Ē Māmā Ē - by Hiram Kaehu

Ē Māmā ē mai uwē ʻoe
Hele aʻe nō au
A huli hoʻi mai

Hele ʻia i ka lā o ka leʻale'a
A komo ke aloha
A huli hoʻi mai

O wau kau i kapa mai ai
He līʻō Kaleponi
Piʻi nô ka hui

O ka piʻi no kau a ka piʻolani
O ka lina poepoe
Hoʻokahi mile

Haʻina ʻia mai ana ka puana
Ē māmā ē
Mai uwē ʻoe

Dearest mother I cry for you
I am leaving
But, I will return

This day I leave my joy
Is based on charity
But, I will return

I am summoned
To California and am frightened
But will persevere as part of the group

I travel inland to a high point
To the race track one mile
 
Tell the refrain
Dearest mother
I cry for you

 

Source: Lei of Stars CD - Written in the 1920's, this is a favorite of the falsetto singing style. © John Noble, 1928. Translator unknown, Edited by Dr. Barbara Price