E papä Waiari
The verses and chorus of "E papä Waiari" are often repeated after it's been sung through once.
E papä Waiari
O Elder Waiari
Children's Song
Children's Song
(Maori)
(English)
1. E papä Waiari, taku nei mahi
Taku nei mahi, he tuku roimata
Chorus:
Ë aue, ka mate au; E hine hoki mai rä
Ë aue, ka mate au; E hine hoki mai rä
2. Mäku e kaute öhïkoitanga
Mäku e kaute öhïkoitanga
Chorus
1. O elder Waiari my habit has been
My habit has been to shed tears
Chorus:
Alas I will die; oh girl, return to me
Alas I will die; oh girl, return to me
2. I will count your footsteps
I will count your footsteps
Chorus
Notes
John Archer, of a site called New Zealand Folk Song, wrote me, "Girl Guides and Girl Scouts all over the world learn the Maori stick tossing song 'E Papa Waiari'." According to his site, this is a stick game (Tï Räkau). These games consist of the rhythmic throwing and catching of sticks from person to person."
Rawinia wrote: "Tena koe. I would like to say thank you very much for including a very small piece of our Maori culture on your website!
I am writing to inform you about a mistake on your website concerning the song 'E Papa Waiari'. You have written that this song is performed as 'Ti rakau', this is incorrect this song is performed with 'Tititorea'.
Ti rakau and Tititorea are two very different art forms but both come under the kapa haka discipline of Whakaraka so it is possible this is where confusion happened. It would be much appreciated if you could change this.
Many thanks
Rawinia Apanui :) "
Thanks!
Thanks!
Thanks!
Thanks and Acknowledgements
Many thanks to John Archer for allowing me to use this song from his site and for providing the music. Thanks also to Maori Images for permission to use the Maori divider images.
Ka pai!
