Hawaiian Wedding Song (1961)

King/Hoffman/Manning


Now that we are one

Clouds won't hide the sun

Blue skies of Hawaii smile

On this our wedding day

The new Baz Luhrmann IMAX concert film Elvis Presley In Concert – EPIC – is out and hopefully is introducing the King to a new generation of fans. With Elvis gone since 1977, it's been more than a generation since he has been a key name in popular music. Much has been written about his circumscribed and sort of sad life, and then there are the many impersonators. Yet he remains one of the best singers of the 20th Century, at least in my opinion. All the films that his manager, Colonel Tom Parker, contracted him into are horrible, and Blue Hawaii is no exception. But his singing is at an apex. Only  Elvis can take a Hawaiian folk song, add a bunch of hokey background singers, and turn it into a love song that will stand through both volcanic and the sands of time. R.I.P. and ELVIS LIVES. 

This is the moment
I've waited for
I can hear my heart singing
Soon bells will be ringing

This is the moment
Of sweet aloha

I will love you longer than forever

Promise me that you will leave me never

Here and now, dear
All my love I vow, dear
Promise me that you will leave me never
I will love you longer than forever

Ua sila
Pa‘a ‘ia me ‘oe
Ko aloha makamae e ipo
Ka'u ia e lei a‘e nei la

Now that we are one
Clouds won't hide the sun
Blue skies of Hawaii smile
On this, our wedding day
I do love you with all my heart
I do love you with all my heart

A Kiss to Build a Dream On (1935)

Ruby/Kalmar/Hammerstein

"Give me a kiss before you leave me
And my imagination will feed my hungry heart."

This week, New York City is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the 1964 World's Fair: the few colossal structures still standing were opened up to the public; volunteers worked to spruce up some of the badly neglected areas to make it more attractive. Over 50 million visitors went to the World's Fair in Flushing, Queens, the two seasons it was open, including my family - I remember my sister and I had to wear white kid gloves and hats. Many of the original structures were destroyed after the Fair ended; rumors have been circulating that the remaining ones will be razed as well. How might this connect to the song, Give Me a Kiss to Build a Dream On, other than a slight reference to building? Well, Louis Armstrong, who had a big hit with the song in 1951, lived in Queens - not far from the World's Fair site. 

CHORUS

Give me a kiss to build a dream on
And my imagination will thrive upon that kiss
Sweetheart, I ask no more than this
A kiss to build a dream on

Give me a kiss before you leave me
And my imagination will feed my hungry heart
Leave me one thing before we part
A kiss to build a dream on

When I'm alone with my fancies
I'll be with you
Weaving romances
Making believe they’re true

Oh, give me your lips for just a moment
And my imagination will make that moment live
Mmm, give me what you alone can give
A kiss to build a dream on