Topenga Ataata
Kupu Tūpato
I left home and moved to Brooklyn where my boyfriend had a place
– I haere ahau ki Te kāinga ka neke ki Brooklyn kei reira taku hoa rangatira
And he had track marks on his arms but had the most angelic face
– A he tohu ara i runga i ona ringa engari i te mata tino anahera
I watched my friends die before twenty-one, and now I’m twenty-eight
– I mātakitaki ahau i aku hoa e mate ana i mua i te rua tekau mā tahi, ā, ināianei e rua tekau mā waru oku tau
I’m at the doctor’s every day, because I can’t stop losing weight
– Kei te mahi ahau i nga ra katoa o te taote, no te mea kaore e taea e au te mutu te ngaro o te taimaha
And now I’m the one with needles in my arms and in my legs
– Na inaianei ko ahau te tangata me nga ngira i roto i oku ringa me oku waewae
I’m making jokes about the blood tests, and I’m plannin’ my estate
– Kei te mahi au i ngā kōrero mō ngā whakamātautau toto, ā, kei te whakamahere au i taku taonga
And I don’t wanna blame the child, but I have to speculate
– A kaore au e hiahia ki te whakapae i te tamaiti, engari me whakaaro ahau
If this could all just be an answer to those prayers that came delayed
– Mehemea he whakautu noa iho tēnei ki aua inoi i whakaroa
Because I never would have said it if I knew I’d have to wait
– No te mea e kore ahau i mea i te reira ki te mohio ahau e hiahia ana ahau ki te tatari
Until the moment I was happy, then it all disintegrates, and I’m singin’
– Tae noa ki te wā i hari ai ahau, kātahi ka pakaru katoa, ā, kei te waiata au
“Please, God, I don’t wanna be sick
– “Tena, E te Atua, e kore ahau e hiahia kia mate
And I don’t wanna hurt, so get it over with quick
– A e kore ahau e hiahia ana ki te mamae, na tiki i te reira i runga i ki tere
Please, God, I wanna be loved
– Tena, E te Atua, e hiahia ana ahau kia arohaina
Don’t wanna be somebody that you’re tryna get rid of
– Kaua e hiahia ki te waiho i te tangata e koe tryna kia whakakahoretia o
Please, God, I don’t wanna be sick
– Tena, E te Atua, e kore ahau e hiahia kia mate
And I don’t wanna hurt, so get it over with quick
– A e kore ahau e hiahia ana ki te mamae, na tiki i te reira i runga i ki tere
Please, God, I wanna be loved
– Tena, E te Atua, e hiahia ana ahau kia arohaina
I don’t wanna be somebody you’re tryna get rid of”
– E kore ahau e hiahia ana ki te waiho i te tangata e koe tryna kia whakakahoretia o”
Thank you
– Mauruuru koe
