Isa Lei

Isa Lei is the Fijian song that my grandad sang when I visited him in March. And it was one of his favourite songs.

It is a "Fijian farewell song, which has many, many mean­ings. It expresses happiness, joy, and sorrow; beauty, and lingering memories of happy events, hope, and... love.
"What does Isa Lei means? Isa Lei means 'so sorry.' Isa Lei means 'so sad to know that you are departing from our dear islands.' Isa Lei says that you are going. Isa Lei means 'be kind, be truth,' and longs for the time when again we shall be meeting you."

As we say farewell to grandad, we sing Isa Lei with friends and family in Fiji tonight. They are having a kava ceremony in his honor.

Isa Lei

Isa Isa vulagi lassa dina
Nomu lako au na rarawa kina
Cava beka ko a mai cakava,
Nomu lako au na sega ni lasa.
... Chorus:
Isa Lei, na noqu rarawa,
Ni ki sana vodo e na mataka
Bau nanuma, na nodatou lasa,
Mai Suva nanuma tiko ga.
Vanua rogo na nomuni vanua,
Kena ca ni levu tu na ua,
Lomaqu voli me'u bau butuka
Tovolea ke balavu na bula.
(Chorus)
Domoni dina na nomu yanuyanu,
Kena kau wale na salusalu,
Mocelolo, bua, na kukuwalu,
Lagakali, maba na rosi damu.
(Chorus)

[English Translation]
Isa, Isa you are my only treasure;
Must you leave me, so lonely and foresaken?
As the roses will miss the sun at dawning,
Every moment my heart for you is yearning.
Chorus:
Isa Lei, the purple shadow falling,
Sad the morrow will dawn upon my sorrow;
O, forget not, when you're far away,
Precious moments beside dear Suva.
Isa, Isa, my heart was filled with pleasure,
From the moment I heard your tender greeting;
'Mid the sunshine, we spent the hours together,
Now so swiftly those happy hours are fleeting.
(Chorus)
O'er the ocean your island home is calling,
Happy country where roses bloom in splendour;
O, if I could but journey there beside you,
Then forever my heart would sing in rapture.
(Chorus)

Read more: SEEKERS - ISA LEI LYRICS http://www.metrolyrics.com/isa-lei-lyrics-seekers.html#ixzz20viaCfLe
Copied from MetroLyrics.com