"" is a traditional

Fiji Fiji, officially the Republic of Fiji, is an island country in Melanesia, part of Oceania in the South Pacific Ocean. It lies about north-northeast of New Zealand. Fiji consists of an archipelago of more than 330 islands—of which about ...

an farewell song.

Origin

The origin of this song is disputed. One versions holds that

Turaga In Fijian, Turaga is the word for a man. The ''Turaga-ni-Koro'' is a title for the head of a village (''Koro''), who is usually elected or appointed by the villagers. As kind of city administrator or mayor, he plays a key role in the modern Fiji ...

Bale na

Tu'i Nayau ''Tu’i Nayau'' is the title held by the paramount chief of the Lau Islands in Fiji and is synonymous with the title holders over lordship of these islands. When translated, ''Tu’i Nayau'' means "Lord of Nayau", an island north of Lakeba, the la ...

Ratu ''Ratu'' () is an Austronesian title used by male Fijians of chiefly rank. An equivalent title, ''adi'' (pronounced ), is used by females of chiefly rank. In the Malay language, the title ''ratu'' is also the traditional honorific title to r ...

Tevita Uluilakeba Tevita is the Fijian and Tongan form of the name David. It may refer to: * Tevita Aholelei, IFBB professional bodybuilder * Tevita Folau (born 1985), professional Australian rugby league player * Tevita Leo-Latu (born 1981), professional rugby le ...

composed it in 1916 for

Adi Adi or ADI may refer to: Abbreviations * Acceptable daily intake, in health and medicine * Acting detective inspector, a type of police inspector * Africa Development Indicators, a compilation of data assembled by the World Bank * Alternating ...

Litia Tavanavanua (1900–1983), when she visited

Tubou Tubou is a village on the Fijian island of Lakeba, with a population of about 2,000. One of eight villages on Lakeba, it is considered the Capital (political), capital of the Lau Islands, being the seat of the Vuanirewa clan, a powerful chiefly f ...

Lakeba Lakeba (pronounced ) is an island in Fiji’s Southern Lau Islands, Lau Archipelago; the provincial capital of Lau is located here. The island is the List of islands of Fiji, tenth largest in Fiji, with a land area of nearly 60 square kilometers. ...

, in 1916."Isa Lei (Fijian Farewell Song)"
by Wiliame Gucake Nayacatabu, FijianLyrics.com, 25 October 2015 The

Fiji Museum The Fiji Museum is a museum in Suva, Fiji, located in the capital city's botanical gardens, Thurston Gardens. Background The museum is a statutory body and is under the administration of the Fiji Museum Act and the Preservation of Objects of A ...

holds Uluilakeba's manuscript, but according to its description he composed the song in 1918 while he was in training as a civil servant in

Suva Suva (, ) is the Capital city, capital and the most populous city of Fiji. It is the home of the country's largest metropolitan area and serves as its major port. The city is located on the southeast coast of the island of Viti Levu, in Rew ...

. Tevita Uluilakeba was the father of Ratu Sir

Kamisese Mara ''Ratu'' Sir Kamisese Mara, (6 May 1920 – 18 April 2004) was a Fijian politician who served as Chief Minister of Fiji, Chief Minister from 1967 to 1970, when Fiji gained its independence from the United Kingdom, and, apart from one brief in ...

, founding father of the modern nation of Fiji. Alternatively, "Isa Lei" is the Fijian version of a

Tonga Tonga, officially the Kingdom of Tonga, is an island country in Polynesia, part of Oceania. The country has 171 islands, of which 45 are inhabited. Its total surface area is about , scattered over in the southern Pacific Ocean. accordin ...

n love song ("") used to court the then Princess Salote (later

Sālote Tupou III Sālote Tupou III (born Sālote Mafileo Pilolevu; 13 March 1900 – 16 December 1965) was Queen of Tonga from 1918 to her death in 1965. She reigned for nearly 48 years, the longest of any Tongan monarch. She was well known for her height, stan ...

). It was written in 1915 and was heard by a visiting Fijian sergeant. From there, the Fijians adopted it to a farewell song, but they kept the Tongan melody. Lieutenant A. W. Caten, a bandmaster from the Fijian Defence Forces, created a

foxtrot The foxtrot is a smooth, progressive dance characterized by long, continuous flowing movements across the dance floor. It is danced to big band (usually vocal) music. The dance is similar in its look to waltz, although the rhythm is in a time ...

arrangement in 1932; he is often credited in modern recordings of the song, including in versions by

The Seekers The Seekers were an Australian folk music, folk-influenced pop music, pop group originally formed in Melbourne in 1962. They were the first Australian pop music group to achieve major chart and sales success in the United Kingdom and the Unit ...

, and

Ry Cooder Ryland Peter Cooder (born March 15, 1947) is an American musician, songwriter, film score composer, record producer, and writer. He is a multi-instrumentalist but is best known for his slide guitar work, his interest in traditional music, and h ...

and V. M. Bhatt on their album ''

A Meeting by the River ''A Meeting by the River'' is an album recorded by Ry Cooder and Vishwa Mohan Bhatt; it was recorded in September 1992 and released in April 1993 through the record label Water Lily Acoustics. This improvised, collaborative album features Coode ...

''. It was regularly performed by Fijian singer Sakiusa Bulicokocoko.

Melody

\header \layout global = verseA = \lyricmode verseB = \lyricmode verseC = \lyricmode sopranoVoice = \relative c' right = \relative c' left = \relative c sopranoVoicePart = \new Staff \with \addlyrics \addlyrics pianoPart = \new PianoStaff << \new Staff = "right" \with \right \new Staff = "left" >> \score \score Source: Shown at

Fijian

Isa! Isa! vulagi lasa dina Nomu lako au rarawa kina A'cava beka ko a mai cakava? Na nomu lako, au na sega ni lasa. ''Chorus'' Isa Lei na noqu rarawa, Ni ko sa na vodo ena mataka Bau nanuma tiko ga, 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) Vanua rogo na nomu yanuyanu Kena kau wale na Salusalu, Mocelolo, Bua, na Kukuwalu, Lagakali, baba na rosi damu. (Chorus) Poetic English translation Isa! Isa! happy visitor indeed, Sad shall I be when you are gone; You came—I wonder what you need? Your going leaves me quite forlorn. ''Chorus'' Isa Lei, 'tis my great sorrow That you will sail away to-morrow. Forget not, when you are away Our happy hours in Suva Bay. Your country now is so well known, That were it not for heavy seas I'd wish, to me it might be shown Could I but have long life of ease.. (Chorus) Yes! your isle-home is so well known, Flowers for wreaths its woods enclose; Morecelolo, Bua and the Lagakali, grown On hillsides, too, the sweet rose. (Chorus) Literal English translation Alas, alas, most welcome guest Your going fills me with sorrow Whatever the reason you came, I feel bereft at your leaving. ''Chorus'' Oh, such sadness! I will feel so forlorn When you sail away tomorrow. Please remember the joy we shared In Suva, you will always be remembered. Your country is so well known If the seas weren't so rough I'd wish to brave them And live out a long life there. (Chorus) Your island is indeed much envied, Garlanded with forests Of mocelolo, bua, kukuwalu The scented lagakali, and surrounding all, red roses. (Chorus)"Isa Lei"
Teivaka Tonga

Tongan text

Si'i lile, viola lose hina, Fisimoto matala he lilifa, Isa ete nofo 'l he toafa, To'eloto tangi 'l he potulala. Ake mai pe va'a he peau, Toko faingata'a ene ha'u, Ka neongo si'i lupe ni kuo 'alu, Ho sino na te u fua pe 'eau. ''Chorus'' Fakapo he kohai te ne lava, 'E te manatua 'ae 'ofa'anga, Ne ngangatu mai o alaha, Feluteni si 'eku 'ofa ta'engata. Oh my! those viola white roses, Blooming flowers from yonder, howbeit, I live in a desert, With the aching heart of loneliness, Crying from desolate. Those branches reaches through the waves, Though difficult and laborious thou attempt, But lo! the lovebird (dove) will now depart, Your body's image will be a burden of my heart. ''Chorus'' Oh no! Who can endure? The memories of whom I love, She is my perfume and the fragrance of my life, The catalyst for my eternal love.

Notes and references

Notes References

External links