 LYRICS - ALL TE VAKA CDS |
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LYRICS - ALL TE VAKA CDS |
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TE VAKA album All songs written by Opetaia Foa'i except 'Siva Mai', the beginning of 'Ki te la' and 'Tagi Sina', and parts of 'E keli' which are traditional Tokelauan songs. Tokelau' and 'Vaka gaoi' were written by Opetaia Foa'i together with Malcolm Smith. The Language All the songs on the first album, with the exception of the first and third verse of 'Siva Mai', and all the songs on the second album are sung in the language of Tokelau. There are two dialects in
Polynesia, an old one using 'h' and 'wh', and a later one
using 's' and 'f'. Both dialects were brought to Tokelau
but the new dialect never took hold and the islands
retained the old one. How this affects the
language is in the pronunciation of 's' and 'f' which are
pronounced 'h' and 'wh' (as in 'where'). Track 2/ Te namo (The Lagoon) Tokelau sits on the edge of an undersea volcano and in the middle of each of the three islands is a huge lagoon. This provides a natural and safe playground for the children. Everyone who has ever lived in Tokelau has fond memories of 'Te namo'. Fakateletele i te namo ki
iuta He ma pehe Te gali ote aso tenei Ooh te namo Te matagi ma tamaliki Ooh te namo Track 3/ Pate mo tou vae (Log drum for your feet) This song is inspired by the feverish and exciting dancing around the fire at night, fuelled by the ecstatic rhythms and magic of the log drums. Track 4/ Papa e (The Lagoon) A song for my fatherIn search of a better way of life, Ope's father left the small island of Fakaofo in Tokelau This song is about the feelings, emotions and sadness he experienced as he watched the coconut palms and shoreline disappear as he sailed away from Tokelau for the first time. Hihiki mai i faifaiga o te
fenua
Oku mokomokoga ke toe
fanatu
Track 5/ Ki te la Shine the sun. This song captures the feelings Ope had as a child observing the friendliness and genuine care the people around him had for each other. "The most wonderful thing to behold is a happy nationHow
can you tell?
Te mea te manaia Track 6/ Tautai e The Master FishermanWith the meagre resources of Tokelau survival was dependent on the Tautai's ability and skill. The Tautai assumed this responsibility to provide. His relationship to Tagaloa (god of the sea) was one of awe and respect. He asked permission of Tagaloa before, beginning and during a fishing expedition. He calls to him to give a sign. Fakatu ake Chorus (Tautai) (Fisherman) Track 7/ Vaka Gaoi Slave ShipFaleata, thought of as a ranting, insane old witch, foretold the coming of the slave ships. No-one but her knew of the devastation and hell that would befall the peaceful islands of Tokelau. The Peruvian slave ships did come and brought a devastation previously unheard of in the Pacific. Families were torn apart, chased, whipped, thrown into ships and transported for profit. Track 8/ Tagi Sina Sina is cryingSina
is crying The people of Tokelau were taken by South American slave traders between 1850 and 1872. By 1872 the population of Tokelau was down to eighty people, mainly old men and women and little children. This song expresses the sadness and desperation felt by those left behind.
Tagi Sina Track 9/ Te Vaka The CanoeThis is an idea of what it must have been like to search for and discover the Tokelau islands. It is about the perilous journey made by canoe across thousands of miles of ocean in search of land. A feat that proved the Polynesian people to be amongst the greatest navigators ever. Tenei au te pule oto tatou
folau Ke mau / Te hoe ote vaka Pe mahai nei te tu tolu ke
nonoa Track 10/ E Keli The DiggingDepicting the different roles of men and women in Tokelau. The song is calling the women on shore to the men returning from fishing. E keli kote vai (Verse repeated 3 times) Track 11/ Ika Ika FishThis song ia about a man who really loves his fish (Ika). He has had a sign that today is an excellent day for fishing. Lying in the sun, he is daydreaming of the catch, how he will cook it and how he will eat it. His mouth is watering as he can almost smell the aroma and taste the succulent 'Ika'. Chorus Fano atu ki te po Fano atu ki te po Tu ai au ki luga e siva Tamilomilo faka fuli fuli Track 12/ Siva Mai Let's DanceTypical of the light-hearted and friendly nature of the people of Tokelau. When the guitar is played this way, it is an invitation to sing and dance. The song is a medley combining the three main islands - Tokelau, Tuvalu and Samoa - that have heavily influenced Ope's unique style of music.
KI MUA album All songs written by Opetaia Foa'i with exception of 'Pate Pate' which was written by Opetaia Foa’i and Malcolm Smith, the beginning of 'Vaka atua' and 'Aue Kapaku' which are traditional Tokelauan songs. Track 1/ Ki mua (to the fore/future) This song is dedicated to my mother and father and those of their generation who at great personal sacrifice brought their families to New Zealand. It is in appreciation of their courage and determination in adjusting to a different language, different culture along with other disadvantages in order to give their children a better education. taunuku mai i tatou i tenei nuku fou te kehekehe mai faigata o te olaga te fakafita a tatou hoga hoga mai e fia malamalama ki tatou i te gagana ma na uiga o ki latou fakalogologo ki ei fakatu ai au tautahi taumahai tatou tokolahi faka holoholo ki ei e fano ai au i toku mafaufau i te kukula mate filemu tokaga ki mea oku matua te fehili kua laga a tu ki mua ko matou e fia kai ite kavei te malau pulaka ma te fekei kua manatua na taimi ma na uiga fakafiafia miti miti mai te mimita lahi ki haiga ko na uiga fakatahi fitikitiki mai galulue mai ki mua nei tahahao mai ki mua nei pehepehe mai ki mua nei fatele mai ki mua nei KI MUA Translation (To the future) Verse 1 When we arrived in this new land it was so different we struggled with the life it was very hard on us but we were determined Verse 2 We struggled to understand this language and new way of doing things We listened hard I stood up among the many who were adjusting moving towards understanding together chorus But I go there in my mind The red sky and the peacefulness remembering what my parents taught me many questions come to the fore also craving for familiar food The Malau (fish) pulaka(taro) and fekei (octopus dish) verse 3 I remember times of great joy always dreaming about it the pride in living among my close family keeping it together chant We’re working to the future we’re playing to the future we’re singing to the future we’re dancing to the future Track 2/ Lua afe (2,000) A Song to celebrate the new millennium. It is a wish for people of all colours, races and religions to come together with no prejudices, just a willingness to live together. This agreement is celebrated at the break of the new millennium. hauni mai heheke mai ko tagata ianu kehe na tagata ianu kehe tatou tagata nei koutou tagata nei o fakatahi o fano atu (Ki te) Lua afe (ki te) Lua afe Track 3/ Ke ke kitea (so you can see) It is a great concern that the small Islands in the Pacific, each with it’s own unique culture, will succumb to the effects of "Global warming". As the temperature of the sea rises the tiny algae that feed the coral are unable to survive causing the Islands to gradually disappear. Eventually the people of these Islands will be forced to leave and entire cultures will be lost. This song is a personal invitation to all those in positions of power to come and visit these Islands so they can see how beautiful they are and how happy the people are who live on them. I believe if they did just that, they would help prevent this disaster. LYRICS Translations Verse 1 e ui lava ki tatou e mamao even though we live far apart e tatau ai koe ke ahiahi mai you should come visit us ke ke kitea ite gali o tenei lalolagi so you can see how beautiful my world is Chorus ke ke kitea so you can see ite matou lalolagi my world ke ke kitea so you can see i te gali o tenei lalolagi how beautiful this world is Verse 2 ke ve koe ko au If you could be with me se aho fakatahi for just one day iloa ai e koe you would then understand mea lea atu ai au what I’m on about ke ke kitea ite gali o tenei lalolagi so you would see how beautiful this world is Chorus ke ke kitea so you can see ite matou lalolagi my world ke ke kitea so you can see i te gali o tenei lalolagi how beautiful this world is Verse 3 e ui lava ki tatou e mamao even though we live so far apart e tatou ai koe ke ahi ahi mai you should come visit us ke ke kitea i te gali o tenei lalolagi so you can see how beautiful this world is e talitonu ai au so you can see i toku loto nei the beauty in my world ke kitea e koe so you can see to matou olaga the beauty in our world so you can see the wonderful life we live Track 4/ Pate Pate (Log drum) Courting fun between groups of young men and women. Much of the message is expressed in the dances, which are vibrant and provocative. This is an accepted way in which to communicate with the one they love. The boldness, the teasing, the confidence is openly expressed for all to see, spurred on and driven by the power of the log drums. 4/ PATE PATE (log drums) by Opetaia Foa’i Courting fun between groups of young men and women. Much of the message is expressed in the dances, which are vibrant and provocative. This is an accepted way in which to communicate with the one they love. The boldness, the teasing, the confidence is openly expressed for all to see, spurred on and driven by the power of the log drums. LYRICS and Translations tu la ki luga ke fai malama get up stand up let your feelings be known taimi tenei e fai na hiva the time has come to perform the dance tu la ki luga ke fai malama get up stand up let your intentions be known lue lue malie te gali o na hiva swaying ever so sweetly the message in the dance aue aue Oh! Oh! tama mimita the boys are very bold aue aue Oh! Oh! teine mimita the girls are very bold aue aue Oh! Oh! hihiva mimita the dancers are very bold aue aue Oh! Oh! kikila mai la fakaakiali atu Watch me now, it’s my turn to show e a mai tau faiva e a mai “How is the fishing with you, how is it?” (Girl) taku ika e fofou ai au “The fish that I truly long for” (Boy) e a mai tau faiva e a mai “How is the fishing with you, how is it? (Girl) CHORUS hihiva ki luga hihiva mai ve dance on up, dance just like that hihiva malie ki te pate pate dancing ever so sweetly to the Pate Pate (logdrum) chant: hiva ki luga hiva ki lalo dance on up, dance on down hiva malie ki te pate pate Dancing ever so sweetly to the rhythms of the log drum Track 5/ Hea la koe iei (Take that) This song is inspired by those working at the 531PI Pacific Island radio station in New Zealand. After announcing the signing of the worldwide distribution deal for the first Te Vaka album, Amosa Nemia, proudly introduced a song off the album by saying "hea la koe iei" which means "take that". faitala au i te po i luga o te letioi fano ake fakaali te tala nei taku tala manumalo tenei te lalolagi e kalaga mai kikila mai ki ta tou nei Tokelau ka hoholo halalau koe tou igoa e manogi mai ve he sei Matini hauni na pehe nei Fale lau mai na tala fou fakalogo ki tala e fai mai fai mai Amosa se tala nei taku lava mo Tokelau venei Tokelau venei (lea mai la Amosa) Hea la koe iei e Peni sauni na pehe nei Neta lau mai na tala fou fakalogo ki tala e fai mai fai mai Ioane se tala nei taku lava mo Tokelau venei Tokelau venei (lea mai la Ioane) Hea la koe iei Matini hauni na pehe nei ufiata lau mai na tala fou fakalogo ki tala e fai mai fai mai Foa’i se tala nei taku lava mo Tokelau venei Tokelau venei (lea mai la Foa’i) Hea la koe iei 6/ Pate Mo tou agaga(log drums for your soul) This instrumental piece is played in log drums with a gentle and breezy groove. It’s soulful feel and trancelike rhythm invites the listener to sway and move. Track 7/ Vaka atua (missionaries) The arrival of the missionaries marked a time of upheaval that destroyed much of the culture of the Pacific Islands. This song was inspired by what occurred in Tokelau where people were threatened with visits by gunboats if they didn’t accept the new faith. Old songs and old dances were labeled as "evil" by the church who therefore proceeded to suppress them. These actions were motivated greatly by each missionary’s personal prejudices and dislikes of the customs and manners of each Island. Much of the old songs and old dances were lost at that point in time. ‘Vaka atua’ describes the many conflicts that occurred trying to accept these new beliefs while throwing aside the spiritual beliefs that had been held by them and their ancestors for thousands of years. One man, Foliga’s, reply to the first missionary in his land was "No, we already have our own true god in heaven" (represented in this song by "Tagaloa" Polynesian god of the sea). "All their lesser evil customs you will endeavour to cast down, going in a state of nudity or nearly so, cutting or scratching themselves in seasons of grief - tattooing their bodies. Eating raw fish, their lewd dances etc, but the greater evils will require your first attacks and then the smaller." (John Williams, LMS South Sea Letters, 1823, quoted in Gunson 1978: 319) keina tu mai tao kae fakatonu ko to ta ho keina tu mai tao kae fakatonu ko to ku Aliki ko toku aliki Tui Tokelau hau he matagi ke moli au Tui o nuku Tui o vavau hau he matagi keina tu iao ioa lava ua fa’asa uma le faiga o pese f’a’apena ua fa’asa una le faiga o siva fa’apena ua fa’asa fi le faiga o le tatau ua fa’asa foi le aiga ole i’a mata amata atu i le aso nei faiga o pese fa’apenei te tali nei a foliga te matou Atua i te lagi te matou Aliki i te lagi hau he matagi keina te matou Aliki i te lagi iao ioa lava e ui lava kua puli koutou uma toku igoa e he mafai na puli kou tou e tagaloa Track 8/ Tagaloa (A god of old Polynesia) An idea of what the great Polynesian god Tagaloa (god of the sea) was then and is today. From his many feats to meet the constant demands for help and assistance from his people before the arrival of the missionaries, up to when he fell from grace - replaced by another god - to today, where he watches and waits......... Tagaloa, Tagaloa ko he talohaga e fai faipea mo tou latou puipuiga malu mo tou fakatagaga moa latou taumafaiga taumafaiga uam Tagaloa fakalogo tu mau pea Track 9/ Kaleve (Coconut honey) The sweet sap of the coconut is used by the women in their cooking, the children love to drink it while the men use it to make alcohol. Its varying uses and being the only natural sweetener make it an important part of life in the Pacific. Track 10/ Sagalogalo ake (lost in it all) A leisurely stroll through a Pacific Island basking in the magic of it all, accompanied by the enduring sound of the sea, there are children playing in the lagoon, groups taking part in festivities - dancing and singing - while others go about their daily chores. It’s as if you are lost in it all ... reminiscing. te faiva kua tau kua tau lagalaga kikila fakaholoholo pe fano ki fea te faiva kua laga kua laga te hi malau saloa galugalu fatifati te ataata o te mahina te ataata o te mahina fano ki te namo pe ko tuakau mahani a toeaina nofonofo mai i te mulivaka faitalatala ma tupulaga sagalogalo ake sagalogalo ake 11/ Aue kapaku (you’re going to fall) A log drum interpretation of a traditional chant from the Island of Tokelua usually played with the "puha" (wooden box) and sung by a large group of people while they dance the ‘fatele’ aue kapaku aue kapaku e gau te vae e gau te vae e aue kapaku aue kapaku e gau te lima e gau te lima aue kapaku aue kapaku gau te ua egau te ua aue kapaku aue sa hi , sa hi si si si aue sa hi , sa hi si si si si si si 12/ Kau tufuga fai vaka(Master voyages A tribute to the original pioneers of the South Pacific - The great Polynesian fleet that conquered the largest ocean on the planet with the simple canoe. Their natural abilities on the sea as navigators and as sailors are legendary. Summoned by Tagaloa to the sea they take up the challenge. kau tufuga fai vaka o te moana tapena ake te folau Tagaloa e kalaga mai taku mai na uiga ote tai hau hau Kau tufuga fai vaka kau tufuga fai vaka o te moana te nuku e fakatali mai fakatahi ma na faigata fofou mai kia te koe e fanatu hau hau kau tufuga fai vaka o koe kua lau iloa in a tuhituhiga o koe kua takutaku i te lalolagi
Nukukehe album
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Using original design elements by Roy
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