Lyrics - Tahitian
(Tahitian folk song)
Hoe ana, Hoe ana,
Hoe na te vaka te vaka nei.
Haere mai na, haere mai na
Haere mai e ine ma e
Nga pua ariki te vaka korua*
e tere mai nei havaiiki e
E rere tu na i o nei
I Papeete roa**
Na te vaka tau fenua e tapiri mai
To tatou fenua
Hoe ana, hoe ana
Hoe na te vaka te vaka nei
Haere mai na, haere mai na
Haere mai e ine ma e
Hoe ana, hoe ana te vaka nei
Hoe Ana, hoe ana i te pae
Na te pae aue! aue!
Haere a i te ara
English Translation – Rowing
Rowing, Rowing
Rowing the canoe, this canoe
Come this way / here to me / here & now
Come here this way
This Canoe(s) named “Nga Pua Ariki” (The Royal Flower) that is ours*
Travels this way from Havaiiki (the legendary land of all Polynesians)
There it is [our destination]
As we row towards Papeete**
This / These Canoe(s) from our land that are going to close in / coast along on ….
Our new land
Rowing, Rowing
Rowing the canoe, this canoe
Come this way / here to me / here & now
Come here this way
Rowing! Rowing!…This Canoe!
Rowing! Rowing! On the side
On the side! Oh my! Oh my!
Traveling along the way! (or let’s go!)
*”Nga” and “korua” both mean “dual,” either two canoes or one double-hulled canoe.
**Papeete is the capital city of Tahiti.
(source)
See also
- Country: Tahiti
- Subjects: rowing / canoes
- Harmony: chords I & V
- Meter: 3
- Scale: major
- Source: Share the Music, Grade 6,Macmillan / McGraw-Hill School Publishing Company, 1995
- song information
- dance instructions
YouTube
- PDF of song with chords
- MIDI file
- Listen to the melody
