Topenga Ataata
Kupu Tūpato
Once, I was seven years old, my mama told me
– I tētahi wā, e whitu oku tau, ka mea mai taku whaea ki ahau
“Go make yourself some friends or you’ll be lonely”
– “Haere ki te hanga i a koe etahi hoa, ka noho mokemoke ranei koe”
Once, I was seven years old
– I tētahi wā, e whitu oku tau
It was a big, big world, but we thought we were bigger
– He ao nui, nui, engari i whakaaro mātou he nui ake mātou
Pushing each other to the limits, we were learnin’ quicker
– I te akiaki i a tātou anō ki ngā rohe, ka tere ake te ako
By eleven, smokin’ herb and drinkin’ burnin’ liquor
– E tekau mā tahi, e momi ana i te otaota, e inu ana i te wai tahunga
Never rich, so we were out to make that steady figure
– Kāore i whai rawa, nō reira i whai mātou ki te hanga i taua ahua pūmau
Once, I was eleven years old, my daddy told me
– I tētahi wā, tekau mā tahi oku tau, ka mea mai taku pāpā ki ahau
“Go get yourself a wife or you’ll be lonely”
– “Haere ki te tiki i a koe he wahine, ka noho mokemoke ranei koe”
Once, I was eleven years old
– Kotahi tekau ma tahi oku tau
I always had that dream like my daddy before me
– I nga wa katoa i ahau taua moemoea rite toku papa i mua i ahau
So I started writin’ songs, I started writin’ stories
– Na ka tīmata ahau ki te tuhi waiata, ka tīmata ahau ki te tuhi kōrero
Something about that glory just always seemed to bore me
– He mea e pā ana ki taua kororia i te mea tonu ki te mauiui ahau
‘Cause only those I really love will ever really know me
– ‘Na te mea ko te hunga e tino aroha ana ahau ka tino mohio ki ahau
Once, I was twenty years old, my story got told
– I tētahi wā, e rua tekau oku tau, ka korerotia taku kōrero
Before the mornin’ sun, when life was lonely
– I mua i te rā o te ata, i te wā i noho mokemoke ai te ora
Once, I was twenty years old (Lukas Graham!)
– I tētahi wā, e rua tekau oku tau (Lukas Graham!)
I only see my goals, I don’t believe in failure
– Ka kite noa ahau i aku whaainga, kaore au e whakapono ki te kore
‘Cause I know the smallest voices, they can make it major
– ‘No te mea e mohio ana ahau ki nga reo iti rawa, ka taea e ratou te hanga i te reira nui
I got my boys with me, at least those in favor
– I mau ahau ki aku tama, i te iti rawa ki te hunga e pai ana
And if we don’t meet before I leave, I hope I’ll see you later
– A, ki te kore tatou e tutaki i mua i taku wehenga atu, ko te tumanako ka kite ahau i a koe i muri mai
Once, I was twenty years old, my story got told
– I tētahi wā, e rua tekau oku tau, ka korerotia taku kōrero
I was writin’ ’bout everything I saw before me
– I tuhituhi ahau i nga mea katoa i kite ahau i mua i ahau
Once, I was twenty years old
– I tētahi wā, e rua tekau oku tau
Soon, we’ll be thirty years old, our songs have been sold
– Kāore e roa, ka toru tekau tau mātou, kua hokona ā mātou waiata
We’ve traveled around the world and we’re still roamin’
– Kua haere mātou huri noa i te ao, ā, kei te haereere tonu mātou
Soon, we’ll be thirty years old
– I muri tata iho, ka toru tekau tau mātou
I’m still learnin’ about life, my woman brought children for me
– Kei te ako tonu ahau mo te ora, i kawea mai e taku wahine he tamariki ki ahau
So I can sing them all my songs and I can tell them stories
– Na ka taea e au te waiata i aku waiata katoa ā ka taea e au te kōrero ki a rātou
Most of my boys are with me, some are still out seekin’ glory
– Ko te nuinga o aku tama kei ahau, ko etahi kei te rapu tonu i te kororia
And some I had to leave behind, my brother, I’m still sorry
– A ko ētahi i mahue i ahau, e toku teina, e pouri tonu ana ahau
Soon, I’ll be sixty years old, my daddy got sixty-one
– I muri tata iho, e ono tekau oku tau, e ono tekau ma tahi oku tau o toku papa
Remember life and then your life becomes a better one
– Kia mahara ki te ora kātahi ka pai ake tō oranga
I made a man so happy when I wrote a letter once
– I tino harikoa ahau i taku tuhituhi i tētahi reta i tētahi wā
I hope my children come and visit once or twice a month
– Ko te tūmanako ka haere mai aku tamariki ka toro atu kotahi e rua rānei i te marama
Soon, I’ll be sixty years old, will I think the world is cold
– I muri tata iho, ka ono tekau oku tau, ka whakaaro ahau he makariri te ao
Or will I have a lot of children who can warm me?
– Ranei he maha aku tamariki e taea ai te whakawera i ahau?
Soon, I’ll be sixty years old
– Kāore e roa, ka ono tekau aku tau
Soon, I’ll be sixty years old, will I think the world is cold
– I muri tata iho, ka ono tekau oku tau, ka whakaaro ahau he makariri te ao
Or will I have a lot of children who can warm me?
– Ranei he maha aku tamariki e taea ai te whakawera i ahau?
Soon, I’ll be sixty years old
– Kāore e roa, ka ono tekau aku tau
Once, I was seven years old, my mama told me
– I tētahi wā, e whitu oku tau, ka mea mai taku whaea ki ahau
“Go make yourself some friends or you’ll be lonely”
– “Haere ki te hanga i a koe etahi hoa, ka noho mokemoke ranei koe”
Once, I was seven years old
– I tētahi wā, e whitu oku tau
Once, I was seven years old
– I tētahi wā, e whitu oku tau
