An addendum to Allan Thomas’s essay “Now is the Hour When We Must Say Goodbye / Haere Rā”
‘Maori Faith-healing song; Te Oranga Mō Te Iwi’
Maori Melodies (with words) Collected and Arranged for Pianoforte by Clarence Elkin. W H Paling & Co Ltd, Sydney, 1923. “Maori Faith-healing Song. Te Oranga mō te Iwi Founded on The Swiss Cradle Song by Clement Scott. As used by the Maori Faith Healer Ratana.”
Te Iwi, Te Iwi, ete Iwi ē
Tahuri mai ra te ngakau e,
Ki nga kupu ote rongo pai,
Hei oranga mote iwi ē.
Te Iwi, Te Iwi, ete Iwi ē
Matua Tama Wairua Tapu e.
Menga Anahera Pono rā
Te oranga mote iwi ē.
Hoki mai, Hoki mai, hoki mai rā
Te Iwi maori kite Atua e
Hei Okiokitanga mo t tātou tou
I nga wa ote pouri e.
Ratana, Ratana te mangai e
Mate Ariki koe e manaki e
He Awhina ite iwi nei
Kit e ara ote oranga.
Morehu Morehu ete morehu
Kia u kinga kupu ate Atua
Haere pono Haere tika rā
Nga ra o muri kia mamao.
A-mi-ne.
Ana Hato - Hoki Hoki Tonumai and Poatarau Maori (Parlophone A-104, 1927)
‘Pō Atarau Māori’
Love Ditties, recorded by Ana Hato on Parlophone A-104, 1927.
Pō Atarau, e moea iho nei
E haere ana koe ki pāmamao
Haere Rā, ka hoki mai anō
Ki te tau e tangi atu nei.
Translation: “On a moonlit night I see in a dream/ Your departure for a distant land/ Farewell, but return again someday/ To your beloved beseeching you [with this song].”
Now it is the hour for me to say goodbye
Soon you will be sailing far across the sea
When you’re away, kindly remember me
When you return you’ll find me waiting here.
‘Haera Rā’
[1920] by Maewa Kaihau. Sheet music published 1928 or earlier.
This is the hour for us to say goodbye
Soon you’ll be sailing far across the sea
Do not forget but remember me
When you return you’ll find me waiting here.
Kua-tae mai te wa, he we he Nga Mo Tatou
E-tata Koe Ka Maiangi, Kirunga o Mo ana nu[i]
Kei wareware ahau e Koe Kia mau-tou ma ha rā
Ko konei au tari-ai, Kia hoki mai Koe-a Taihoa.
I love you dear, but duty calls you now
How I will miss you, when far, far away
God guard you dear, and guide you safely home
When you return, you’ll find me waiting here.
E-tangi rā e Kare, Kua ta-u a Mata riki
Kai Ake te Aroha i roto Ana Ma mao Koe Ki Tawhiti.
Ma te-ariki Koe e-Kawa, Kia tae Ki Tou Tau ranga
Kokonei ahau tari ai, Kia hoki mai Koe-a Taihoa.
Haere Rā (Good-bye) Waltz Song - words and music by Maewa Kaihau (Auckland: Arthur Eady, 1928).
‘Haere Ra’
by Maewa Kaihau. Recorded by Ernest McKinlay in 1928, Columbia 01066.
Te Iwi, Te Iwi, ete Iwi ē
Tahuri mai rā te ngakau e,
Ki nga kupu ote rongo pai,
Hei oranga mō te iwi ē.
Now is the hour when we must say goodbye
Soon you’ll be sailing far across the sea
While you’re away, oh then remember me
When you return, you’ll find me waiting here.
‘Now is the Hour (Haere Rā)’
[1935] by Maewa Kaihau. Sheet music published 1947 or later. Words copyrighted 1928.
Now is the hour For me to say goodbye
Soon I’ll be sailing Far across the sea.
While I’m away O! please remember me,
When I return I’ll find you waiting here.
Te iwi, te iwi, e te iwi ē;
Ta huri mai rā Te ngakau ē.
Ki-ngā kupu Ote rongo pai,
He oranga Ote iwi ē.
Translation: “Everybody, everybody/ Turn back your heart/ to the words of the Gospel/ for the welfare of you all.” (1st verse of the Ratana Faith-healing song, ‘Te Oranga Mō Te Iwi’.)
Haere ra Te manu tangi pai;
E haere ana Koe ki pamamao.
Haere ra, Ka hoki mai ano,
Kite tau, E tangi atu nei.
Translation: ‘“Bon voyage”/ cries the seabird/ as you depart/ for a distant land./ “Farewell”,/ but return again/ to your beloved,/ crying after you.’ (1st verse of ‘Pō Atarau Māori’ with the first line, “Pō Atarau e moea iho nei” changed to “Haere Rā te manu tangi pai.”)
‘Now is the Hour (Māori Farewell Song)’
[ca 1946] by Maewa Kaiha[u], Clement Scott, Dorothy Stewart.
Sunset glow fades in the west;
Night o’er the valley is creeping!
Birds cuddle down in their nest;
Soon all the world will be sleeping.
True lovers often must part;
Kiss me, then leave me to sorrow!
Here, love, I give you my heart;
You will return some glad morrow.
Now is the hour for me to say goodbye;
Soon I’ll be sailing Far across the sea.
While I’m away O! please remember me.
When I return I’ll find you waiting here.
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