Kākāriki

How did we get here, is it just a dream?

Tell me I believe in something more than we 

can try to help ourselves, can you show me how

to let it go, I don’t know (Now I’m)

Throwing over tables thinking I've made a mistake

(awhi mai) Help me if you can (awhi mai)

Help me if you can (awhi mai)  

Throwing out the water hoping the baby understands

(awhi mai) Help me if you can (awhi mai)

Help me if you can (awhi mai)

Can we let it go. (I). won’t perform my tricks

sick of dressing up like clown, it’s a risk 

I can do without, can you show me how

to let it go, I don’t know (I’m)

I know I need to work it out

I know I’ve got to get out of here

Don’t want to lose myself in the mess,

Will you tell me how to make it out?

---

Kākāriki - a translation

Hold me, Embrace me,

Help me

Pīwaiwaka

Takahurihuri Takawiriwiri mai

whiuwhiu te hurumaeko ka patu ō whatu 

Ka tākiri ana i te Wao nui tāngata 

Katakata ana ki tō tāwhatitanga

Tōku tāwhatitanga ka whakahinga te mana 

Aue aue taukuri e

Te whakamomori ki te huarahi hau kāinga o te wairua

Kei hea rā te ara ki tōku orokohanga?

Kei hea rā, kei hea rā?

Ka rongo i te karanga

Hoki mai tāku ipo (aaa)

Hoki mai tāku aroha

Whāia i te ara pīwaiwaka

Hoki mai ki te aroha

Ka rere te reo i runga i te tihitihi

mai te rāwhiti ki te hau-ā-uru

pikipiki hekeheke i te huarahi

kia tae atu ki te ahunga o te karanga 

mā ngā tapuwae o ngā tūpuna

kua tae mai ki kōnei e

(Me) haere tonu kia whakarewa ngā rēanga 

Ka rongo i te karanga

Ko Īhoa tōku hēpara; 

Ko ia hei mea kia takoto ahau 

Ko ia hei whakahoki ake tōku wairua: 

Ahakoa haere ahau i te awaawa o te atarangi o te mate

E taka ana e koe he tēpū ki tōku aroaro 

He pono e aru i ahau te pai me te atawhai

I ngā rā katoa e ora ai ahau, 

Ka noho ahau ki te whare ō Ihowa ake tonu atu

---

Fantail - a Pīwaiwaka translation

It twists and turns

Flick goes the tail feather and you’re blinded

Snared in the wilderness of man

Where they laugh at your demise

At my demise then I fall deeper

Oh dear, oh dear

I dangerously desire the path to the home of my spirit

Where is the way that leads to my origin?

Where is it, where is it?

Then I hear a call:

Come back my dear

Come back my love

Follow the fantail

Come back to love

The voice is carried on the whisper of the wind

From the east to west

My pathway continuously goes up and down

Until I reach the source of this call

By the footsteps of our ancestors

We have arrived here

We have to continue for the sake of the generations

Then I hear the call

The Lord is my shepherd

He makes me rest

He restores my soul

Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death

You prepare a table before me 

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,

I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever

(the first line to every verse of Psalm 23)

Korimako

I te tangi o te Korimako

He aha tāna e kōrero

Ka huri tāku aro ki te whakarongo

Ki te mārama i te waiata

He waiata whakahoki mahara

he mea hou rānei he tīmatanga?

He aha tāna e kawea?

Waita mai waiata mai

Kua roa te wā 

mai te titonga o tōku waiata

Kua rongo ahau

I ngā waiata o ōu tūpuna

Nō reira tuhia ki tō rae

Ēhara tāku toa i te toa takitahi

Ēngari he toa takitini

Over the melting skies

We sing our lullaby

Good morning and goodnight

To our stories

Over the melting sky

We bring our lullaby

Good morning and goodnight

To our stories

---

Bellbird - a Korimako translation

At the cry of the bellbird

What is it trying to say

I turn to listen

To understand the song

Is it a song about remembering

Or something new, a beginning?

What is the message?

Sing it out, sing it out

It’s been a long time

Since the composition of my song

I have heard

All the songs of your ancestors

Therefore write it on your forehead:

My strength is not in myself alone,

But in a collective

(I am not alone)