Recording of Isa Lei by a choir

Subject: Recording of Isa Lei by a choir
From: Bates from Birregurra
Date: 20 Oct 07 - 03:18 AM

G'day all

For some time now I've been trying to locate a choral recording of the Fijian farewell song Isa Lei.....without success. I'm located at Birregurra, Victoria Australia. I am in an a'cappella group and we would like to have a choral version of it to learn from, particularly as only a couple of us can sight read music.

Cheers
Keith Maxwell

Subject: RE: Recording of Isa Lei by a choir
From: Joe Offer
Date: 20 Oct 07 - 03:39 AM

ISA LEI
(Guy/P/W)
The Seekers


Isa Isa vulagi lassa dina
Nomu lako au na rarawa kina
Cava beka ko a mai cakava,
Nomu lako au na sega ni lasa.

Isa Lei, na noqu rarawa,
Ni ko 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.

Isa Lei, na noqu rarawa,
Ni ko sana vodo e na mataka
Bau nanuma, na nodatou lasa,
Mai Suva nanuma tiko ga.

Domoni dina na nomu yanuyanu,
Kena kau wale na salusalu,
Mocelolo, bua, na kukuwalu,
Lagakali, maba na rosi damu.

Isa Lei, na noqu rarawa,
Ni ko sana vodo e na mataka
Bau nanuma, na nodatou lasa,
Mai Suva nanuma tiko ga.


*****


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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

source: http://lyricsplayground.com/alpha/songs/i/isalei.shtml

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Another transcription:

Isa Lei

Isa Isa vulagi lasa dina
Nomu lako, au na rarawa kina
Cava beka, ko a mai cakava
Nomu lako, au na sega ni lasa

Isa Lei,( Isa Lei) Na noqu rarawa ( noqu rarawa)
Ni ko sa na vodo e na mataka ( e na mataka)
Bau nanuma ( Bau nanuma), na nodatou lasa( na nodalasa lasa)
Mai Suva nanuma tiko ga.

English version of song:

Isa Lei

Isa, Isa. You are my only treasure
Must you leave me, so lonely and forsaken
As the roses will miss the sun at dawning
Every moment my heart for you is yearning

Isa Lei, the purple shadows fall
Sad the morrow will dawn upon my sorrow
Oh forget not when you are far away
Precious moments beside Suva Bay

Translation of song

Farewell
Farewell, truly delightful guest/visitor
Your departure is going to cause me sorrow
Whatever the reason for your departure
I will not be happy.

Yearning will be my sorrow
When you embark tomorrow
Just remember our good

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The song was recorded by The Seekers, and by Dave Guard and the Whiskeyhill Singers, and by various groups from Hawaii and Fiji. Ry Cooder used the song (apparently an instrumental version) in the score of the movie Dead Man Walking. This YouTube Search will lead you to a number of recordings.

-Joe-