Pele Throws Down
From the Mountain

A Hawaiian love song that Selena sings
at a concert in Kapiolani Park in Honolulu

Pele throws down from her mountains
the rocks of the earth, makes them flow
from the mouths of broad Kilauea
o’er land to the sea, slowly flow
Her lava, in its unstoppable flow

Covers orchards and gardens and home hearths
of the people, there long generations.
Flows onward on down to the sea
building new land for new generations
long past our ability to see.
Long past our ability to see.

We take what we have and we love it
expect nothing for future untold
just love what we have when we have it
expect nothing beyond what we hold.
Make do with what we can hold

It’s the way of the earth
and the way of our hearth
and we play it and work it
for all that we’re worth.

And we pray with our love
And we speak with our love
to the heavens above
To let you and me
be all we can be
all that we can see

Do all we can do
best for me, best for you
for kin and kith, too
My love is for you
for our children, too

For this day—yes, today—wafts of plumeria
and the smell of the salt from the sea
like the smell of your hair when I care for you
like the feel of your love for only me.

When our children move on with their own lives
and we sit thinking how could it be
that we’ve sped through the time of our own lives
yet still much to do and to see.

We marvel at the cycle of Pele
covering old with always the new
I’m sad to think that we’ll be gone
But glad that I’ve been loving you.

I’m glad that I’ve always loved you.
Hold my hand, for I’ll always love you.