Topenga Ataata
Kupu Tūpato
Ah
– Ah
I was a singer
– He kaiwaiata ahau
You were my fan
– Ko koe taku kaiwhaiwhai
When no one gave a damn
– A, no te kahore tetahi i hoatu he rewera
It was you in the dark
– Ko koe i te pōuri
Scared of your anger
– E mataku ana ki tōu riri
In love with your whim
– I roto i te aroha ki tou whim
Some notes I don’t hit
– Ētahi tuhipoka e kore ahau e patu
But I don’t give up
– Engari kaore au e whakarere
Now every day, the plane takes off
– Na i nga ra katoa, ka rere atu te waka rererangi
And every night, the room fills up with
– A, i ia pō, ka whakakiia te ruma ki te
People who are convinced I’m not
– Ko te hunga e whakapono ana kaore au
Just some kid fakin’ it for your love
– Just some kid fakin’ it for your love he mea whakamiharo ki a koe
‘Cause I’m an actress, all of the medals I won for ya
– ‘No te mea he kaiwhakaari ahau, ko nga mētara katoa i riro I ahau mo koe
Breaking my back just to be your favourite daughter
– Whati toku hoki tika ki te waiho i to koutou tamahine tino
Everywhere I run, I’m always runnin’ to ya
– I nga wahi katoa e rere ana ahau, e rere tonu ana ahau ki a koe
Breaking my back just hoping you’ll say I’m a star
– Ka whati i taku tuara, me te tumanako ka mea koe he whetu ahau
You had a brother, I look like him
– He teina tōu, he rite ahau ki a ia
You told us as kids
– I korerotia mai e koe ki a mātou i a mātou e tamariki ana
“He died of a broken heart”
– “I mate ia i te ngakau pakaru”
And for every door you open
– A mo nga tatau whakatuwhera koe
There’s a room I can’t go in
– He ruma e kore e taea e au te haere ki roto
I break in, I still can’t find you
– Ka pakaru ahau ki roto, kaore ano au kia kitea
Now that every day, the plane takes off
– Na, i ia rā, ka rere te waka rererangi
And every night the room fills up
– A i ia pō ka whakakiia te ruma
I tell myself that soon we’ll talk
– Ka mea ahau ki ahau anō, ka kōrero wawe mātou
Then I sing every word just to ya
– Katahi ka waiata ahau i nga kupu katoa ki a koe
‘Cause I’m an actress, all of the medals I won for ya
– ‘No te mea he kaiwhakaari ahau, ko nga mētara katoa i riro I ahau mo koe
Panic attack just to be your favourite daughter
– Panic attack tika ki te waiho i to koutou tamahine tino
Everywhere I run, I’m always runnin’ to ya
– I nga wahi katoa e rere ana ahau, e rere tonu ana ahau ki a koe
Breaking my back to carry the weight of your heart
– Whati toku hoki ki te kawe i te taimaha o tou ngakau
But I keep dancing till I get sick
– Engari ka kanikani tonu ahau kia mate ra ano ahau
Why’d you have to dream so big?
– He aha koe i moemoea ai kia nui?
Why did no one listen when you hit the notes from your heart?
– He aha i kore ai tetahi e whakarongo ina patua e koe nga tuhipoka mai i to ngakau?
Ah-ah, ah-ah, ah-ah, ah-ah, ah
– Ah-ah, ah-ah, ah-ah, ah-ah, ah
I’m a good actress, look at the medals I won for ya
– He kaitapere pai ahau, tirohia ngā mētara i riro I ahau māu
So you could imagine being a favourite daughter
– Na ka taea e koe te whakaaro he tamahine tino pai
Everywhere I run, I’m always runnin’ to ya
– I nga wahi katoa e rere ana ahau, e rere tonu ana ahau ki a koe
Breaking my back just to be as brave as my mother
– Te whati i toku tuara kia rite ai te maia ki toku whaea
