He taua, He taua! - (A war party, a war party!)

Waewae tapu takahi te ara taua - (Footsteps pound the sacred warpath)
Ka hopungia e maha nga upoko - (Many heads are sought)
Ka hopungia e maha taurekareka - (Many slaves are sought)
E mahi nga mahi a Tūmatauenga - (This is the work of Tūmatauenga)

Anei rā - (Behold)
Te uhi o Mataora - (The chisel of Mataora)
Pai tuarā - (The strong back)
Te kokongapere - (The base of the spine)
Nga rape - (The buttock spirals)
Te kitemaimairu - (The thigh)
Tatua taua - (The war belt)
Nga tā moko puhoro - (The tattooed bodies of warriors)
Anei nga tohu a Tūmatauenga - (These are the omens of war)

He pakanga nunui mo te whakautu - (A mighty battle to avenge us)
Tae mai nga tūpuna mo te whakaāwhina - (Our ancestors gather to assist us)
Kia mau nga Tohunga mo te whakakarakia - (Our priests prepare the incantations)
E mahi nga mahi a Tūmatauenga - (This is the work of Tūmatauenga)

Anei rā - (Behold)
Te uhi o Mataora - (The chisel of Mataora)
Pai tuarā - (The strong back)
Te kokongapere - (The base of the spine)
Nga rape - (The buttock spirals)
Te kitemaimairu - (The thigh)
Tatua taua - (The war belt)
Nga tā moko puhoro - (The tattooed bodies of warriors)
Anei nga tohu a Tūmatauenga - (These are the omens of war)

A Tūmatauenga x4 - (Of Tūmatauenga)
Mahi nga mahi a Tūmatauenga x4 - (This is the work of Tūmatauenga)

Whakatangi o nga pū, whakapatu nga taiaha - (The cry of guns, the blows of the taiaha)
Te kikokiko rekareka ō aku hoariri - (The sweet flesh of our enemies)
Nga umu whakakīa tātau kōpū ki te utu - (The ovens fill our bellies with revenge)
E mahi nga mahi a Tūmatauenga - (This is the work of Tūmatauenga)

Anei rā - (Behold)
Te uhi o Mataora - (The chisel of Mataora)
Pai tuarā - (The strong back)
Te kokongapere - (The base of the spine)
Nga rape - (The buttock spirals)
Te kitemaimairu - (The thigh)
Tatua taua - (The war belt)
Nga tā moko puhoro - (The tattooed bodies of warriors)
Anei nga tohu a Tūmatauenga - (These are the omens of war)

Waewae tapu takahi te ara taua x4 - (Footsteps pound the sacred warpath)


Lyrics submitted by TheImpalerTMX

Kai Tangata song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

1 Comment

sort form View by:
  • +1
    Song Meaning

    Says the band "This song refers to "nga tohu a Tūmatauenga," the symbols of Tūmatauenga – the Māori god of war," and its from here where the band derives the album's name that the track is on." "Quite a few of the songs on the album are about battles or conflict." The video is a bit grisly & they're not saying it's right or wrong but the story should be told as it's stuff that actually happened to the Māori people. I wanted to added the songs title translates to 'Mankind'.

    EternalTearsOfSorrowon January 12, 2019   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!