The song ‘Isa Lei’ is a traditional Fijian Farewell Song sung in many resorts, hotels and lodgings across Fiji. It is a truly special experience that is sung to guests prior to their departure as a sign of respect and also sadness. The song’s moving melody and heartfelt delivery often find departing guests in tears as their ‘new family’ farewell them.
Tradition says that the ‘Isa Lei’ was composed by Turaga na Tui Nayau, Ratu Tevita Uluilakeba (father of Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, founding father of the modern nation of Fiji) in 1916 for Adi Litia Tavanavanua when she went to visit Tubou, Lakeba.
The ‘Isa Lei’ melody comes from a traditional Tongan love song, but the Fijians adopted it and turned it in to a farewell song. Below you can see the video of the local Nacula Island community community singing the ‘Isa Lei’ to guests prior to their departure:
FIJIAN LYRICS
Isa Isa vulagi lasa dina
Nomu lako au na rarawa kina
Cava beka ko a mai cakava
Nomu lako au na sega ni lasa
CHORUS
Isa Lei na noqu rarawa
Ni ko sa na vodo ena mataka
Bau nanuma, na nodatou lasa
Mai Suva nanuma tikoga
Vanua rogo na nomuni vanua
Ke na ca ni levu tu na ua
Lomaqu voli meu bau butuka
Tovolea ke balavu na bula
CHORUS
Domoni dina na nomu yanuyanu
Kena kau wale na salusalu
Mocelolo, bua, na kukuwalu
Lagakali, aba na rosi damu
CHORUS
ENGLISH LYRICS
Isa isa you are my only treasure
Must you leave me so lonely and forsaken?
As the roses miss the sun at dawn
At every moment my heart is yearning for you
CHORUS
Isa lei the purple shadow is falling
Sad the morrow will dawn upon my sorrow
Do not forget when you are so far away
The precious moments at Oarsman’s Bay
Isa isa my heart was filled with pleasure
From the moment I heard your greeting
Mid the sunshine we spend the hours together
Now so swiftly those happy hours are fleeting
CHORUS
Over the ocean your island home is calling
This happy country where roses bloom and slender
Oh if I could but journey there beside you
Then forever my heart would sing in rapture
CHORUS
