chitose...
@margaretallen7511
I lived in Hawaii for nearly 25yrs I was married too a local boy. Although I have been gone for 26yrs when I come to Hawaii to visit my son and his family I feel like I'm coming home. This song says it all love and aloha.
@steveakers8809
If you lived in Hawaii any time, it becomes part of you and will stay with you and you will never forget the smells and beauty.
@judithshepperd840
Born on Oahu. Every trip to my grandparents in Manoa 1960’s -1990’s the plane would play this song after it came out. Truly a tearful goodbye…
@MaskedMenace808
One of the best life decisions I ever made was to move back home to Hawaii after being gone for 10+ years...yes it’s expensive and the traffic sucks but it is worth it. No other place on earth compares to Hawaii.
@AlanShirtsink
I totally agree