Lyrics sought for Sol Hoopii's version of "Hula Blues"

Paul Seager · Post by **Paul Seager** » 15 Aug 2020 8:55 pm

Hi, I'm trying to get the lyrics down for the Sol Hoopii version of this song. For recording reference I am listening to the version on "Sol Ho'opi'i - Master of Hawaiian Guitar, Vol 2".
There are many web-sites that list "official" lyrics for this song but none that I've viewed match those sung on this recording. Indeed a recording by "Lani McIntire & his Orchestra" uses very similar lyrics to Sol Hoopii's recording - and I still can't hear them properly!

This is what I have and where I have gaps:

Oh, Oh, Oh-Oh the Hula Blues
Tell me - have you - ever heard those Hula Blues
You can't imagine what you're feeling blue about
You simply get to [.......?.......] starting to shout
She wiggles and giggles and wiggles to the Hula Blues

We want her, we crave her, we love her [ ... ? ... ]
We want her, we crave her, we want her [ ... ? ... ]
And how
Forget about your whiskey, gin or wine
There's something makes you feel so doggone fine
We love her, we crave her, we want her [ ... ? ... ]

If anyone can fill in the gaps I would be very grateful. I'm trying to arrange a multi-part harmony and obviously I need the lyric down first!

Thanks in advance

\ paul

Rick Stratton · Post by **Rick Stratton** » 15 Aug 2020 10:02 pm

I went through the same thing trying to decipher these lyrics!

As far as I can figure-
"You simply get- so full of pep- you're start-ing to shout"

Okolehao is the Hawaiian booze praised in that second verse-

"We want her, we crave her, we love her O-kol-ehao" (and how!)

Also- She "wriggles" and giggles and wiggles...
This is what I used for my arrangement, but I've been wrong before!
I'd be glad to be corrected if someone knows differently.

Tod Johnson · Post by **Tod Johnson** » 15 Aug 2020 10:09 pm

Yes the lyrics you're missing in this old time song is basically "Okole Hau". Okole - okole - okole - kole - kole - hau.

In translation, it means "kick ass"

It's a Hawaiian version of the homemade moonshine beverage.

Sometimes they made it out of pineapple and called it "pineapple swipe"

Paul Seager · Post by **Paul Seager** » 16 Aug 2020 6:57 am

I love this forum! Gentlemen thanks so much, not only for the lyrics but also the translation!

\ paul

Tod Johnson · Post by **Tod Johnson** » 16 Aug 2020 7:54 am

You got it!
Just to mention, in case you never heard it before my fave Sol Hoopii song.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ik-Q-KD4LLQ

Mitch Drumm · Post by **Mitch Drumm** » 16 Aug 2020 7:58 am

On the Atlas transcription version, you can hear Sol clearly singing "so full of pep". Also clearly on The Hula Bluebirds version.

But it's weird, on several other versions by other artists it's unintelligible to my ear--Pua Almeida, the other Sol version; Lani, and even the Felix Mendelssohn/Helen Clare. I wonder if they used different words at that spot?

Okolehau is mentioned in several Hawaiian songs--notably "I'm Pau" by Dick McIntire. Or "Hawaiian Hospitality" by McIntire/Dorothy Lamour, Louis Armstrong/Andy Iona, Bill Lincoln, Pua Almeida, or Napua Stevens (fantastic).

Go listen to the pre-war "Okolehao Blues" by Norman Clark with Bill Joseph on steel.........."they've got a drink that can't be beat, that will knock you off your feet........"

David Matzenik · Post by **David Matzenik** » 16 Aug 2020 1:05 pm

And then there is Martha Raye's marvelous performance of "Okoulehau!" in the 1937 movie Waikiki Wedding.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1v9BZT1CPM

Mitch Drumm · Post by **Mitch Drumm** » 16 Aug 2020 1:48 pm

David Matzenik wrote:And then there is Martha Raye's marvelous performance of "Okoulehau!" in the 1937 movie Waikiki Wedding.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1v9BZT1CPM

Thanks for that David--never heard it.

She was nuts!! Listen to her on "Ooh, Doctor Kinsey", "Snafu", or "Pig Foot Pete".

Nic Neufeld · Post by **Nic Neufeld** » 16 Aug 2020 2:09 pm

Ha, I was just going to mention that one. Not necessarily the most memorable song from a movie that gave us three fantastic standards (Sweet Leilani, Blue Hawaii, and In a Little Hula Heaven) but still a fun one.

Norman Markowitz · Post by **Norman Markowitz** » 18 Aug 2020 8:26 pm

http://www.huapala.org/Hula/Hula_Blues.html

Lyrics to many Hawaiian songs can be found at:

www.huapala.org

Steffen Gunter · Post by **Steffen Gunter** » 18 Aug 2020 11:58 pm

Thanks erverybody, I was wondering about these "Hula Blues" lyrics too.

btw, could anyone help me with another line I as a non-native speaker just don't get:

What does the choir sing behind the lead vocals in Dick McIntire's "I'm Pau"?

I'm pau (â€¦?â€¦)
with Okolehao (â€¦?â€¦)
you betcha and how (â€¦?â€¦)
I'm pau â€“ I'm gonna wrap it up â€¦

Thanks in advance
Steffen

Steffen Gunter · Post by **Steffen Gunter** » 19 Aug 2020 2:00 am

Because I know that the original recording of "I'm Pau" is quite rare I loaded it up to share it with my fellow forumites and perhaps now somebody could answer my question above.

https://soundcloud.com/tqsyjf389vfe/im-pau-im-through

Mitch Drumm · Post by **Mitch Drumm** » 19 Aug 2020 5:32 am

I don't think those are English words. The chorus is just making sounds---like Little Richard's "A-wop-bop-a-lu-bop-a-lop-bam-boom". That's the way I've always heard it.

Or like "Yaaka Hula Hickey Dula"........a vamp.

Paul Seager · Post by **Paul Seager** » 19 Aug 2020 8:31 am

Norman Markowitz wrote:http://www.huapala.org/Hula/Hula_Blues.html

Lyrics to many Hawaiian songs can be found at:

www.huapala.org

Thanks Norman. I went to this site at the beginning of my search and it is how this thread came about. I believe these are the published lyrics but not those sung by Hoopii.

I rehearsed with my band last night and we used the lyrics supplied by Rick and Tod. It all sounds a lot more authentic now although it is challenging to articulate "O-kol-ehao". I may order a case to help loosen the tongue!

\ paul

Paul Seager · Post by **Paul Seager** » 19 Aug 2020 8:36 am

Steffen Gunter wrote: What does the choir sing behind the lead vocals in Dick McIntire's "I'm Pau"?

I know and love this song but I agree with Mitch, the choir is singing a scat. Lyrically it is mostly non-sensical and you can probably get away with a lot of mistakes live!

Jack Hanson · Post by **Jack Hanson** » 19 Aug 2020 11:46 am

Jim & Bob recorded this wonderful acoustic version of Hula Blues with lyrics that are easily discernible:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MXcbTay5Ws

Mike Schway · Post by **Mike Schway** » 19 Aug 2020 4:59 pm

Mitch Drumm wrote:...Okolehau is mentioned in several Hawaiian songs--notably "I'm Pau" by Dick McIntire. Or "Hawaiian Hospitality" by McIntire/Dorothy Lamour, Louis Armstrong/Andy Iona, Bill Lincoln, Pua Almeida, or Napua Stevens (fantastic).

Also in Malihini Mele, recorded by S.K. Bright and countless others. The singer "played a tune on his sweet okolehau." Since the rest of the song pretty much describes a departure from reality if the Hawaiian words are taken literally, he must have been on *something*.

Paul Seager · Post by **Paul Seager** » 20 Aug 2020 1:10 am

Jack Hanson wrote:Jim & Bob recorded this wonderful acoustic version of Hula Blues with lyrics that are easily discernible

Jack, thanks for this. These lyrics match to those on the link that Norman provided. This helps me a lot because I think this version has more colour to it with the additional middle section which has that 20's/30's touch to it!

So I guess I have to choose between the lyrics describing illegal alcohol manufacture and ermmm "Golden Showers" which I am sure meant something completely different in 1933!

\ paul

Jack Hanson · Post by **Jack Hanson** » 20 Aug 2020 8:08 am

You're welcome, Paul. Robert Pauole was a master of high-bass A tuning on a tricone. It's a pity he made so few recordings, but the ones that survived set the bar quite high indeed. My personal favorite is the truly sublime By The Waters Of The Minnetonka:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCYv2Ygr_6Y