Topenga Ataata
Kupu Tūpato
There’s a letter to your mother that is hidden is my desk
– He reta ki tou whaea e huna ana ko taku tēpu
That I wrote to her in a sober mind
– I tuhituhi ahau ki a ia i roto i te hinengaro maeneene
It’s my apology for all the things I used to be
– Ko taku whakapae mo nga mea katoa i whakamahia e au
And swearin’ I’ll change over time
– A ka oati ahau ka huri ahau i roto i te wā
She might not believe me ’cause no one ever does
– Kāore pea ia e whakapono ki ahau, nā te mea kāore anō kia whakapono tētahi
Except her daughter that loves me true
– Engari ko tana tamahine e aroha pono ana ki ahau
God forbid all it takes for a boy to finally wait
– E kore e whakaaetia e te atua nga mea katoa e hiahiatia ana kia tatari te tamaiti
Just to be cherished and loved all the way through
– Just ki te kia aroha me te aroha te ara katoa i roto i
She lets me drink my liquor when I’m singin’ through the night
– Ka tukua ahau e ia kia inu i taku waipiro ina waiata ahau i te pō
She slaps my hand when it’s too much
– Ka patupatua e ia toku ringa ina nui rawa
She’s mean and she’s kind, strong and divine
– He kino ia, he atawhai, he kaha, he atua
And Lord only knows how tough
– A E mohio Ana Te Ariki anake pehea uaua
So dear Miss, by the time you see this
– E Te Rangatira, i te wā e kite ana koe i tēnei
It’ll be in love or it’ll be in pain
– Ka aroha, ka mamae rānei
May God bless and keep us
– Kia manaakitia tatou e te Atua
May you think kind of my name
– Kia whakaaro koe ahua o toku ingoa
And I know I’ve had my days and I’ve made my mistakes
– A e mohio ana ahau kua whai ahau i aku ra, a kua hanga e ahau aku hapa
So please point me to the nearest perfect man
– Na tēnā tohu ahau ki te tangata tino tata
I’ll gladly take advice from a man with no vice
– Ka koa ahau ki te whai tohutohu mai i tētahi tangata kāore he kino
If it means I can hold your hand
– Ki te mea ko te tikanga ka taea e au te pupuri i to ringa
She was raised up proper and I was raised up
– I whakaarahia ia kia tika a i whakaarahia ahau
With a poor working boy’s heart
– Ki te ngakau o te tamaiti mahi rawakore
The way the light is beatin’ on her smilin’ cheeks this evenin’
– Ko te ara e te marama e whiua’ i runga i ona kanohi ataata’tenei evenin’
Is the finest of the world’s fine art
– Ko te pai o te toi pai o te ao
So dear Miss, by the time you see this
– E Te Rangatira, i te wā e kite ana koe i tēnei
I’ll be in love or it’ll be in vain
– Ka aroha ahau, ka kore rānei
So may God bless and keep us
– Kia manaakitia tatou e Te Atua
May you think kind of my name
– Kia whakaaro koe ahua o toku ingoa
And she’s standin’ in the doorway ramblin’ on about my old ways
– A kei te tu ia i roto i te tatau ramblin i runga i e pā ana ki aku ara tawhito
How they were reckless and free
– He pēhea te pōhēhē me te wātea
How all my imperfections and every ugly lesson
– Me pehea aku ngoikoretanga katoa me nga akoranga kino katoa
Is worth every last second with me
– He mea utu ia hēkona whakamutunga ki ahau
