Born and raised in Pleasant Grove, Utah, about 35 miles south of Salt Lake City, the King Sisters originally were part of the "Driggs Family of Entertainers". Their first professional job was with a Salt Lake City radio station, from which they graduated to a station in Oakland, California. In the early 1930s sisters Luise, Maxine and Alyce formed a vocal trio along the lines of their idols, the Boswell Sisters, and traveled to San Francisco to audition for radio station KGO (to replace the Boswell Sisters themselves, who were leaving the station)." After this, Maxine retired to home life in Oakland and sisters Donna and Yvonne were added to the roster.
In 1935, the King Sisters accepted a job with bandleader Horace Heidt. Gradually, relations between the King Sisters and Heidt deteriorated to the point where they left the band. In the following years, they separately and together sang with the bands of Artie Shaw's Old Gold program and Charlie Barnet and Al Pearce series. They turned down a request to be the vocal group for the Glenn Miller Orchestra. They recorded for Bluebird Records, a sub-label of RCA Victor Records and the same label as Miller, and also had their first hit with a vocal version of Miller's hit, "In The Mood".
In 1937, Luise married guitarist Alvino Rey. At the peak of the sisters' success, they appeared in a number of 1940's Hollywood films. During World War II, they appeared regularly on Kay Kyser's radio series. In 1965, they began hosting their own ABC television-network series, The King Family Show, which featured family members including Alyce's husband, actor Robert Clarke, and her sons, Ric and Lex de Azevedo, and Cam Clarke, as well as other talent. The show ran from 1965-1966, with a 1969 revival.
A second generation of the King Family, The Four King Cousins, continues to carry on the musical tradition.
Aloha oe
The King Sisters Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
As it glided through the trees
Still following ever the bud
The `ahihi lehua of the vale
Chorus:
Farewell to you, farewell to you
The charming one who dwells in the shaded bowers
'Ere I depart
Until we meet again
Sweet memories come back to me
Bringing fresh remembrances
Of the past
Dearest one, yes, you are mine own
From you, true love shall never depart
I have seen and watched your loveliness
The sweet rose of Maunawili
And 'tis there the birds of love dwell
And sip the honey from your lips
In "Aloha Oe," the King Sisters sing about a bittersweet farewell to a loved one. The first verse describes the natural beauty of Hawaii, with rain sweeping "proudly" through the cliffs and trees, following the `ahihi lehua flower of the valley. The chorus bids farewell to the "charming one" who resides in the "shaded bowers," with a call for "one fond embrace" before departure, ending with a promise to meet again.
The second verse turns inward, with the singer reflecting on sweet memories that bring back fresh recollections of the past. The subject of these memories is addressed as "Dearest one," with a declaration of lasting love. This declaration is reinforced in the final verse, which describes the singer's observation of the beloved's loveliness, personified as the "sweet rose of Maunawili," where birds of love come to sip nectar from their lips.
Overall, "Aloha Oe" is a wistful farewell rooted in Hawaiian nature and the cherished memories of a beloved companion. The language is poetic and romantic, capturing both the beauty of the Hawaiian landscape and the emotional depth of love and loss.
Line by Line Meaning
Proudly swept the rain by the cliffs
The rain moved confidently near the cliffs, as if it was proud of its own power.
As it glided through the trees
The rain slid smoothly through the trees, as if it was gliding with ease.
Still following ever the bud
The rain continued to follow the bud, never giving up its pursuit.
The `ahihi lehua of the vale
The `ahihi lehua, which is a type of plant, was blooming in the valley and the rain followed it.
Chorus: Farewell to you, farewell to you
This is the beginning of the chorus, which is a goodbye message to someone departing.
The charming one who dwells in the shaded bowers
This person is described as charming and living in a place with shade.
One fond embrace,
A desire for one loving hug before departing.
'Ere I depart
This is a shortened version of 'ere I depart, which means before I leave.
Until we meet again
The goodbye message is not permanent, as they hope to meet again someday.
Sweet memories come back to me
Memories that are sweet and nostalgic are returning to the artist.
Bringing fresh remembrances
These memories feel new and fresh, even though they are from the past.
Of the past
These memories are specifically from the past.
Dearest one, yes, you are mine own
The singer is expressing that the person they are addressing is their dearest, and is exclusively theirs.
From you, true love shall never depart
The singer assures the person they love that their true love will never leave them.
I have seen and watched your loveliness
The singer has observed and admired the beauty of the person they love.
The sweet rose of Maunawili
The person they love is compared to a sweet rose from a specific location, Maunawili.
And 'tis there the birds of love dwell
The birds of love are said to live in Maunawili, where the person they love is compared to a rose from.
And sip the honey from your lips
These birds of love are metaphorically sipping from the sweetness of the person they love's lips.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Melodie Der Welt GmbH, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: J.F. BACARDI, QUEEN LILIOUKALANI
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind