One of Lena Machado’s Hawaiian classics, Ei Nei, is a beautiful example of what happens when more modern jazz sounds make their way into Hawaiian music.
The version I used for reference is a ripping live performance by the Sean Naauao Trio. You can hear Machado’s old arrangement on her Hawaiian Songbird album.
It’s in the key of A and has some fun chromatic movements that hang on the salty notes before changing to a sweet maj7 chord.
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A C#m7>Cm7>Dmaj7 E (repeat)
A C#m7>Cm7>Dmaj7...
Dmaj7 E
Aloha wau ia 'oe
A Amaj7 C#m7>Cm7>Dmaj7...
E ku'u aloha ei nei
Dmaj7 E
There'll be no one in your place
A C#m7>Cm7>Dmaj7...
Ei nei
Dmaj7 E
As evening shadows fall
A Amaj7 C#m7>Cm7>Dmaj7...
I hear your sweet melody
Dmaj7 E
That brings me fond memories
A (Ab)
Of you
A7 A (Bb)
I'll be so lost without you
Dmaj7
Every thing seems so blue
B7
My heart keeps saying “it's you, dear
C7 B7 (C#m7>Cm7>Dmaj7...)
It's you, it's you, just you, ku'uipo”
Dmaj7 E
Aloha wau ia 'oe
A Amaj7 C#m7>Cm7>Dmaj7...
You're just mine alone
Dmaj7 E
There'll be no one in your place
A C#m7>Cm7>Dmaj7...
Ei nei.