|
G7
Whitu-whitu, waru-waru, C kani-kani
e! |
Seven-seven,
eight-eight, dancing-dancing eh! |
- 1 Ara!
- Although
Te Ara is usually translated as 'The Path," in this
case Ara! is an exclaimation.
2
titiro māketu
- Look with evil thoughts, look with lust, look hard.
A lusty young man's courting song
This seems to be a "Saturday Night Fever" type of song for a lusty young man to attract an equally lusty young woman as his wife, so it is strange to hear it now sung prettily as a poi dance by young girls. Or sung by an aging opera diva!
These other songs have originated as lusty young Māori men's songs are also now sung as poi dances in a pretty-pretty fashion:-
Me He Manu Rere
He Püru Taitama e
Epo i Tai Tai e.
Dominion Song Book Number 1, 1930
Our thanks to David Dell for pointing out that a modified fragment of this song appeared in the first Dominion Song Book for New Zealand schools, in 1930, as a "Maori Rhythmic Song, with nonsense words."
Mata ka titiro koe Makati
Mata ka titiro koe Makati
Mata ka titiro koe Makati
Whitu-whitu, waru-waru, kani-kani O!
Look now Mataki, see what you can see X 3
Seven-seven eight, come and dance with me!Maketi was probably a nonsense word invented for school children to sing instead of the word for evil, maketu. But notice that Te Makati whanau come from the Southland coast between Chaslands Mistake and Wallace Head.