Lava – English Lyrics

• By: Kuana Torres Kahele, Napua Greig
• Album: Lava

Lyrics & Translation

Embark on a captivating journey into the Hawaiian language and culture through Pixar's enchanting song "Lava." Performed by Hawaiian artists Kuana Torres Kahele and Napua Greig, this musical short tells a timeless love story through its heartfelt lyrics and ukulele-driven melody. Learning the words will not only reveal a clever pun at its core but also immerse you in the themes of patience, hope, and the profound beauty of true connection, making it a special way to appreciate the Aloha spirit.

[English]

A long long time ago

There was a volcano

Living all alone in the middle of the sea.

He sat high above his bay

Watching all the couples play

And wishing that he had someone too.

And from his lava came

This song of hope that he sang out loud

Every day

For years and years.

...

I have a dream.

I hope it will come true.

You are here with me.

And I am here with you.

I wish that the earth, sea, and the sky up above

...

Would send me someone to lava.

...

Years of singing all alone

Turned his lava into stone

Until he was on the brink of extinction.

...

But little did he know

That living in the sea below

That another volcano

Was listening to his song.

...

Everyday she heard his tune

Her lava grew and grew

Because she believed his song was meant for her.

Now she was so ready to meet him above the sea.

As he sang his song of hope for the last time.

...

I have a dream.

I hope it will come true.

You are here with me.

And I am here with you.

I wish that the earth, sea, and the sky up above

Would send me someone to lava.

...

Rising from the sea below

Stood a lovely volcano

Looking all around

But she could not see him.

He tried to sing to let her know

That she was not there alone

But with no lava, his song was all gone.

...

He filled the sea with his tears

Watched his dreams disappear

As she remembered what his song meant to her.

I have a dream.

I hope it will come true.

You are here with me.

And I am here with you.

I wish that the earth, sea, and the sky up above

Would send me someone to lava.

...

Oh they were so happy

To finally meet above the sea.

All together now their lava grew and grew.

No longer are they all alone

With Aloha as their new home.

And when you go and visit them this is what they sing:

I have a dream I hope it will come true.

That you will grow old with me, and I will grow old with you.

We thank the earth, sea, and the sky we thank too.

I lava YOU!

I lava YOU!

I LAVA YOU!

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
volcano /vɒlˈkeɪ.noʊ/ B1	noun - a mountain with a crater through which lava and gases are expelled
lava /ˈlɑː.wə/ or /ˈlaʊ.ə/ A2	noun - hot molten rock from a volcano
dream /driːm/ B2	noun - a series of thoughts, images, or emotions occurring during sleep verb - to imagine or think about something that is not real or present
hope /hoʊp/ B1	noun - a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen verb - to want something to happen or be true
sing /sɪŋ/ A2	verb - to produce musical sounds with the voice
hope /hoʊp/ B1	noun - a feeling of expectation and desire
sky /skaɪ/ A2	noun - the space above the earth where clouds and the sun appear
earth /ɜːrθ/ A2	noun - the planet we live on
sea /siː/ A1	noun - a large body of salty water that covers much of the Earth's surface
hope /hoʊp/ B1	noun - a feeling of expectation and desire

Key Grammar Structures

• I have a dream.

  ➔ Present simple tense

  ➔ The phrase "I have" indicates a current state or belief.

• He sat high above his bay.

  ➔ Past simple tense

  ➔ The verb "sat" indicates an action completed in the past.

• Wishing that he had someone too.

  ➔ Past continuous tense

  ➔ The phrase "wishing that" expresses a desire in the past.

• But little did he know.

  ➔ Inversion for emphasis

  ➔ The phrase emphasizes the contrast between his ignorance and the reality.

• Looking all around.

  ➔ Present participle

  ➔ The phrase describes an ongoing action in the present.

• I wish that the earth, sea, and the sky up above.

  ➔ Subjunctive mood

  ➔ The phrase expresses a wish or desire that is not certain to happen.

• I lava YOU!

  ➔ Play on words (pun)

  ➔ The phrase uses a pun on "love" and "lava" to convey affection.