Tūī

It’s mine, it’s mine (Kōrihi te manu)

I found my own prize (Tākiri mai te ata)

You can try you can try (Ka ao ka awatea)

To get in my way but you won’t stay (Tīhei mauri ora)

Protecting the truth

Found something good

You know it ‘cause you’ve got your conscience conscience right?

I know it too

Found something new

Made it a home for me

Over I flew

Found the best view

I know it ‘cause I’ve got my conscience conscience

All for my own

hold on to my home

don’t let it go for anyone else.

It’s mine, it’s mine 

I found my own prize 

You can try you can try 

To get in my way but you won’t stay, 

You won’t stay, you won’t stay

‘Cause I am stronger than you

Woke up to the news

That somebody knew

Where they could find what I found

They captured the view

And found the new tune

I heard them singing from the place I’d been

It’s yours it’s yours

You found your own voice

They will try they will try

To break you apart but hold on to what you’ve found

What you’ve found, what you’ve found

‘cause you are stronger than them

---

Tuī - a translation

The bird sings

The morning has dawned

The day has broken

Behold there is life

Kererū

When is it time to stop?

When you’re enjoying it with all you got?

Another one will be just fine

I’m feeling the buzz

I’m feeling fly

Don’t need to stop

I’ve got moderation on lock

I know i’m fine until

I can’t walk a straight line no more

My oh me

I’ve lost my bearings

May have had one too many berries

I’m spinning them lines now

I find i’m a little blind now

Another one bites the dust she said

But i’m fine, fine, fine.

Watch me and then you’ll see

Temptation got the best of me

Kei hea āku parihau?

Kei hea tāku rākau?

Ka kimihia kimihia tāku kōhanga 

Karangaranga mai āku whanaunga! 

Kua taka tāku mata, kāhore te kapa 

i te kainga o tāku miro whakamutunga

kua tae ki te toi o tāku taura

rāranga mai he taura hou hei piki mōku

---

Kererū - a translation

Where are my wings?

Where is my tree?

Where is my nest

call out, my family!

My face has dropped - not the penny unfortunately

On the last berry I ate

I’m at the end of my rope

Make me a new rope so I can climb back up

(the penny is a reference to “when the penny drops”, which in Māori is, “Kua taka te kapa”)

Kākā

I wake up have my breakfast in the mirror

take a selfie tell the world (I woke up like this).

Get my shoes on decked out to the iwa

I Step out I hope the world is ready for this

Walking down the street I feel people Stop and stare

But I don’t mind that’s the burden of being beautiful

Don’t be jealous anyway, you’ll never get here.

Oh by the way did you see me?

(I’m so) Sweet sweet oh, look at my feathers

I fluff my tail up give me some credit

I’m the man I’m the man I’m the man

(he’s the man he’s the man he’s the man)          x2

I always bring my gun, (shh it’s my bicep)

my calves and my buns check out these assets

I take a selfie here selfie anywhere I wanna

That food looks nice ooh

Looks like big price ooh

Labels, fables, playing with marbles 

dollar bill dollar coin I’m just too cool

These filters make me look good.

Or is it just a filter for my life?

My cousins keep telling me “ĒHARA TE KŪMARA!”

But I don’t mind telling you I’m really really reka.

My cousins keep telling me “ĒHARA TE KŪMARA!”

But I don’t mind telling you I’m really really reka

I smell like roses I’m sweeter than nectar 

Put your shades on my light is brighter

---

Kākā - a translation

Iwa is nine in Māori: decked out to the nines.

“ēhara te kumara e kōrero mo tōna ake reka” is a Māori proverb about how a ‘sweet potato’ will never (have to) ever tell you how sweet (reka) it is. It’s about humility.