Blue Lei Ukulele Chords – R. Alex Anderson and Milton Beamer. This song uses the chords: C, F, C7, C+, F7, Bb, G7, Gm, Dm, Db7, Fmin, Bbmi. You can change the key for free, as needed.
Blue Lei Ukulele Chords – R. Alex Anderson and Milton Beamer
CYou were wearing a Fblue lei
The day that I Fminfirst C7met you
And we wandered on the sand
By the blue, C+blue Fsea
With not a F7cloud in the sky to disBbtress us
Not a G7care had you or I to supC7press us
I shall C+always reFmember
The moment when I C7kissed you
And the Gminsmile upon your lips
So heavenly Dminsweet
F7
When your blue Bbeyes looked into Db7mine
It Fminwas Fthen the sun began to shine
That Gminday in C7May
You wore a Bbminblue, C7blue Flei
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“Blue Lei” History”
“Blue Lei” is one of the classic romantic songs from Hawaiʻi’s golden era of popular music. Although many artists have recorded it over the decades, the song itself dates back to the late 1930s.
The song’s history
- Lyrics: R. Alex Anderson
- Music: Milton Beamer
- It was written for the 1937 film Waikiki Wedding, starring Bing Crosby. Although “Blue Lei” was associated with the film, the movie’s biggest musical hit became the song Sweet Leilani.
What is the song about?
“Blue Lei” is a nostalgic love song in which the singer fondly remembers meeting someone who was wearing a beautiful blue lei. The lei becomes a symbol of that unforgettable first meeting, their walk along the beach, and their first kiss.
The lyrics evoke:
- crystal-blue Hawaiian waters,
- cloudless tropical skies,
- youthful romance,
- and the way a simple object—a lei—can forever preserve a precious memory.
Like many Hawaiian standards, it isn’t really about the flowers themselves; the lei symbolizes affection, welcome, and enduring love.
Musical style
“Blue Lei” is usually performed as:
- a slow Hawaiian hula,
- a romantic ballad,
- or an easy-going steel guitar standard.
Its gentle melody and flowing phrasing make it a favorite for hula dancers and traditional Hawaiian orchestras.
Notable recordings
Over the years it has been recorded by many Hawaiian artists, including:
- The Royal Hawaiian Serenaders
- Bill Akamuhou
- Tony Conjugacion
- Kamealoha and Company
One particularly charming vintage performance is by the Royal Hawaiian Serenaders.
A little musical observation
Since I know you enjoy looking beneath the surface of Hawaiian songs, here’s something you may appreciate.
The melody of “Blue Lei” is graceful and unhurried, allowing the vocalist to “float” over the accompaniment. This style was very common in Hawaiian music of the 1930s and 1940s, when the emphasis was on storytelling and warm vocal expression rather than virtuosic singing. The harmony is rich but uncomplicated, making it ideal for steel guitar, ukulele, and close vocal harmonies.
The result is a song that feels timeless—gentle, wistful, and unmistakably Hawaiian.
