Ko au Teia by IICULTXRE - Zona

Ko au Teia by IICULTXRE - Zona

Lyrics

[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 Kuki Airani 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 maori 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 akamā (no shame now) Ko au teia, nō te enua nei Ko toku ora, ko toku nei

Taku peu i roto i te ngākau Taku reo, e reo tupuna  Anywhere that I go (I go) Kuki Airani, ko toku kainga

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

Taku peu! Taku reo! E vai nei i roto iaku 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 Rima rāranga, stories I hold Of my people, courageous and bold

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

[Pre-Chorus] Kāre au e akaruke I taku peu maori 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 akamā Ko au teia, nō te enua nei E tu au, kāre e ngaro

Taku peu i roto i te ngākau Taku reo, e reo tupuna Anywhere that I go Kuki Airani, ko toku kainga

[Bridge]  Taku reo… kāre e mate… I roto i au… kia 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 akamā Ko au teia, nō te enua nei Forever this is part of me

Taku peu i roto i te ngākau Taku reo, e reo tupuna Anywhere that I go Kuki Airani, ko toku kainga

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