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Te R​ā​whiti

from Āiotanga by Kirsten Te Rito

/

lyrics

TE RĀWHITI
He muranga hinu pango,
He weranga wairua tangata 
Kore rawa ērā akoranga
E kitea e aku tamarki 
Te nohonga kore here
Kai te ngutu noa 
Ka whawhai tōku hinengaro 
Mo te āiotanga 
 
Ko Whiro kai te piki i Te Rāwhiti 
Maranga ana te iwi i Te Rāwhiti 
Ka pēheatia nei a Te Rāwhiti 
Kia ao ake te rā i Te Rāwhiti 
Ko Whiro kai te piki i Te Rāwhiti 
Maranga ana te iwi i Te Rāwhiti 
Ka pēheatia nei a Te Rāwhiti 
Kia ao ake te rā i Te Rāwhiti 

He whero, mā, kikorangi 
Te haramai a te hunga tū mārō 
Kua kore ngā tamariki hianga, 
Kua kore rawa i tēnei wā 
Kai whea rā te rama
Hei kai‐arahi mo te ara e? 
He maha rawa ngā kapa
He maha rawa ngā kaikōrero 

Ko Whiro kai te piki i Te Rāwhiti 
Maranga ana te iwi i Te Rāwhiti 
Ka pēheatia nei a Te Rāwhiti 
Kia ao ake te rā i Te Rāwhiti 
Ko Whiro kai te piki i Te Rāwhiti 
Maranga ana te iwi i Te Rāwhiti 
Ka pēheatia nei a Te Rāwhiti 
Kia ao ake te rā i Te Rāwhiti 

Black Gold is burning,
burning peoples souls
Gone are the lessons
my children will never know
Freedom is a virtue
we only talk about
My mind, it fights
for peacefulness

THE EAST
Half moon rising in the East
People standing up in the East
I wonder what will happen to the East
When it becomes day in the East
Half moon rising in the East
People standing up in the East
I wonder what will happen to the East
When it becomes day in the East

Red, white and blue
come the men who stand their ground
Gone are the children
that play no more, not now
Where is the light,
the light to lead the way?
Too many pennies,
Too many have their say

Half moon rising in the East
People standing up in the East
I wonder what will happen to the East
When it becomes day in the East
Half moon rising in the East
People standing up in the East
I wonder what will happen to the East
When it becomes day in the East

credits

from Āiotanga, released July 31, 2015
English lyrics by James Illingworth
Te reo Māori translation by Dr Joseph Te Rito

Music by James Illingworth and Kirsten Te Rito

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Kirsten Te Rito New Zealand

Kirsten Te Rito is a vocalist, songwriter and producer from Wellington, New Zealand.

Earthy beats, lush soundscapes and Kirsten's hypnotic melodies, take you on a sonic journey while showcasing the beautiful Māori language.

She has released two solo Māori language albums and her five track EP 'Te Kaitiaki' is due for release in April 2020.
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