Topenga Ataata
Kupu Tūpato
Memory fails me, names and faces blur
– Ka taka te mahara ki ahau, ka pōhēhē ngā ingoa me ngā mata
There is only after, or before
– He anake i muri, ranei i mua
Am I so different? Have I changed?
– He tino rerekē ahau? Kua huri ahau?
I do not recognise my face
– E kore ahau e mohio ki toku mata
The scar fades but pulls inside
– Ka memeha te tohu engari ka toia ki roto
Tugging at me all the time
– E toia ana ahau i nga wa katoa
Chewing on a feeling and spitting it out
– Te kau i te mana’o, me te tuwha i te reira i roto i
Crouched in a ball gown
– E noho ana i roto i te kākahu pōro
Anxious and ashamed
– Te manukanuka me te whakama
The vague humiliations of faith
– Ko nga whakama o te whakapono
I do not find worthiness in virtue
– E kore ahau e kite i te tika i roto i te pai
I no longer try to be good
– Kāore au e ngana ana kia pai
It didn’t keep me safe
– Kāore i tiakina ahau
Like you told me that it would
– Ka rite ki ta koe i korero mai ai ki ahau ka
So come on, tear me wide open
– Na haere mai, haea ahau kia tuwhera
A terrible gift
– He mea kino
Let the chorus console me
– Kia whakamarie te waiata ki ahau
Sympathy magic
– Te aroha te makutu
And light coming in the window just so
– Me te marama e haere mai ana i te matapihi pera tonu
And the wind through my fingers
– Me te hau i roto i oku maihao
The only God that I know
– Ko Te Atua Anake e mohio ana ahau
And it does not want me on my knees to believe
– A e kore e hiahia ana ki ahau i runga i oku turi ki te whakapono
Head high, arms wide
– He upoko teitei, he ringa whanui
Aching, aching, aching
– Te mamae, te mamae, te mamae
And alive
– Me te ora
And alive
– Me te ora
So I don’t have to be worthy
– Na e kore ahau e whai ki te kia tika
I no longer try to be good
– Kāore au e ngana ana kia pai
It didn’t keep me safe
– Kāore i tiakina ahau
Like you told me that it would
– Ka rite ki ta koe i korero mai ai ki ahau ka
So come on, tear me wide open
– Na haere mai, haea ahau kia tuwhera
‘Til I’m losing my mind
– ‘Ki te ngaro taku hinengaro
‘Til I cannot contain it
– ‘Ki te kore e taea e ahau te pupuri i te reira
La-da-da-da-da-da-da
– Ko te rā-da-da-da-da-da-da
So come on, come on, I can take it
– Na haere mai, haere mai, ka taea e au te tango
Give me everything you got
– Homai ki ahau nga mea katoa i a koe
What else? What else? What else? What else?
– He aha atu? He aha atu? He aha atu? He aha atu?
So come on, come on, I can take it
– Na haere mai, haere mai, ka taea e au te tango
Give me everything you got
– Homai ki ahau nga mea katoa i a koe
What else? What else? What else? What else?
– He aha atu? He aha atu? He aha atu? He aha atu?
Sympathy magic
– Te aroha te makutu
Sympathy magic
– Te aroha te makutu
So come on, come on, I can take it
– Na haere mai, haere mai, ka taea e au te tango
Sympathy magic
– Te aroha te makutu
Sympathy magic
– Te aroha te makutu
So come on, come on, I can take it
– Na haere mai, haere mai, ka taea e au te tango
(Come on, come on, come on, come on)
– (Haere mai, haere mai, haere mai, haere mai)
Sympathy magic (Come on, come on, come on, come on)
– Sympathy magic (Haere mai, haere mai, haere mai, haere mai)
Sympathy magic (Come on)
– Sympathy magic (Haere mai ki runga)
Sympathy magic (Come on, come on, come on, come on)
– Sympathy magic (Haere mai, haere mai, haere mai, haere mai)
Sympathy magic (Come on, come on, come on, come on)
– Sympathy magic (Haere mai, haere mai, haere mai, haere mai)
Sympathy magic (Come on, come on, come on, come on)
– Sympathy magic (Haere mai, haere mai, haere mai, haere mai)
Sympathy magic (Come on)
– Sympathy magic (Haere mai ki runga)
Ah
– Ah
