Graham Reid | | 15 min read
Kōrero Māori
Marlon Williams' te reo album is an important milestone for the artist in that he has not only embraced his heritage but has woven his journey into a series of extraordinary songs which refer to many traditions of Māori music.
As we noted in our review, "These original waiata, with lyrics by Williams and Kommi Tamati-Elliffe, present music rooted in Māori concert parties, choral groups (Me Uaua kē), haka and the trickle-down of Dalvanius' vision of Maori pop (Kōrero Māori).
"There are country music influences (the deep spirituality of Whakameatia Mai), a piano ballad Ngā Ara Aroha and the lament Kāhore He Manu E with 
Lorde, all wrapped up by Williams' honey-smooth voice (the love song Ko Tena Uaand Pōkaia rā te Marama with lyrics by Julian Wilcox) or like a soul unleashed (on the surging, anthemic rock of Kuru Pounamu)."
But here too Williams (Ngāi Tahu, Ngāi Tai) also tells a story across the songs, one of that metaphorical journey he has embarked upon. Here are the lyrics in te reo and English.
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You can hear and buy this album at bandcamp here
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E Mawehe ana Au
Words by Marlon Williams and Kommi Tamati-Elliffe
Music by Marlon Williams
E mawehe ana au ki ngā ao e rua
E noho nei, e tiro ana
Ki ao kē, ki ao kē
Whakawhānuitia te ango
E kore e rongorongo i a au te reo tohu
I te tāone nei, i te ao tūroa
I tenei ra, ia rā, ia rā
Whakawhārōrō nei
Hei mahi whaihua ki te tini nei,
E kore e tutukingia e au
Me aha hoki mō te kotahi?
E taru ana i tāku
He manawa hē! Hi!
Kua manawa popore!
“E tutū ana te puehu”
Tērā tau e kī mai nei,
Koia, koia, koia rā
Tē tau te waituhi nei
Taku uhi hāpūpū
Kaniawhea atu ē
Kua waihotia he nawe
I am split between two worlds
Sitting here, looking there,
Another world, another world,
The chasm grows wider
I cannot hear a guiding voice
In the town, in the whole world
Today, and every day,
I am utterly stretched
I try to be of help to the many
But it cannot be done
What can one person do?
This is my illness
Troubled heart! Hi!
Anxious heart!
“Just kicking up dust”
So you say to me,
Well, well, and indeed so it is
The ink never settled
My chisel is blunt
To you my remorse
It left behind a scar
.
Kei te Mārama
Words by Marlon Williams and Kommi Tamati-Elliffe
Music by Marlon Williams
Kua whāiro atu ē
Paku tohu i a koe
I te mutunga āu tuke
Kei te mārama, kei te mārama
Ō kupu kūoro tahi
He taute, te tiro pī
Te kurapae a roto ī!
Kei te mārama, kei te mārama
Kei te mārama
Waihora toro atu tai ki tai
He tirohanga atu, tē tiro mai,
Kia kauawhitia tōu ara tātai!
Ko whakamāmā ō taumatahanga i?
Ka haria atu aku mea
Waiho kī i te tepu ē
Haere ki te ako hītori
Kei te mārama, kei te mārama
Mārama ē
I’ve noticed
Little signals from you
Gentle nudges towards the end
I understand, I understand
The stunted replies,
The disturbance, the side eye
Ah! The treasures that hide within!
I understand, I understand
I understand
Lake Waihora reaches from shore to shore
But vision only goes in one direction
Take your destiny upon yourself!
Isn’t it nice to come to this resting place?
I’ve taken all my things
The keys are on the table
I’m off to study history
I understand, I understand
Understand
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Aua Atu Rā
Words by Marlon Williams and Kommi Tamati-Elliffe
Music by Marlon Williams
Ko au anake
Ki te waka,
Ki te moana
Kāore kau he matangi
Kāore he aha nei
Titiro mai
Titiro mai!
Te ama!
Ka tāuke atu nei
Aua atu rā
Ka mate au ki te moana mārie
Kāore ōku tūmanako
Kāore he aha nei
Anana e
Anana e!
Te ama!
Ka tāuke atu nei
Aua atu rā
E kore au e hoki anō ki a koe
Kāore e hoki anō ki tō kainga ē
E kore au e hoki anō ki a koe
Kāore e hoki anō ki tō kainga ē
Ko au anake
Ki te waka,
Ki te moana
Kāore kau he matangi
Kāore he aha nei
Aroha mai
Aroha mai!
Te ama!
Ka tāuke atu nei
Aua atu rā
I am alone
in this boat,
on the ocean
There is not a trace of wind
No, none at all
Look here
Look here!
The outrigger!
It is breaking away
Never mind
I will perish on the calm ocean
There is not a trace of hope
No, none at all
Behold
Behold!
The outrigger
is breaking away
Never mind
I won’t be coming back to you
Nevermore will I visit your home
I won’t be coming back to you
Nevermore will I visit your home
I am alone
in this boat,
on the ocean
There is not a trace of wind
No, none at all
Have mercy
Have mercy!
The outrigger!
It is breaking away
Never mind
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Me Uaua kē
Words by Marlon Williams and Kommi Tamati-Elliffe
Music by Marlon Williams
Tērā motu tērā
Te wāhī i kai ai taiohi i ngā hua o te koreke
Tērā motu tērā
He āhuru mō te hunga māruru o mua
Tērā motu tērā
Mā poti anakē e eke ki korā
Tērā motu tērā
Ko te whāinga te hākinakina ki reira
Me, me uaua kē
Ka ruia e te poho o Tamatea
Me, me uaua kē
Ka kitea i a Tamatea pērā e
Tērā tihi tērā
He tirohanga huri noa whakaaroaro ē
Tērā tihi tērā
Te wā i whai āwhina kē a Tamatea
Tērā tihi tērā
Kōhatu whakarekareka ē
Tērā tihi tērā
Ka āwhinatia pērātia ahau
Me, me uaua kē
Ka ruia e te poho o Tamatea
Me, me uaua kē
Ka kitea ia Tamatea pērā e
E! Karangahia Ngatoroirangi e
Whakawerawera ōku koiwi e
That island
The place where youth collected quail eggs
That island
A shelter for the sick in days past
That island
Only accessible by boat
That island
Let’s go and frolick there
It’s a rare thing to see
The chest of Tamatea trembling
It’s a rare thing to see
Tamatea behave in that way
That peak
A perfect lookout spot from which to see the world
That peak
The place where, long ago, Tamatea prayed for assistance
That peak
The place of magnificent glowing rocks
That peak
Assist me in that same way
Its a rare thing to see
The chest of Tamatea tremble
It’s a rare thing to see
Tamatea behave in that way
I call on Ngatoroirangi!
Warm up these bones of mine!
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Kōrero māori
Words by Marlon Williams and Kommi Tamati-Elliffe
Music by Marlon Williams
Hope
Ki raro
Hope
Paiahahā!
He maha rawa ngā whiringa hei ara māu mai ki au
He maha rawa ngā kupu whakaari ki te māhunga nōu
Hei aha ngā kīanga atamai, hei patipati mai (ai!)
Hei aha te peruperu, pīoioi mai ē
Kōrero māori mai,
Kia rere i te wai
Koia rā ko te atawhai,
Kōrero māori
Hope
Ki raro
Hope
Paiahahā!
I tipitipi haere koe, tuku ihi, tū te wehi, manahau
Ki Akaroa, ki Wairewa, ki Waihora, ki Parī kē e te tau?
Kua kite kē te mahere o te ao,
Ka kite koe, tū mai rā,
“I haere Māori atu, i hoki Māori mai ē”
Kōrero māori mai,
Kia rere i te wai
Koia rā ko te atawhai,
Kōrero māori
Kōrero māori
Hands on hips
Hands down
Hands on hips
Attention!
There are many ways you could get to me
There are many prophesies in that head of yours
Don’t worry about fancy words, don’t try to sweet-talk me
Stop your aggressive haka and sway with me
Speak plainly (māori) to me
Go with the flow
Thats how you show your love
Speak plainly
Hands on hips
Hands down
Hands on hips
Attention!
You’ve travelled all around impressing people, gee whizz!
Akaroa, Wairewa, Waihora, Paris even, my dear?
I’ve seen a map of the world,
And I see you before me now,
“Māori you left, and Māori you returned”
Speak plainly to me
Go with the flow
That's how you show your love
Speak plainly
Speak plainly
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Ko Tēnā Ua
Words by Marlon Williams and Kommi Tamati-Elliffe
Music by Marlon Williams
Ko tēnā ua ehara i te ua kōnehunehu
Ka tū noa atu koe
Kāhore, kāhore he pou
Engari tāua ua ka patua tō kiri
E homai rā tō kiri
Hei whakaahuru i a koe
Ko tēnā āhua ehara i te āhua porehu
Ka tū noa atu koe
Kāhore, kāhore he pou
Homai rā tō kiri
Haramai e te tau,
E hau raro e ipo
Kāhore kāhore he pou
That rain is not the kind of rain that drizzles lightly
And yet there you stand,
You are not a pou (pillar, totem)
Rather, it is the kind of rain that beats against your skin
Bring me your skin
That I may warm you
It doesn’t seem unclear
And yet there you stand,
You are not a pou (pillar, totem)
Bring me your skin
Come here my love,
Lower your defences my darling
You are not a pou
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Whakameatia Mai
Words by Marlon Williams and Kommi Tamati-Elliffe
Music by Marlon Williams
Tahi, rua, toru
Nō nanahi i noho au
E pōuri te ngākau
Rongohia ake reo
Ehara i te whakaharatau
Ka paroro te rangi
Ka rū te whenua
Hui katoa ki te tangi
Whakameatia mai
He kamo kite ai
Ka hotu te manawa
He aha kē ō tūmanako ē?
Whakameatia mai
Ka paroro te rangi
Ka rū te whenua
Hui katoa ki te tangi
Whakameatia mai
Kāti te whakapae
Tirohia ki waho
Pīkoko ngā iwi ē
Whakameatia mai
Ka paroro te rangi
Ka rū te whenua
Hui katoa ki te tangi
Whakameatia mai
Pīkoko ngā iwi ē auē!
Whakameatia mai
One, two, three
Yesterday I sat
With a downcast heart
When I heard a voice say
“This is not the rehearsal”
The storm rages in the sky
The land trembles
Everything is singing
“Let things happen to me”
The eyes see
The heart sobs
What are your desries?
Let me know
The storm rages in the sky
The land trembles
Everything is singing
“Let things happen to me”
Stop your lounging
Look outside
The people are starving
“Let things happen to me”
The storm rages in the sky
The land trembles
Everything is singing
“Let things happen to me”
The people are starving
“Let things happen to me”
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Ngā Ara Aroha
Words by Marlon Williams and Kommi Tamati-Elliffe
Music by Marlon Williams
Kei takahia koe e te maunga tāwhai nei
Ka hekea ki Rarohenga e te ihorei
Mā te aha e whakatauke i ngā ao?
Koia nei, koia nā,
Ngā ara aroha
Huri noa i te ruma, huri noa atu rā
Ka hekea ngā arawhata, ka pikia
Auē! Ehara i te mea hanga?
Koia nei koia nā
Ngā ara aroha
Ētahi wā
Me he pere koe
Ka pere, ka perea
Ētahi wā, karangatā
Taringa e turi ana ē
Ka haere mata ngaro au,
Pānekeneke rā
Koia nei, koia nā,
Ngā ara aroha
Mate i te mokemoke
Pō neke mai
Koia nei, koia nā
Ngā ara aroha
You don’t want to stand in the way of a mountain on the move
Even a chief can wander into the underworld
What is it that can separate worlds?
It is that indeed,
The ways of love
I spin around the room, onwards and outwards
Climbing down stairs and back up them,
Auē! What is the nature of this thing?
It is that indeed,
The ways of love
Sometimes
You are like a bell,
Ringing (belling) all the time.
Other times there’s no call
And ears are shut
So I go about faceless
Shifting from place to place
It is that indeed,
the ways of love
Sick with loneliness
I go about in the night
It is that indeed,
The ways of love
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Huri te whenua
Words by Kommi Tamati-Elliffe
Music by Marlon Williams
Huri te whenua
Kā tākata e rua
Ka whakatipu mai te hua,
Tipu mai kā rākau pua
Herehere ki roto
Herehere ki waho
Mā kā raho ka tū te ure
Wakuwaku te tō o te kāho
Tēnaka rā tō haka
Mahi tonu pēnā rā
Whatiwhati tonu nā
Tapoko i te oru hōhonu
Rukua kia tae atu ki te kokoru
Ekari, ekari tonu
Kaiponu, kaiponu koe
Ēkene ka pē!
Ēnā kare ā-roto ka whakapuare
Kīhai i haere kūare
(Ekari) I haerēre haere tuare
(Ekari) I haerēre haere tuare
(Ekari) I haerēre haere tuare
Huri te whenua
Kā tākata e rua
Ka whakatipu mai te hua,
Tipu mai kā rākau pua
Herehere ki roto
Herehere ki waho
Mā kā raho ka tū te ure
Wakuwaku te tō o te kāho
Huri te whenua
Kā tākata e rua
Ka whakatipu mai te hua
Tipu mai kā rākau pua
Herehere ki roto
Herehere ki waho
Mā kā raho ka tū te ure
Wakuwaku te tō o te kāho
Turn the soil
Two peoples
Cultivating the crops
The birding trees grow
Inwardly unite
Outwardly unite
People make a leader
Scrape the bottom of the barrel
That’s your forte
Keep doing that
Keep moving your hips side to side
Sink into the deep quagmire
Dive through until you reach the cove
For sure! You bet!
You keep to your miserly self
Perhaps you’ll be be crushed, infected
Those feelings will be revealed
You didn’t go along unknowingly
(But) you went along like a blind eel
(But) you went along like a blind eel
(But) you went along like a blind eel
Turn the soil
Two peoples
Cultivating the crops
The birding trees grow
Inwardly unite
Outwardly unite
People make a leader
Scraping the bottom of the barrel
Turning the soil
Two peoples
Cultivate crops
The birding trees grow
Inwardly unite
Outwardly unite
People make a leader
Scraping the bottom of the barrel
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Kuru Pounamu
Words by Kommi Tamati-Elliffe
Music by Marlon Williams
I ruka anō i te āki
A rūrūtake, a wheori
Kua huri te ihu o tōu ake waka
Ki te oriori
I titohia tuatahitia mōu
He kōhukahuka anō, he kōhuka, he kou
E te reiputa, kaua rā e kaimōhū
E te reiputa, Ko koe tō ake kaitohu
Pai ana te mahi
He kōunga āu mahi
Tēneki mātou e whai ana i tōu huarahi
Tērā te peka i waho ka rapirapi
Mā tērā tohu aku whakaaro ka tapitapi
Anō, ka tāti
Ka tāti anō
Ehara i te kakī mārō
He māhaki anō
Mai rānō (mai rānō)
Mai rānō (mai rānō)
He māhaki anō
E te kāhu kōrako
Mai rānō (mai rānō)
Mai rānō (mai rānō)
He māhaki anō
E te kāhu kōrako
Kai ana kā kākā
Noho ana kā kereru
Heoi he manu anō
E te kuru pounamu
Because of the urging
And shaking of old age/illness
The prow of your canoe has turned
Towards the first lullaby
That was composed for you
You’re a small child again, a wee hooting morepork
Oh ye, repository of knowledge, do not be despaired
Oh ye, repository of knowledge, you direct yourself
Great work!
Your work is pure excellence
And here we are following the path you laid out
Outside the branch scratches the window
Which causes my thoughts to find faults
Start again
Start over again
You are not inflexible or stubborn
Indeed you are quite tolerant and humble
Since way back
Since way back
Indeed you are quite tolerant and humble
Oh ye, the rare white hawk
Since way back
Since way back
Indeed you are quite tolerant and humble
Oh ye, the rare white hawk
The parrots are eating
While the wood pigeons sit quietly
But you’re a different kind of bird
You’re an an ornament of greenstone
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Kāhore He Manu E
Words by Marlon Williams and Kommi Tamati-Elliffe
Music by Marlon Williams
Kāhore he manu e kakapa i roto rā
Me he manu koe hoki, rere atu ki wawā
Mā wai e kiki te tātākī o te rau?
He taonga te wareware, ka maumahara kē au
Haehaea te marama, maringi toto miraka
Tīramarama atu, e kimi ake rā
Kāhore te taumaha e pēhanga nō runga rā
Oma ake tonu ai, ka pekea ngā matata
E kore e kite ana au, e te hoa hōtoke
He pohewa tonu ai i te makaro e
Haehaea te marama, maringi toto miraka
Tīramarama atu, e kimi ake rā
Kāhore i tae i ahau te tuku mihi koropai
He kōingo, he karanga ki a rīpeka, haramai
(There is not) a bird that quivers within me
You too are a bird, flying off somewhere
Who is it that will shut up the noise of the people?
It’s a joy to forget, and I remember
Scratch down the moon, let it bleed milk
And shine out, ever searching
(Not) this burden that presses down from above
And I, forever running, leaping over the cracks
You have disappeared, my winter friend
A vision lost in the dimness
Scratch down the moon, let it bleed milk
And shine out, ever seeking
I didn’t get to say my goodbyes
A yearning, a call to the crossroads (Rebecca), come
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Pānaki
Words by Kommi Tamati-Elliffe
Music by Marlon Williams
Pānaki
Kōkōuri
Kōtekiteki
Piki ake
Kake ake
Hau tapu
Hau ora
Manahau
Titihaoa
Whāwhāpū
Hūmārire
Mākoha noa
Āe marika!
Ānene
Whakamāria
Kātuarehe
Kātuarehe!
Pūpoka
Kiriahi
Pāinaina
He āhuru
Whakatāmahana
Kā ō
Tīkina
Te horehore
Tauawhi
Haumiria
Te aweka
Tō ruahine
He waihīnau
He ua
He ua
Rāoa
murimuri aroha
Pānaki
Kōkōuri
Kōtekiteki
Piki ake
Kake ake
Hau tapu
Hau ora
Manahau
Titihaoa
Whāwhāpū
Hūmārire
Mākoha noa
Āe marika!
Ānene
Whakamāria
Kātuarehe
Kātuarehe!
Going down a gentle slope
A soft breeze
A light wind
Ascending
Climbing up
Sacred wind
In good spirits
Elated
Shouts of joy
Exultation
It is pleasant
Simply tranquil
Absolutely!
Breathing gently
It’s calming
You crafty devil
You crafty devil!
Hunched up with my limbs drawn up
I hug the fire
To warm myself
It’s cosy
I warm up
The food
I fetch
The poker
Embracing
Caressing
The power and presence
Your variety of harakeke (flax from Te Urewera)
A cloak of dressed flax dyed black
The rain
The collar of my cloak
Chokes me
I yearn, I grieve deeply
Going down a gentle slope
A soft breeze
A light wind
Ascending
Climbing up
Sacred wind
In good spirits
Elated
Shouts of joy
Exultation
It is pleasant
Simply tranquil
Absolutely!
Breathing gently
It’s calming
You crafty devil
You crafty devil!
.
Rere Mai Ngā Rau
Words by Marlon Williams and Kommi Tamati-Elliffe
Music by Marlon Williams
E hika mā, e pā
Nōnāiakenei ka whakamārama
te toimaha o te mea
Ka hīrere noa ngā roimata
Taihoa e haere, kia tūtū te puna
Taihoa e haere, kia tūtū te puna
He puna manawa whenua
(Koia nā) Whāngaia ngā paiaka
(Koia nā) Kia whārōrō a peka
Rere mai ngā rau
He puna manawa whenua
(Koia nā) Whāngaia ngā paiaka
(Koia nā) Kia whārōrō a peka
Rere mai ngā rau
E hika mā, arā
He atua, he tangata, me te mea ko tō ariā
E whakatatatata mai ana rā,
Āwaiā!
Taihoa e haere, kia tūtū te puna
Taihoa e haere, kia tūtū te puna
He puna manawa whenua
(Koia nā) Whāngaia ngā paiaka
(Koia nā) Kia whārōrō a peka
Rere mai ngā rau
He puna manawa whenua
(Koia nā) Whāngaia ngā paiaka
(Koia nā) Kia whārōrō a peka
Rere mai ngā rau
Rere mai ngā rau
Rere mai, tata mai
Rere mai, rere mai
Rere mai ngā rau
Rere mai ngā rau
Good grief, sir
I am just now coming to understand
the weight of the thing
The tears spill forth
Arrest your departure, fill up the wellspring
Arrest your departure, fill up the wellspring
An unfailing spring
(Indeed) That nourishes the roots
(Indeed) So the branches may spread
Fly, leaves, fly
An unfailing spring
(Indeed) That nourishes the roots
(Indeed) So the branches may spread
Fly, fly
Good grief, before me
Stands a god, a man, in your likeness
Come close to me
Good heavens!
Arrest your departure, fill up the wellspring
Arrest your departure, fill up the wellspring
An unfailing spring
(Indeed) That nourishes the roots
(Indeed) So the branches may spread
Fly, leaves, fly
An unfailing spring
(Indeed) That nourishes the roots
(Indeed) So the branches may spread
Fly, leaves, fly
Fly, leaves, fly
Fly, close by
Fly, fly
Fly, leaves, fly
Fly, leaves, fly
.
Pōkaia rā te Marama
Words by Julian Wilcox
Music by Marlon Williams
Pōkaia rā te marama
E taupō ai te mata o te whenua
Whakarehu i ahau ē
Kauawhiawhi ki te kiri makau kē
Hihiri, hihiri, engia, ko te tau tēnei ka ora
E ua mai e te ua tarariki
E haehae te rau peke nō te matangi
E rere rā te kupu whakapaki hau
Kia korou ake rā, kia whanō ai au
Me tākai noa te pūtahi
Me whakapakari ki te kawariki
E wawae he mahora nui
Te one takutai roa nō Hawaiki
Hihiri, hihiri, engia, ko te tau tēnei ka ora
E ua mai e te ua tarariki
E haehae te rau peke nō te matangi
E rere rā te kupu whakapaki hau
Kia korou ake rā, kia whanō ai i au
Let the moon be covered
So darkness dwells across the land
To veil me
To reach out and touch that which I desire, pursue.
Let it grow, indeed! For my beloved will give me life.
Let the persistent rain fall on me
A leaf blown off a tree by a gentle wind should be rent asunder
Let words crash against me like the forceful winds
To follow my heart and force me to move
Adorn me with the pūtahi (a dogskin cloak for a chief),
To mature with the kawariki
So that a great expanse opens
The long coastal path from Hawaiiki
Let it grow, indeed! For my beloved will give me life.
Let the persistent rain fall on me
A leaf blown off a tree by a gentle wind should be rent asunder
Let words crash against me like the forceful winds
To follow my heart and force me to move
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