Aroha Mai, Aroha Atu

It’s like a rash

A rash in the summer sun

Crawling up your back

Baby, calm down, baby, calm down

What do you see?

Blood on your hands that you can’t wash clean

In so deep that you couldn’t even see it

It’s like a slap

A slap burning on your cheek

Now you see the cracks

Baby, wake up, baby, wake up

What do you see?

All the missing parts of the person you were meant to be

It’s never too late to return mana wahine

I’m going to share our love

Manaakitanga

Speak the truth

Kōrero te reo

Feel the shame

And then move beyond it

It’s not my shame

I don’t have to hold it

Reinvigorate

My thinking and speaking

For my whaea and kuia

Who never got to see it

Live whanaungatanga

Everywhere I visit

Whānau takatāpui

Always in my spirit

I may have come late

But better late than never

There was healing to be done

So I could hold my mana

I’m nobody’s saviour

Just here for the mahi

I hope this waiata

Frees anybody

Who didn’t grow up

Close to Māoritanga

It runs in your blood

Through your whakapapa

Aroha mai, aroha atu

The circle of love

Will always hold you