Aloha ʻOe (Farewell to Thee) is Liliʻuokalani's most famous song and was inspired by a horseback trip she took in 1877 to the windward side of Oahu. After visiting the Boyd ranch in Maunawili, Liliʻuokalani witnessed a farewell embrace between Colonel James Boyd and one of the young ranch ladies. A tune came to her on the ride home and she composed the words once she returned to Washington Place. The melody of the chorus is similar to the chorus of George Frederick Root's 1854 song "There's Music In The Air".[1]
| Haʻaheo ka ua i nā pali | Proudly swept the rain by the cliffs |
| Ke nihi aʻela i ka nahele | As it glided through the trees |
| E hahai (uhai) ana paha i ka liko | Still following ever the bud |
| Pua ʻāhihi lehua o uka | The ʻāhihi lehua[2] of the vale |
| Hui: | Chorus: |
| Aloha ʻoe, aloha ʻoe | Farewell to you, farewell to you |
| E ke onaona noho i ka lipo | The charming one who dwells in the shaded bowers |
| One fond embrace, | One fond embrace, |
| A hoʻi aʻe au | 'Ere I depart |
| Until we meet again | Until we meet again |
| ʻO ka haliʻa aloha i hiki mai | Sweet memories come back to me |
| Ke hone aʻe nei i | Bringing fresh remembrances |
| Kuʻu manawa | Of the past |
| ʻO ʻoe nō kaʻu ipo aloha | Dearest one, yes, you are mine own |
| A loko e hana nei | From you, true love shall never depart |
| Maopopo kuʻu ʻike i ka nani | I have seen and watched your loveliness |
| Nā pua rose o Maunawili | The sweet rose of Maunawili |
| I laila hiaʻia nā manu | And 'tis there the birds of love dwell |
| Mikiʻala i ka nani o ka lipo | And sip the honey from your lips |
References
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