Sweet Leilani

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Sweet Leilani is a song from the 1937 film, "Waikiki Wedding". It won the Academy Award for Best Original Song and was popularized by Bing Crosby who recorded it in 1935.

Harry Owens wrote the song on October 20, 1934 for his daughter Leilani who was born the previous day. Leilani is a popular Hawaiian name, but it means "heavenly garland", not "heavenly flower". It also has a figurative meaning – small Hawaiian children were carried on their parents' shoulders like a lei, a garland, so the name took up the meaning "heavenly child".

[edit] Lyrics

Sweet Leilani, Heavenly Flower
Nature fashioned roses kissed with dew
And then she placed them in a bower
It was the start of you.

Sweet Leilani, Heavenly Flower
I dreamed of paradise for two.
You are my paradise completed.
You are my dream come true.

Sweet Leilani, Heavenly Flower
Tropic skies are jealous as they shine
I think they’re jealous of your blue eyes
Jealous because you’re mine.

Sweet Leilani, Heavenly flower
I dreamed of paradise for two.
You are my paradise completed.
You are my dream come true.

You are my paradise completed.
You are my dream come true.

[edit] External links

• About the song

Awards
Preceded by "The Way You Look Tonight" from Swing Time	Academy Award for Best Original Song 1937	Succeeded by "Thanks for the Memory" from The Big Broadcast of 1938