Topenga Ataata
Kupu Tūpato
Mama told me when I was young
– I korerotia mai e Mama ki ahau i ahau e tamariki ana
“Come sit beside me, my only son
– “Haere mai ki te taha o ahau, e taku tama kotahi
And listen closely to what I say
– A whakarongo tata ki te mea e mea ahau
And if you do this it’ll help you
– A ki te mahi koe i tenei ka awhina ia koe
Some sunny day”
– He rā rā”
Oh, yeah
– Aue, ae
Oh, take your time, don’t live too fast
– Aue, tangohia to wa, kaua e noho tere rawa
Troubles will come and they will pass
– Ka puta mai ngā raruraru ā ka pahemo atu
You’ll find a woman, yeah, and you’ll find love
– Ka kitea e koe he wahine, ae, ka kitea e koe te aroha
And don’t forget son there is someone up above
– A kaua e wareware e tama i reira ko te tangata i runga ake
And be a simple kind of man
– A kia he ahua ohie o te tangata
Oh, be something you love and understand
– Aue, kia te tahi mea aroha koe, me te matau
Baby, be a simple kind of man
– Baby, kia he ahua ohie o te tangata
Oh, won’t you do this for me son, if you can?
– Aue, e kore e meatia e koe tenei mo ahau tama, ki te taea e koe?
Forget your lust for the rich man’s gold
– Wareware ki to hiahia mo te koura a te tangata taonga
All that you need is in your soul
– Ko nga mea katoa e hiahia ana koe kei roto i to wairua
And you can do this, oh, baby, if you try
– A ka taea e koe te mahi i tenei, oh, baby, ki te tamata koe
All that I want for you, my son, is to be satisfied
– Ko nga mea katoa e hiahia ana ahau ki a koe, e taku tama, kia makona
And be a simple kind of man
– A kia he ahua ohie o te tangata
Oh, be something you love and understand
– Aue, kia te tahi mea aroha koe, me te matau
Baby, be a simple kind of man
– Baby, kia he ahua ohie o te tangata
Oh, won’t you do this for me son, if you can?
– Aue, e kore e meatia e koe tenei mo ahau tama, ki te taea e koe?
Oh, yes, I will
– Aue, ae, ka
Boy, don’t you worry, you’ll find yourself
– E tama, kaua e manukanuka, ka kitea koe e koe
Follow your heart and nothing else
– A pee i to outou ngakau, me te kahore atu
And you can do this, oh, baby, if you try
– A ka taea e koe te mahi i tenei, oh, baby, ki te tamata koe
All that I want for you, my son, is to be satisfied
– Ko nga mea katoa e hiahia ana ahau ki a koe, e taku tama, kia makona
And be a simple kind of man
– A kia he ahua ohie o te tangata
Oh, be something you love and understand
– Aue, kia te tahi mea aroha koe, me te matau
Baby, be a simple kind of man
– Baby, kia he ahua ohie o te tangata
Oh, won’t you do this for me son, if you can?
– Aue, e kore e meatia e koe tenei mo ahau tama, ki te taea e koe?
Baby, be a simple, be a simple man
– E te tamaiti, kia māmā, kia māmā
Oh, be something you love and understand
– Aue, kia te tahi mea aroha koe, me te matau
Baby, be a simple kind of man
– Baby, kia he ahua ohie o te tangata
