Pae o Riri

Pae o Riri

Oh handsome soldier, my sweetheart has left me
E te toa / ranginamu / tau pûmau / ngaro kau
for the heat of battle
ki te pae o riri e
Be ever watchful
Kia mataara / rawa koe
As you fight together
Ka eke ki te pakanga e
In the depths of war

Oh lovely sister, care for my brother
E hine kahurangi tiaki i taku tungâne ka tû
He has gone afar to battle
ki te pae o riri e
His handsome eyes
Ôna karu,
And laughing smile
mene maimoa
We pray for his return home
Hoki mai ki te wâ kâinga

Oh beloved father, take him as your son
E te matua, koia tô tama, toa tauâ pâheke
He has gone afar to battle
ki te pae o riri e
Please protect him
Manaakihia
And should he die fighting
Inâ ka mate
Return him to Mother Earth
Mâu e tâpuke ki te whenua

Oh beautiful mother, weep for this boy who has fallen
E te kôkara, tangihia, kua hinga te tama
When he has gone
ki te pae o riri e
Adorn his grave with
He raukura
a feather plume
mô tana rua
A symbol of a chiefly traveller from afar
hei tohu toa ki te marea

There lies our warrior and the partisan
Who fought and died for freedom's sake.

E te hautoa o te iwi
I whawhai râ mô te mana te tika