Lyrics
On the isle of Filla Lilla out Hawaii way
Setting the scene on the island of Filla Lilla in Hawaii.
A hula maiden gay strolled by on moonlit bay
Describing a cheerful hula maiden walking along the moonlit bay.
There come-a to court her over the water
Someone arrives to court her from Zinga-Zululand across the water.
From a savage Zinga-Zululand
The suitor is from a savage land, Zinga-Zululand.
A bolo chief-tain grand sang her this lay.
A chieftain from Zinga-Zululand sings a love song to the maiden.
An@d he sang hula
Introduction to the singing of the hula.
Hawaii hula
Repetition of the hula singing and setting a cheerful atmosphere.
Smile on your zing gang a zula.
Encouraging the maiden to smile and enjoy the love song.
Moonshine above on your sweet jungle love.
Describing a romantic scene with moonshine above and sweet jungle love.
For you my bolo is swinging
The suitor expresses his devotion with a swinging bolo (a cutting tool).
For you my love song I'm singing
Continuation of expressing love through song.
Come be my hula hula love.
Invitation to be the chieftain's hula hula love.
But the chief-tain from the peaceful Filla Lilla land
Introduction of a chieftain from the peaceful Filla Lilla land.
Would not give him her hand
The Filla Lilla chieftain refuses the suitor's advances.
Her love took his stand
The hula maiden stands by her decision to reject the suitor.
Through the rattle of the battle as she heard
Amidst the sounds of battle, the suitor's sweet voice reaches the maiden.
His sweet voice calm and true
The suitor's voice is described as calm and true.
They fled in his canoe over water blue.
They escape together in a canoe over blue water.
And he sang hulu
Reiteration of singing the hulu and Hawaii hula.
Hawaii hula
Repetition of the hula singing, possibly to emphasize its significance.
. .
Blank line, possibly indicating a pause or transition.
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