The Ames Brothers got their beginning in Malden, where all four were born. The act consisted of Joe (born 3 May 1921), Gene (born 13 February 1923), Vic (born 20 May 1925 - died 23 January 1978) and Ed (born 9 July 1927).
Born into a non-professional but musical family, the boys were brought up on classical and operatic music. Their parents, David and Sarah Urick, were Russian Jewish immigrants from the Ukraine who read Shakespeare and semi-classics to their nine children from the time they were old enough to listen.
The brothers formed a quartet with a cousin Lennie, and had been touring United States Army and Navy bases entertaining the troops and were offered a job at the Foxs and Hounds nightclub, one of the fanciest clubs in Boston. This one week engagement turned into several months when the word got around of their appearance. At the time, they were going by the name of the Amory Brothers, a name taken from Vic's middle name and they were becoming quite popular in the area. It was at this time that Joe decided to rejoin the group. He said they were just having too much fun together for him to miss out. Taking their act to New York they got a job with bandleader Art Mooney. One day while at Leeds Publishing Company in search of a song called "Should I" that their mother had asked them to sing, Milt Gabler of Decca Records heard them singing it and had them cut a few sides for Decca Records just before the ban which started in January, 1948.
A year later when the ban was lifted, the Ames Brothers were the first artists to record for Coral Records. The name Amory was shortened to Ames. They were swept into national top billing with their first hit record, "Rag Mop," in January, 1950. Doing radio shows for free at times just for the experience, they later became regulars on such shows as The Arthur Godfrey Hour. One of the first acts to appear on the original Ed Sullivan Show when it was known as Toast of the Town, they made their debut with him when the show was telecast live from Wanamaker's Department Store.
Soon, they were the top paid group in nightclubs and supperclubs everywhere and their popularity on television was nationwide. In 1956 they starred in their own show, The Ames Brothers Show, which was seen on Friday nights. It was the first syndicated television show to be shown in foreign countries.
Over their fifteen year career the prolific Brothers notched up 50 U.S. chart entries, 21 of them on the Coral label before signing with RCA Victor. The group disbanded in the 1960s but Ed Ames went on with a successful singing and acting career, including playing Daniel Boone's sidekick, Mingo, on the successful Daniel Boone television series (1964-1970).
They were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 1998.
Hawaiian War Chant
The Ames Brothers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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 Ames Brothers's song "Hawaiian War Chant" is an upbeat, cheerful melody that celebrates the infectious joy of Hawaiian music and culture. The song tells the story of a native Hawaiian man who starts a musical movement in Waikiki with his upbeat and catchy Hawaiian chant. Soon, other natives and hula hula maidens pick up the tune, and it spreads like a tropical storm to other parts of Hawaii and eventually becomes popular in places as far away as Tennessee and Ioway. The song is a joyful tribute to the power of music to bring people together and spread happiness.
The lyrics of "Hawaiian War Chant" are full of Hawaiian words and phrases, which add to the exotic flavor of the song. "Au we ta huala" and "au we atuala" are both Hawaiian phrases that are scattered throughout the song. Although their exact meaning is unclear, they add a delightful sense of mystery and exoticism to the lyrics. The song celebrates the power of Hawaiian music and culture to inspire joy and positive feelings in all who hear it. Overall, "Hawaiian War Chant" is a delightful tribute to the joy and power of music and a celebration of the vibrancy and beauty of Hawaiian culture.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a sunny little, funny little melody
This song has a cheery, lighthearted tune
It was started by a native down in Waikiki
The song was created by someone who lived in or near Waikiki
He would gather a crowd down beside the sea
The creator of the song would bring people together near the ocean
And they'd play his gay Hawaiian Chant
The people would perform the song as a group
Soon the other little natives started singing it
Other locals caught on to the song and started singing it too
And the hula hula maidens starting swinging it
Dancers started basing a traditional dance, the hula, on the song
Like a tropical storm, that's the way it hit
The popularity of the song spread like wildfire
Au we ta huala
This is a repeated lyric of the song
Though it started on an island down Hawaii way
The song originated in Hawaii
It's as popular in Tennessee or Ioway
The song is well-known and beloved outside of Hawaii as well
If you wander into any cabaret
If you visit any nightlife establishment
You will hear this gay Hawaiian chant
It's likely that someone will be performing this song
Au we atuala
This is a repeated lyric of the song
There's a sunny little, funny little melody
This song has a cheerful, humorous melody
It was started by a native down in Waikiki
The song's creator lived in or near Waikiki
He would gather a crowd down beside the sea
The creator would bring people together near the ocean
And they'd play his gay Hawaiian Chant
The people would perform the song as a group
Soon the other little natives started singing it
The song caught on and other locals started singing it too
And the hula hula maidens starting swinging it
Dancers started basing a hula dance on the song
Like a tropical storm, that's the way it hit
The popularity of the song spread quickly and widely
Au we ta huala
This is a repeated lyric of the song
Au we atuala
This is a repeated lyric of the song
Au we
This is a repeated lyric of the song
Funny little gay Hawaiian chant
This is the title of the song, and it describes the light, humorous nature of the tune and lyrics
Funny little gay Hawaiian chant
This is the title of the song, and it describes the light, humorous nature of the tune and lyrics
Funny little gay Hawaiian chant
This is the title of the song, and it describes the light, humorous nature of the tune and lyrics
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: LELEIOHAKU, JOHNNY NOBLE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind