Topenga Ataata
Kupu Tūpato
Perfume and milk, the body in bloom
– Kakara me te waiu, te tinana i roto i te pua
The falling leaves, the fallen fruit
– Ko ngā rau e hinga ana, ko ngā hua kua hinga
The rot and the ruin, the earth and the worms
– Te pirau me te ururua, te whenua me nga kutukutu
The seasons change, the world turns
– Ka huri te wā, ka huri te ao
Trees turn grey and the land turns brown
– Ka huri nga rakau ki te hina ka huri te whenua ki te parauri
In a house in the woods on the edge of town
– I roto i te whare i roto i te ngahere i runga i te pito o te pa
Bury it deep, swallow it down
– Tanumia hohonu, horomia iho
Taking the herbs, a laurel crown
– Te tango i nga otaota, he karauna laurel
Doing the work and sleeping alone
– Te mahi i te mahi me te moe anake
Downloading “Revelations of Divine Love” on my phone
– Tikiake “Whakakitenga o Te Aroha Atua” i runga i toku waea
Trying to read, but getting distracted
– E ngana ana ki te pānui, engari e whakararuraru ana
Trying to live, but feeling so damaged
– E ngana ana ki te ora, engari e tino kino ana
And all shall be well
– A ka pai katoa
All shall be well
– Ka pai katoa
Miracles are often inconvenient
– He maha nga wa e raru ana nga merekara
And a prayer is a spell
– A ko te inoi he makutu
I packed my bags and I got in the car
– I takahia e au aku peke a ka eke au ki roto i te motokā
A pilgrimage to wherever you are
– He haerenga ki hea koe
April comes with its blossoms beaten by rain
– Ka tae mai a April me ona puawai i patua e te ua
Oh, the hope and the horror, singing daffodils again
– Aue, te tūmanako me te whakamataku, e waiata ana anō i ngā rākau
The land, it thaws and the leaves turn green
– Ko te whenua, ka rewa, ka matomato nga rau
And the blue stars of snow glories with the winter jasmine
– Me ngā whetū puru o ngā kororia hukarere me te hīkoi o te hotoke
Clothes of silk and satin, lace and leather
– Ko nga kakahu o te hiraka me te satin, te taatai me te hiako
The one pink ribbon that holds me together
– Ko te rīpene mawhero kotahi e mau ana i ahau
And all shall be well
– A ka pai katoa
All shall be well
– Ka pai katoa
Miracles are often inconvenient
– He maha nga wa e raru ana nga merekara
And a prayer is a spell
– A ko te inoi he makutu
And I am changing, becoming something else
– A kei te huri ahau, ka noho hei mea kē atu
A creature of longing, tending only to myself
– He mea hanga e hiahia ana, e aro ana ki ahau anake
Licking my wounds, burrowing down
– Te pīni i aku whara, te keri ki raro
In a house in the woods on the edge of town
– I roto i te whare i roto i te ngahere i runga i te pito o te pa
Well, healing is slow, it comes and it goes
– Na, he puhoi te whakaora, ka tae mai, ka haere
A glimpse of the sun then a flurry of snow
– He tirohanga o te rā kātahi he hukarere
The first green shoots in a sudden frost
– Ko te matomato tuatahi ka pupuhi i roto i te hukapapa ohorere
Oh, something’s gained when something’s lost
– Aue, kua riro tētahi mea ina ngaro tētahi mea
The rot and the ruin, the earth and the worms
– Te pirau me te ururua, te whenua me nga kutukutu
The seasons change, the world turns
– Ka huri te wā, ka huri te ao
The world turns
– Ka huri te ao
Perfume and milk, the body in bloom
– Kakara me te waiu, te tinana i roto i te pua
The falling leaves, the fallen fruit
– Ko ngā rau e hinga ana, ko ngā hua kua hinga
The rot and the ruin, the earth and the worms
– Te pirau me te ururua, te whenua me nga kutukutu
The seasons change, the world turns
– Ka huri te wā, ka huri te ao
The world turns
– Ka huri te ao
The world turns
– Ka huri te ao
The world turns
– Ka huri te ao
