Topenga Ataata
Kupu Tūpato
I am the son
– Ko ahau te tama
And the heir
– Me te kawana
Of a shyness that is criminally vulgar
– O te whakama e he hara noa
I am the son and heir
– Ko ahau te tama me te rangatira
Of nothing in particular
– O te kore i roto i te motuhake
You shut your mouth
– Ka kati koe i tō waha
How can you say
– Me pehea e taea ai e koe te korero
I go about things the wrong way
– Ka haere au ki ngā mea i te ara hē
I am human and I need to be loved
– He tangata ahau ā me aroha ahau
Just like everybody else does
– Ka rite ki te katoa
I am the son
– Ko ahau te tama
And the heir
– Me te kawana
Of a shyness that is criminally vulgar
– O te whakama e he hara noa
I am the son and the heir
– Ko ahau te tama me te rangatira
Of nothing in particular
– O te kore i roto i te motuhake
You shut your mouth
– Ka kati koe i tō waha
How can you say
– Me pehea e taea ai e koe te korero
I go about things the wrong way
– Ka haere au ki ngā mea i te ara hē
I am human and I need to be loved
– He tangata ahau ā me aroha ahau
Just like everybody else does
– Ka rite ki te katoa
There’s a club if you’d like to go
– He karapu mēnā e hiahia ana koe ki te haere
You could meet somebody who really loves you
– Ka taea e koe te whakatau i te tangata e tino aroha ana ki a koe
So you go, and you stand on your own
– Na ka haere koe, a ka tu koe i runga i tou ake
And you leave on your own
– A ka haere koe i runga i tou ake
And you go home, and you cry
– Ka hoki koe ki te kāinga, ka tangi koe
And you want to die
– A e hiahia ana koe ki te mate
When you say it’s gonna’ happen ‘now’
– Ki te mea koe ka ‘tū’ināianei’
Well, when exactly do you mean?
– Well, ka rite ki te tikanga koe?
See I’ve already waited too long
– Tirohia kua roa rawa taku tatari
And all my hope is gone
– Kua ngaro katoa taku tumanako
You shut your mouth
– Ka kati koe i tō waha
How can you say
– Me pehea e taea ai e koe te korero
I go about things the wrong way
– Ka haere au ki ngā mea i te ara hē
I am human and I need to be loved
– He tangata ahau ā me aroha ahau
Just like everybody else does
– Ka rite ki te katoa
