Topenga Ataata
Kupu Tūpato
I used to rule the world
– I whakahaere ahau i te ao
Seas would rise when I gave the word
– Ka piki ake te moana ina hoatu e ahau te kupu
Now in the morning, I sleep alone
– Na i te ata, ka moe ahau anake
Sweep the streets I used to own
– Te horoi i ngā huarahi I a au
I used to roll the dice
– I hurihia e au te tātai
Feel the fear in my enemy’s eyes
– Fe i te wehi i roto i te kanohi o toku hoariri
Listened as the crowd would sing
– Whakarongo rite te mano e waiata
“Now the old king is dead, long live the king”
– “Kua mate te kingi tawhito, kia ora te kingi”
One minute I held the key
– Kotahi meneti i mau ahau i te kī
Next, the walls were closed on me
– Kātahi ka kati ngā pakitara ki runga i ahau
And I discovered that my castles stand
– Na ka kitea e ahau e tu aku whare rangatira
Upon pillars of salt and pillars of sand
– I runga i nga pou tote me nga pou onepu
I hear Jerusalem bells a-ringing
– Ka rongo ahau I Nga pere O Hiruharama e tangi ana
Roman cavalry choirs are singing
– Kei te waiata ngā rōpū waiata o te hoia eke hoiho o roma
Be my mirror, my sword and shield
– Kia rite ki taku whakaata, ki taku hoari, ki taku whakangungu rakau
My missionaries in a foreign field
– Ko aku misionare i te mara o waho
For some reason, I can’t explain
– Mo etahi take, kaore e taea e au te whakamarama
Once you’d gone, there was never
– Ka haere koe, kāore anō kia puta
Never an honest word
– Kāore he kupu pono
And that was when I ruled the world
– A ko te wā I whakahaere ai ahau i te ao
It was a wicked and wild wind
– He hau kino he hau mohoao
Blew down the doors to let me in
– I pupuhi i nga tatau kia uru mai ai ahau
Shattered windows and the sound of drums
– Ko nga matapihi pakaru me te tangi o nga pahu
People couldn’t believe what I’d become
– Kaore e taea e te iwi te whakapono he aha taku e noho ai
Revolutionaries wait
– Ka tatari ngā kaiwhakatuma
For my head on a silver plate
– Mo toku mahunga i runga i te pereti hiriwa
Just a puppet on a lonely string
– He maripi noa iho i runga i te aho mokemoke
Oh, who would ever want to be king?
– Aue, ko wai e hiahia ana kia kingi?
I hear Jerusalem bells a-ringing
– Ka rongo ahau I Nga pere O Hiruharama e tangi ana
Roman cavalry choirs are singing
– Kei te waiata ngā rōpū waiata o te hoia eke hoiho o roma
Be my mirror, my sword and shield
– Kia rite ki taku whakaata, ki taku hoari, ki taku whakangungu rakau
My missionaries in a foreign field
– Ko aku misionare i te mara o waho
For some reason, I can’t explain
– Mo etahi take, kaore e taea e au te whakamarama
I know Saint Peter won’t call my name
– E mohio ana Ahau E Kore A Saint Peter e karanga i toku ingoa
Never an honest word
– Kāore he kupu pono
But that was when I ruled the world
– Engari i reira ahau i whakahaere ai i te ao
Hear Jerusalem bells a-ringing
– Whakarongo Ki Nga pere O Hiruharama a-ringing
Roman cavalry choirs are singing
– Kei te waiata ngā rōpū waiata o te hoia eke hoiho o roma
Be my mirror, my sword and shield
– Kia rite ki taku whakaata, ki taku hoari, ki taku whakangungu rakau
My missionaries in a foreign field
– Ko aku misionare i te mara o waho
For some reason, I can’t explain
– Mo etahi take, kaore e taea e au te whakamarama
I know Saint Peter won’t call my name
– E mohio ana Ahau E Kore A Saint Peter e karanga i toku ingoa
Never an honest word
– Kāore he kupu pono
But that was when I ruled the world
– Engari i reira ahau i whakahaere ai i te ao
