I see da sails comin’ down from da north, Kamehameha like take my land by force. Big aliʻi, full of fire and pride, But dis island? We neva run, neva hide. British stay wit’ him, haole trade stay tight, I was lookin’ for one ally for da fight. Den one Russian ship wen anchor in da bay, And Scheffer wen talk like he came to stay. [Chorus – Pidgin] I no bow, I no kneel, Dis my ‘āina, dis da deal. He bring da guns, I bring da men, Try build empire? Let’s begin again. I no bow, I no fear, Fly da russian flag, we still here. But when da lies wen fall like rain— Only da truth, and da blood, remain. [Verse 2 – Hawaiian / English] ʻO wau nō Kaumualiʻi, ke aliʻi o Kauaʻi, ʻAʻole au e haʻalele i kuʻu ʻāina i aloha. Scheffer kōkua, me nā ʻōlelo kūka‘i, Promise me ships, promise me kālai waʻa. He say, “Russia stand by your side,” But he neva know da heart I hide. He want da islands, he want da crown, But no one owns what Pele lay down. [Bridge – Pidgin Spoken Word / Ska beat kicks in] He wen rename Hanalei—braddah please. He like call Hanapepe da Don? No tease. He dreamin’ of empire, ships, an’ war, But all I wanted was Kauaʻi, nothin’ more. Told him, “You get one chance, den pau,” He broke da deal, I broke him down. Scheffer ran, and I stayed true— Dis is our home, not one gift for you. [Chorus – Pidgin + Hawaiian Phrase] I no bow, I no break, Dis my island, make no mistake. Fly da red, burn da lie— Aloha ʻāina, till we die. I no bow, I no fall, Even empires too small. ʻO ke kūʻokoʻa, ko mākou koa, We fight for land, not for moa. [Outro – Full Band, fast tempo] So take yo’ flags, take yo’ guns, We get winds, we get suns. Scheffer gone, but I still stay— Aliʻi o Kauaʻi, to this day. (shouted) I! NO! BOW! (ʻAʻole mākou e kūlou!)
