Taku Ipukarea

Male (soft, spoken-sung):

Āue… yeah

Ngā motu o tōku vaerua

Female (breathy):

Island soul…

Ocean deep…

Male:

Atiū nights, moon so low

Hear the waves say “don’t let go”

Palm trees sway, time move slow

This my blood, this all I know

Female (last 4 bars):

From the sand to the stars above

Every tide remind me of

Where I’m from, who I am

Island heart in my hands

Female:

Moana roa, pull me close

No matter where I go

Male (harmonies):

Vaerua kotahi, one heartbeat

This the only home I know

Both (hook):

Āue… āue…

Ngā motu o tōku vaerua

Male:

You my home, my heart, my truth

Female:

Yeah, you my island soul

Both:

Āue… āue…

Under skies forever blue

No matter where I go

I come back to you

Female:

City lights, different sound

But I still hear the ocean now

Through my phone, through my song

Still reppin’ home all night long

Male:

They say chase a bigger dream

But I carry mine in me

In the reo, in the beat

That’s my identity

Male:

World keep changing, yeah I know

Female:

But our roots stay strong below

Both:

From the shore to overseas

We don’t fade, we don’t leave

Both:

Āue… āue…

Ngā motu o tōku vaerua

Female (ad-libs):

(Island soul… yeah)

Male:

From Rakahanga to the stars

Female:

Tongareva in my heart

Both:

No matter where we are

Female (whisper):

Slow it down… feel the tide now…

Male:

Tūpuna talk in the breeze

Tellin’ me who I gotta be

Both (last 2 bars):

This ain’t just land, this ain’t just sea

It’s identity

Both:

Āue… āue…

Ngā motu o tōku vaerua

Island soul, forever true

I belong to you

Male (runs):

Even if I roam the world…

Female:

My heart stay island-side

Island soul… island soul…

Āue…