He Puru Tai Tama
New Zealand Maori Song
Information: http://www.folksong.org.nz/he_puru/index.html
In 1909 Kingi Tahiwi was working for an Otaki law firm. He wanted to marry a very attractive young Maori woman, Jane Armstrong, but he was just an office woIrker, and there was much competition for her favours from the physical young farm workers in the area. So to remind her he had a capable young male body, as well as a bright mind, he wrote this song, putting it to a very energetic brass band tune. Epo i tai tai + girl scouts!!
(I'm) a strong young man!
A real young bull!
A vigorous lad!
A rampaging bull!
A husky young man!
The New Zealand Opera Maori Chorus
Spring Up Choir
Daphne Walker, George Tumahai
He Puru Tai Tama
He pūru taitama e
He pūru taitama hoki!
He pūru taitama
He pūru tukituki
He pūru taitama e.
Ka haere tāua e
Ki runga Otaki hoki.
Kei reira tāua
whaka-rite-rite ai
whaka-oti-oti ai e.
(I'm) a strong young man!
A real young bull!
A vigourous lad!
A rampaging bull!
A husky young man!
You and I are going
way beyond Otaki.
And there we
can arrange
a conclusion.
