Pali Wind

Bob Nolan
Original copyright: 1956

In the wild wind of the Pali, hear a Polynesian call, he
Says Aloha Aloha Va o ea oi*
From the valley far below he sends a message long ago he’d
Saved for us dear Aloha Va o ea oi*

Voice of a far time
Knows I love you. Aloha Va o ea oi*

"Va o ea oi" means, “I will always love you,” a very popular phrase spoken to someone who leaves and may never return. (Mitch Awana courtesy of Michelle Sundin, August 31, 1998)

There were two recordings with slightly different words, slightly different titles:

1. The Sons of the Pioneers recorded “Pali Wind” in 1969 and it appeared on Sons of the Pioneers Visit the South Seas (LSP 4194). Three stages of its lead sheet production are pictured below. On the lead sheet, instead of va o ea oi (which is the correct Hawaiian spelling of the last line of the 1st, 2nd, and 4th verses), is written “A-U I-A 0-E”. It was originally registered for copyright in 1956.

2. “Wild Pali Wind” is a demo Bob made in the early 1950s after his trip to Hawaii. The melody is the same as "Pali Wind" but the Hawaiian words are missing, the song was transcribed from a demo. We don't know who backed him with the steel guitar and it was never recorded commercially. "Wild Pali Wind" ©1985. There is no sheet music available for this version.

We do not have any sheet music for this song, just lead sheets.

Pali Wind (first draft lead sheet)
Pali Wind (second draft lead sheet)
Pali Wind (final lead sheet)