Song lyrics to Mele Kalikimaka (Merry Christmas)
“Mele Kalikimaka” (pronounced [ˈmɛlɛ kəˌlitiˈmɐkə]) 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”. One of the earliest recordings of this song was by Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters in 1950 and it has been covered by many artists. The song is present in the films L.A. Confidential, Catch Me If You Can and National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.
Jingle bells upon a steel guitar
thru the clouds we see the same bright star
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 Xmas will be green and bright
Sun will shine by day and all the stars at night
Mele Kalikimaka is Hawaii’s way
To say Merry Christmas to you.