E Papa Waiari

Lyrics - Māori

(Māori folk song from New Zealand)

1. E pāpā Waiari,
Taku nei mahi
Taku nei mahi,
He tuku roimata

Refrain
Ē aue, ka mate au;
E hine hoki mai rā
Ē aue, ka mate au;
E hine hoki mai rā

2. Māku e kaute
Ō hīkoitanga
Māku e kaute
Ō hīkoitanga Refrain

1. O Uncle Waiari,
All I’ve been doing
All I’ve been doing
Is shedding tears

Refrain
Alas I will die;
Oh darling, return to me
Alas I will die;
Oh darling, return to me

2. I will count
Your footsteps
I will count
Your footsteps

3 Comments

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J Murphy

6 years ago

I want to use this in our local music festival but have to prove copyright/permission – is this public domain?

Beth Thompson

Author

Reply to J Murphy

6 years ago

Yes, this is in the public domain.

Paul

1 year ago

Used to sing this in a Hawaiian Summer camp in the mid 60’s. All the counselors were from Samoa.