I saw the splendor of the moonlight on Honolulu bay

There's something tender in the moonlight on Honolulu bay

And all the beaches are full of peaches

 

Who bring their ukes along

And in the glimmer of the moonlight

They love to sing this song

Chorus:
If you like-a ʻukulele lady ʻukulele lady like-a you
If you like to linger where it's shady ʻukulele lady linger too
If you kiss-a ʻukulele lady while you promise ever to be true
And she see another ʻukulele lady fool around with you 

Maybe she'll sigh

Maybe she'll cry

Maybe she'll find somebody else

Bye and bye to sing to

 

When it's cool and shady

Where the tricky wicki wackies woo

If you like-a ʻukulele lady

ʻUkulele lady like-a you

 

She used to sing to me by moonlight on Honolulu bay

Fond memories cling to me by moonlight

Although I'm far away

 

Some day I'm going where eyes are glowing

And lips are made to kiss

To see somebody in the moonlight and hear the song I miss

The ʻukulele was brought to Hawaiʻi from Madeira, Portugal in 1879. Three immigrants are credited with introducing the stringed instrument: Manuel Nunes, Augusto Diaz and Jose do Espirito Santo. These three played for the royal court and performed throughout Hawaiʻi. King Kalākaua and Queen Liliʻuokalani both played the ʻukulele and were instrumental in promoting it's popularity. There are three theories on how the ʻukulele (jumping flea) was named. 1) Playing of the instrument was described as finger movements jumping like fleas; 2) Edward Purvis' nickname was ʻukulele and the instrument was known as ʻUkulele's instrument; 3) Purvis's fingers looked like jumping fleas when he played. © 1925 Irving Berlin Inc.