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NEW  ZEALAND
FOLK*SONG
POKAREKARE
ANA

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Home - Māori songs - Kiwi songs

Composed by soldiers from Northland at the beginning of World War One

Pōkarekare ana
ngā wai o Waiapu,
Whiti atu koe hine
marino ana e.
They are agitated
the waters of Waiapu,
If you cross over girl
they will be calm.
E hine e
hoki mai ra.
Ka mate ahau
I te aroha e.
Oh girl
return to me,
I could die
of love for you.
Tuhituhi taku reta
tuku atu taku rīngi,
Kia kite tō iwi
raru raru ana e.
I've written my letter
I've sent my ring,
so that your people can see I'm troubled.
Whatiwhati taku pene
ka pau aku pepa,
Ko taku aroha
mau tonu ana e.
My pen is shattered,
I have no more paper
But my love
is still steadfast.
E kore te aroha
e maroke i te rā,
Mākūkū tonu i
aku roimata e.
Never will my love
be dried by the sun,
It will be moistened
by my tears.

Play this
140KB mp3 sound clip

by Dame Kiri Te Kanawa.
  1. Guitar chords
  2. Music score
  3. Footnotes

Origins

  1. Emanating in the North
  2. Modified by Tomoana
  3. Apirana Ngāta's daughter
  4. Different song-writing styles
  5. Conclusion; a group composition

Many Maori variants

  1. Old Dalmatian folk tune?
  2. 1919 in theatres
  3. 1926 piano sheet music
  4. Original waltz music
  5. Hemi Piripata
  6. Sung at funerals
  7. In Rotorua

Other versions

  1. English verses
  2. Rolf Harris
  3. Sailing Away
  4. In Korea
  5. East Timor
  6. Norwegian
  7. Gaelic tune?
  8. Earnslaw theme
  9. Thanks


Home - Māori songs - Kiwi songs