Topenga Ataata
Kupu Tūpato
Every time a guy writes a song, he’s a cowboy, a sailor
– I ia wā e tuhi ana tētahi tangata i tētahi waiata, he kauhoe ia, he kaipuke
Playing with the world in his palm like the first pioneer
– Te tākaro ki te ao i roto i tona ringa rite te pionie tuatahi
Every time he opens his mouth, it’s a loud movie trailer
– I ia wā ka whakatuwheratia e ia tōna waha, he tiriti kiriata nui
Clipping every image and sound he thinks proves he was here
– Ko te tapahi i ngā whakaahua me ngā oro katoa e whakaaro ana ia e whakaatu ana i konei ia
A hand, a spike, a physical fight, a flash of light, a curtain
– He ringa, he titi, he whawhai tinana, he rama rama, he arai
A toll, a tithe, the passage of time, a height, a dive, a burden
– He utu, he whakatekau, he haere o te wā, he teitei, he ruku, he kawenga
A girl, a night, a typical type, a siren in the water
– He kotiro, he po, he momo angamaheni, he siren i roto i te wai
A scroll, a nod, a message from God, a son, a Holy Father
– He pukapuka, he tohu, he karere mai I Te Atua, he tama, He Matua Tapu
Every time a guy writes a song, he’s a sailor, a cowboy
– I ia wā e tuhi ana tētahi tangata i tētahi waiata, he kaipuke ia, he kauhoe
Holding out the world in his palm like he made it himself
– Te pupuri i te ao i roto i tona ringa rite hanga e ia i te reira ia
Every time I open my mouth, I think, “Wow, what a loud noise”
– I nga wa katoa ka whakatuwhera ahau i toku mangai, ka whakaaro ahau, ” Wow, he aha te haruru nui”
Still on the soapbox, just hoping I seem underwhelmed
– Kei runga tonu I te pouaka hopi, e tumanako ana kia kore ahau e tino miharo
The hand, the pen, the writing again, the wind around the willow
– Te ringa, te pene, te tuhituhi anō, te hau huri noa i te rākau
The felt, the ice, the passage of time, the melting down the window
– Ko te fel, ko te huka, ko te haere o te wā, ko te rewa o te matapihi
The now, the then, the thinking of “when,” the bottle in the ocean
– Ko te wā, ko te wā, ko te whakaaro o “when,” the bottle in the ocean
The strike, the pause, the message from God forbid she shows emotion
– Ko te patu, ko te tūnga, ko te karere a te Atua e aukati ana i a ia e whakaatu ana i te mana’o
This isn’t rage, it’s worth a mention
– Ehara tēnei i te riri, he mea tika kia whakahuahia
This is a fake internal tension
– He taumahatanga ā roto teka tēnei
Sometimes, I spread out one opinion
– I ētahi wā, ka horahia e au tētahi whakaaro
And stand on its back to gauge attention
– Me te tu i runga i tona tuara ki te ga i te aro
This isn’t rage, it’s too specific
– Ehara tenei i te riri, he mea tino motuhake
I like to hate symbolic limits
– E pai ana ahau ki te kino ki nga rohe tohu
This is no statement, I’m complicit
– Kāore he kōrero, he hoa mahi ahau
This is a dream, God put me in it
– He moemoea tenei, i whakauruhia ahau e te Atua ki roto
A hand, a spike, a physical fight, the wind around the willow
– He ringa, he titi, he whawhai tinana, te hau huri noa i te rākau
A toll, a tithe, the passage of time, the melting down the window
– He utu, he whakatekau, te haere o te wā, te rewa i te matapihi
The now, the then, the thinking of “when,” the siren in the water
– Ko te wā, ko te wā, ko te whakaaro o “when,” the siren in the water
The strike, the pause, the message from God, does that make me His daughter?
– Ko te patu, ko te tūnga, ko te karere mai I te Atua, e hanga ana i Ahau hei tamahine mana?
A hand, a shove, a valley, a jump, a score under the wire
– He ringa, he pana, he raorao, he peke, he kaute i raro i te waea
Just sweep me up, just sweep me up and take me somewhere higher
– Ka horoi noa i ahau, ka horoi noa i ahau, ka kawe i ahau ki runga ake
Just sweep me up, just sweep me up and take me somewhere higher
– Ka horoi noa i ahau, ka horoi noa i ahau, ka kawe i ahau ki runga ake
Just sweep me up, just sweep me up and take me somewhere higher
– Ka horoi noa i ahau, ka horoi noa i ahau, ka kawe i ahau ki runga ake
