Ko Au Tei Aiteanga (Phenryn Version)

[Introl]
Ko au tei…
Nō te enua nei…
E Atua, arataki mai…
(Oh yeah… island soul…)

[Verse 1]
Born where the ocean call my name
Tai nui e, it runs through my veins
No runga i te vaka o tōku au tupuna
I carry their strength, their mana within me

Matangi mārie, through the trees it sings
‘Āriki vāine in everything
From the maunga down to te moana
This is my home, my enua aroa

[Pre-Chorus]
Kāre au e ngaropoina
I taku peu, taku reo rā
Every step that I take today
Is guided by where I’m from, I’ll say

[Chorus]
I stand tall, I stand proud (proud)
Ka tū au, kāre e mā (no shame now)
Ko au tei, nō te enua nei
Ko toku ora, ko toku nei

Taku peu i roto i te ngākau
Taku reo, e reo rangatira
Anywhere that I go (I go)
Cook Islands, ko toku kainga

[Post-Chorus Hook]
E tu! E tu! kāre e mataku
E tu! E tu! kia pakari rā
Ko au tei! Ko au tei!
Nō te enua nei!

Taku peu! Taku reo!
E vai nei i roto i au
Taku peu! Taku reo!
That’s my identity now

[Verse 2]
Ura flows when I move my feet
Tangi te pā’ū, I feel that beat
Ringa rāranga, stories I hold
Of my people, courageous and bold

Te rā e pā mai, te moana mārama
Heaven lives in my whenua
Avaiki roots inside my soul
No matter where, they make me whole

[Pre-Chorus]
Kāre au e akaruke
I taku peu taketake
Even when I walk far away
My culture lives in me every day

[Chorus]
I stand tall, I stand proud (yeah)
Ka tū au, kāre e mā
Ko au tei, nō te enua nei
E tu au, kāre e taka’i

Taku peu i roto i te ngākau
Taku reo, e reo rangatira
Anywhere that I go
Cook Islands, ko toku kainga

[Bridge]

Taku reo… kāre e mate…
I roto i au… ka vai ua…


From my lips to the next generation
Ko koe toku foundation


E TU! kia pakari!
Kia ū ki tōu peu Māori!
From the past we rise again
Our identity will never end

[Final Chorus ]
I stand tall, I stand proud
Ka tū au, kāre e mā
Ko au tei, nō te enua nei
Forever this is part of me

Taku peu i roto i te ngākau
Taku reo, e reo rangatira
Anywhere that I go
Cook Islands, ko toku kainga

[Outro ]
Ko au tei… nō te enua nei…
Taku peu… taku reo…
Ka tū au… kāre e mā…
This is who I’ll always be…