Lahaina Aloha Lyrics
Sways the palm trees
Paradise awaits
And so does she
That was like a romance
From a page in history
That he stopped at
On the way back to his boat
Met his glancing
Like they say
"It was all she wrote"
But I can't stay (bye bye)
Girl you know I'm gonna sail away (sail away)
When the wind comes up
And when the sun goes down
I'll say "goodbye" to this old island town
You and Lahaina always on my mind
So they could spend more
Precious time near the water side
And it wasn't right
They were two ships
Passing in the night
But I can't stay (bye bye)
Girl you know I'm gonna sail away (sail away)
When the wind comes up
And when the sun goes down
I'll say "goodbye" to this old island town
Lahaina always on my mind
But I can't stay (bye bye)
Girl you know I'm gonna sail away (sail away)
When the wind comes up
And when the sun goes down
I'll say "goodbye" to this old island town
I think about you when the full moon shines
Lahaina always on my mind
But I can't stay (bye bye)
Girl you know I'm gonna sail away (sail away)
When the wind comes up
And when the sun goes down
I'll say "goodbye" to this old island town
Lahaina always on my mind
"Lahaina Aloha" is the last great Beach Boys song. The 'Summer In Paradise' album this song is on was the Beach Boys' last (1992), and their least successful (the only one not to chart). It has been ridiculed up and down as an embarassing disaster, but that's not entirely the case. The album is bad because of three things: 1) It wanted to continue where "Kokomo" left off and they screwed it up; 2) half the songs are unlistenably and outright terrible; and 3) it's good stuff is mired in all the crap so no one knew it was there. But there's great stuff if you can find it... such as this song. As I said, it's their last great song: a lost gem. It has everything you'd want from the Beach Boys - at this time in their career anyway. The opening lyric "Where the sea breeze sways the palm trees, paradise awaits..." is gorgeous poetry for any Beach Boys fan. I won't break the song down, the whole thing is perfect. As for the meaning, it's about 2 people who fall in love one night in Lahaina, Hawaii, but the guy has to leave on his ship and doesn't know when he'll ever be back. On top of it being great, it's also a poignant last great chorus for Carl Wilson who had only a few years left... we know he wanted to, but couldn't stay... and with that he, and the Beach Boys, sailed into the sunset.
I think the line you have as "I don't know what way you pull this shines" may be "Out on the water when the full moon shines".