Uploaded August 2024 | Updated September 2026, 1 day ago
Here's the first song of my latest "beer can" series. It reached Number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in early 1972. According to Wikipedia, Edwards says about this song, "It was just at the time of the Vietnam War and Nixon. It was looking bad out there. That song meant a lot to a lot of people during that time--especially me."
Here's the first song of my latest "beer can" series. It reached Number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in early 1972. According to Wikipedia, Edwards says about this song, "It was just at the time of the Vietnam War and Nixon. It was looking bad out there. That song meant a lot to a lot of people during that time--especially me."
![Honolulu City Lights(Keola Beamer) ukulele cover
Anyone who has lived in Hawaii knows the sadness of leaving the islands and can relate to this song, one of the best songs ever written in and about Hawaii. Young people might not quite understand the third verse, but this song was written during the days when it was possible for family and friends to go right up to the departure gate at the airport to bid someone aloha.
Although I left Hawaii in 1988 (at age 31), my leaving only deepened my love and appreciation for the islands and it makes my return visits that much sweeter.
The video comes from a karaoke laser disc that features Hawaii hits, and Im happy to share more hula performed by the beautiful Kanoe Miller.
[intro: E7 A ]
[A] Looking out upon the [E] city lights
[G] And the stars above the [D] ocean
[F] Got my ticket for the [A] midnight [F#m] plane
And it’s not [E7] easy to leave a[A]gain
[A] Took my clothes and put them [E] in my bag
[G] Try not to think just yet of [D] leaving
[F] Looking out into the [A] city [F#m] lights
And it’s not [E7] easy to leave a[A]gain [ Em7 - A7 ]
Chorus:
[D] Each [E7] time Hono[A]lulu city [D] lights
[F#m] Stir up [B7] memories in [E] me
[D] Each [E7] time Hono[A]lulu city [D] lights
[E7] Will bring me back a[A]gain
Bridge:
[C] You are my [G] island [A] sunset
And [C] you are my [G] island [A] rain
[A] Put on my shoes and light a [E] cigarette
[G] Wondering which of my friends will [D] be there
[F] Standing with their leis a[A]round my [F#m] neck
It’s not [E7] easy to leave a[A]gain [ Em7 - A7 ]
[D] Each [E7] time Hono[A]lulu city [D] lights
[F#m] Stir up [B7] memories in [E] me
[D] Each [E7] time Hono[A]lulu city [D] lights
[E7] Will bring me back a[A]gain
[E7] Bring me back a[A]gain
[G] Bring me [D] back.. a[A]gain Honolulu City Lights(Keola Beamer) ukulele cover](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/p31dcAzjX68/mqdefault.jpg)

![Have You Seen Her (the Chi-Lites) ukulele cover
We set up a pool on the deck for our granddaughter in mid-August, but after one use, there was a mini-rainy season, and we couldnt use the pool for several days. We did collect a nice amount of rain water, though, which I used to water the garden the following week. There was something relaxing about watching the raindrops in the water, but it was also sad, too. I shot a video of the pool in the rain and decided to use this sad Chi-Lites song from 1971 as background music. Hope you like my rendition!
intro: [ G /// Bm7 /// C /// D7sus / D7 / ] x2
(spoken while playing intro chords four more times)
One month ago today, I was happy as a lark
But now I go for walks to the movies, maybe to the park
I have a seat on the same old bench to watch the children play
You know, tomorrow is their future, but for me, just another day
They all gather around me, they seem to know my name
We laugh, tell a few jokes, but it still doesnt ease my pain.
I know I cant hide from a memory, though day after day Ive tried
I keep sayin shell be back, but today again Ive lied, ohhh
I [G] see her face every[Gmaj7]where I go
On the [G6] street, and even at the [G] picture show,
Have you [D7sus] seen her?
[D7] Tell me have you [G] seen her?
Oh I [G] hear her voice as the [Gmaj7] cold winds blow
In the [G6] sweet music on my [G] radio
Have you [D7sus] seen her?
[D7] Tell me have you [G] seen her?
[C]Why, [Bm7] oh [Am] why did she have to leave and
go a[G]way /// G+ / [G6] woh-[G7]oh-[A7]oh
Ive been used to havin someone to lean on
and Im [D7sus] lost, [D7] baby Im [D7sus] lost [D7] ohh
She [G] left her kiss up[Gmaj7]on my lips
But [G6] left that break with[G]in my heart.
Have you [D7sus] seen her?
[D7] Tell me have you [G] seen her?
Oh I see her hand reaching [Gmaj7] out to me
[G6] Only she can [G] set me free
Have you [D7sus] seen her?
[D7] Tell me have you [G] seen her?
[C]Why, [Bm7] oh [Am]why did she have to leave and
go a[G]way /// oh [G+] yeah [G6] woh-[G7]oh-[A7]oh
Ive been used to havin someone to lean on
and Im [D7sus] lost, [D7] baby Im [D7sus] lost [D7] ohh
Do [G] do do do do [Gmaj7] do do do
Do [G6] do do do do [G] do do do
Have you [D7sus] seen her?
[D7] Tell me have you [G] seen her?
(spoken while playing these chords twice)
[ G / Gmaj7 / G6 / G / D7sus / D7 / G /// ]
As another day comes to an end
Im lookin for a letter or somethin
Anything that she would send
With all the people I know
Im still a lonely man.
You know, its funny, I thought I had her
in the palm of my hand
(tell me have you seen her)
Do [G] do do do do [Gmaj7] do do do
Do [G6] do do do do [G] do do do
//: Have you [D7sus] seen her? [D7] Tell me have you [G] seen her? :// Have You Seen Her (the Chi-Lites) ukulele cover](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/pjUPlxGp-bs/mqdefault.jpg)





![Edelweiss (ukulele rendition)
I was saddened to hear of the passing of Christopher Plummer, who starred in one of my favorite movies of all time, The Sound of Music. He also acted in my favorite mini-series of all-time, The Thornbirds. Hope you like my tribute to him.
[intro: G D7 G D7]
[G] Edel[D7]weiss, [G] edel[C]weiss
[G] Every [Em] morning you [C] greet [D7] me
[G] Small and [D7] white, [G] clean and [C] bright
[G] You look [D7] happy to [G] meet me
[D7] Blossom of snow, may you [G] bloom and grow
[A7] Bloom and grow for[D7]ever
[G] Edel[G7]weiss, [C] edel[Cm]weiss
[G] Bless my [D7] homeland for[G]ever [ C D7]
[G] Edel[D7]weiss, [G] edel[C]weiss
[G] Every [Em] morning you [C] greet [D7] me
[G] Small and [D7] white, [G] clean and [C] bright
[G] You look [D7] happy to [G] meet me
[D7] Blossom of snow, may you [G] bloom and grow
[A7] Bloom and grow for[D7]ever
[G] Edel[G7]weiss, [C] edel[Cm]weiss
[G] Bless my [D7] homeland for[ C Cm ]ever [G] Edelweiss (ukulele rendition)](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/sIHlAamxiJI/mqdefault.jpg)

![Arms of Mary (Sutherland Brothers & Quiver) ukulele cover with Siany
The first time I saw Siany on YouTube was her video of Nancy Sinatras Sugar Town and I loved it! I couldnt imagine that over the ensuing years, Id have the privilege of collaborating with her on a number of videos. This one means a lot to me because she took time out from her busy life (including expecting a baby in a couple of months!) to work on this collab with me. I hope you like our rendition of this 1976 song. Check out her YT channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/siankummer
[ intro: C G7 Am F ]
intro: //// //// //// ////
[C] The lights shine [G] down the valley
[C] The wind blows [F] up the alley
[C] Oh, and I wish I was
[G] lyin in the arms of [C] Mary [Fm]
[C] She took the [G] pains of boyhood
[C] and turned them [F] into feel good
[C] Oh, how I wish I was
[G] lyin in the arms of [C] Mary
Mary was the [Em] girl who taught me all I [Am] had to know
He put me [F] right on my first mis[G]take
Summer wasnt [Em] gone when I learned all she [Am] had to show
She really [F] gave all a boy could [G] take, [G7] whoa
[C] So now when [G] I get lonely
[C] Still looking for the [F] one and only
[C] Thats when I wish I was
[G] lyin in the arms of [C] Mary [Fm]
[ solo: C G C F C G ]
[C] Mary was the [Em] girl who taught me all I [Am] had to know
She put me [F] right on my first mis[G]take
Summer wasnt [Em] gone when I learned all she [Am] had to show
She really [F] gave all a boy could [G] take [A7]
[D] The lights shine [A] down the valley
[D] The wind blows [G] up the alley
[D] Oh, and I wish I was [A] lyinin the arms of [Bm] Mary
[G] Lyin in the [A] arms of [Bm] Mary
[G] Lyin in the [A] arms of [Bm] Mary
[G] ooh [A] ooh [Bm] ooh
//: G A Bm :// x4
[ G A G ] Arms of Mary (Sutherland Brothers & Quiver) ukulele cover with Siany](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/uCQscACFzKE/mqdefault.jpg)