BING CROSBY - MELE KALIKIMAKA

Mele Kalikimaka

Bing Crosby

(Hawaiian Christmas Song)

COMPOSER: ROBERT ALEX ANDERSON

ALBUM: IT’S CHRISTMAS

LABEL: BEST OF CHRISTMAS

GENRE: CHRISTMAS SONG

YEAR: 2009

"Mele Kalikimaka" is a Hawaiian-themed Christmas song written in 1949 by Robert Alex Anderson. The song takes its title from the Hawaiian phrase, "Mele Kalikimaka," meaning "Merry Christmas". The phrase is borrowed directly from English but since Hawaiian has a different phonological system—Hawaiian does not have the /r/or/s/ of English and its phonotactic constraints do not permit consonants at the end of syllables or consonant clusters—"Merry Christmas" becomes "Mele Kalikimaka". One of the earliest recordings of this song was by Bing Crosby & The Andrews Sisters in 1950 on Decca 27228 (78 rpm) / 9-27228 (45 rpm) and it has been covered by many artists. The song is notably featured in the films L.A. Confidential and National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation.

The Beach Boys recorded a song of the same name for their album Ultimate Christmas, but it contains lyrics and music completely different from the song written by Robert Alex Anderson.

Mele Kalikimaka is the thing to say

On a bright Hawaiian Christmas day

That's the island greeting that we send to you

From the land where palm trees sway

Here we know that Christmas will be green and bright

The sun will shine by day and all the stars at night

Mele Kalikimaka is Hawaii's way

To say Merry Christmas to you

Mele Kalikimaka is the thing to say

On a bright Hawaiian Christmas day

That's the island greeting that we send to you

From the land where palm trees sway

Here we know that Christmas will be green and bright

The sun will shine by day and all the stars at night

Mele Kalikimaka is Hawaii's way

To say Merry Christmas to you

Here we know that Christmas will be green and bright

The sun will shine by day and all the stars at night

Mele Kalikimaka is Hawaii's way

To say Merry Christmas to you

Mele Kalikimaka is the thing to say

On a bright Hawaiian Christmas day

That's the island greeting that we send to you

From the land where palm trees sway

Here we know that Christmas will be green and bright

The sun will shine by day and all the stars at night

Mele Kalikimaka is Hawaii's way

To say Merry Christmas

A very Merry Christmas

A very, very, Merry,Merry Christmas to you