From the recording One Day
I wrote this mele in honor of Eddie Aikau. Big wave surfer, lifeguard, and hero to those that he tried to save one fateful night. Played in Open D tuning (12 string) with 6 string overdub (Taro Patch)..
Lyrics
No Greater Love ©
Dave “Kawika” Fiely
A favorite son, Hawaiian soul
One with the water, fearless they told
Shimmering mountains rolled in the bay
He rode that thunder with a smile theyʻd say
Thereʻs no greater love than a life for a friend
To the sea he belongs, thatʻs just how it ends
Thereʻs no greater love in my heart I know
When others feared, Eddie would go
No child his own, a brother to all
Gave his lifeʻs breath to those that would fall
No souls lost, so many saved
Generations grateful, but debts canʻt be paid
Thereʻs no greater love than a life for a friend
To the sea he belongs, thatʻs just how it ends
Thereʻs no greater love in my heart I know
When others feared, Eddie would go
Hokuleʻa bound, Hawaiian pride
A raging storm, lost in the night
Fear started to rise, clinging to life
But Eddie went, soon lost to sight
Thereʻs no greater love than a life for a friend
To the sea he belongs, thatʻs just how it ends
Thereʻs no greater love in my heart I know
When others feared, Eddie would go
“Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends”