Look around. Let Nature nurture your Soul. I record images I sense and share them here. |
How many people have ever been to Vanuatu? It's on my bucket list as it has one of the first local Baha'i Houses of Worship. Plus... no one goes there. I checked flights to/from VLI. Incredibly expensive from anywhere other than Noumea, New Caledonia (one hour flight) and Nadi, Fiji (2 hours) and Sydney (3). Vanuatu inspired this song. "Bali Ha'i", also spelled "Bali Hai", is a show tune from the 1949 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical South Pacific. The name refers to a mystical island, visible on the horizon but not reachable, and was originally inspired by the sight of Ambae island from neighboring Espiritu Santo in Vanuatu, where author James Michener was stationed in World War II." from Wikipedia. We had very few records growing up. "South Pacific" was one of them. I didn't realize how much it spoke to issues like xenophobia, feminism, racism... until years later. This song was notable for its sheer beauty. The longing, the siren call of a fantasy, is what now speaks to me; but, even as a child, I wanted to visit far off places. It's one of the reasons why I travel. Lyrics Most people live on a lonely island Lost in the middle of a foggy sea Most people long for another island One where they know they would like to be Bali Ha'i may call you Any night, any day In your heart you'll hear it call you Come away, come away Bali Ha'i will whisper on the wind of the sea Here am I, your special island Come to me, come to me Your own special hopes, Your own special dreams Loom on the hillside and shine in the Streams If you try, you will find me Where the sky meets the sea Here am I your special island Come to me, come to me Bali Ha'i, Bali Ha'i, Bali Ha'i Some day you'll see me Floating in the sunshine My head sticking out from a low flying Cloud You'll hear me call you Singing through the sunshine Sweet and near as can be Come to me, here am I Come to me Try, you'll find me Where the sky meets the sea Hear am I, your special island Come to me, come to me Bali Ha'i, Bali Ha'i, Bali Ha'i Songwriters: R. Rodgers / O Hammerstein / R Rodgers |