The Kinks
The Kinks
The Kinks
The Kinks
The Kinks
The Kinks
The Kinks
The Kinks
The Kinks
The Kinks
The Kinks
The Kinks
The Kinks
The Kinks
This is a seemingly lighthearted song about an “English boy” who won a vacation to Waikiki, Hawaii. The singer is excited to visit the famously beautiful island, forgetting that he lives on a famously beautiful island himself. When he gets there, he’s disillusioned by the commercialism he finds: eve...
[Verse 1]
I won a competition in a little column in my local paper
So I packed my bags and flew across the sea all on my local paper
Sailing to Hawaii in the U.S.A
I'm just an English boy who won a holiday in Waikiki
[Verse 2]
I didn't realize it was commercialized when I unpacked my cases
Because a genuine Hawaii ukulele cost me thirty guineas
And even when I'm swimming I have to pay
I'm just an English boy who won a holiday in Waikiki
Oh yeah, yeah
[Verse 3]
Across the coral sands I saw a hula hula dancer, looking pretty
I asked her where she came from and she said to me
"I come from New York City
And my mother is Italian
And my dad's a Greek"
I'm just an English boy who won a holiday in Waikiki
[Verse 4]
It's a hooka hooka on the shiny briny on the way to Kona
And in a little shack they had a little sign that said Coca Cola
And even all the grass skirts were PVC
I'm just an English boy who won a holiday in Waikiki
Oh yeah, yeah
[Refrain]
In Waikiki
In Waikiki
Holiday in Waikiki was written by Ray Davies.
Holiday in Waikiki was produced by Shel Talmy.
The Kinks released Holiday in Waikiki on Wed Oct 28 1964.