Ka pioio e Lyrics

Vocals Mahe and Sandy. Guitars, bass, drums and mixed by Matt. Background photo taken by Anita. Recorded for development and learning of te reo. Composed by Charles Tamai Nicholson OR Kereopa Ratapu. See below.
Kereopa Ratapu (from Rongomaiwahine on the East Coast, and now with Ngati Kuia at Nelson) wrote this song while he was training at Palmerston North Teachers College in 1990, to express his feeling about coming back home to his family after serving with the NZ Army in Singapore in the 1980s.
When he first composed it, the first line was "E hoki mai ra." This told the audience what the song about - in this case, a homecoming - and he created a tune that caught the energy and excitement of a homecoming. But the best songs make the audience experience the event, and years later Charlie Nicholson in the Wairarapa achieved this by beginning the song with the highly evocative "Ka Pioioi" line that Kereopa had finished the song with.
APRA now lists Charles Tamai Nicholson as the composer of the song, a claim hotly contested by Ratapu family members who remember their dad composing the song after returning from his time in the army.

[@christopherrichardson228]

I love this song so much

[@Llanas_tiktokdances]

THIS IS MY FAV SONG

[@user-bv2wt7fw7c]

i love this song you should-make another song that matches this song? just an idea

[@denniedavidson5375]

Kanapa means bright and gleaming in Māori though so it is correct here.

[@matiusmith4516]

Thanks. The singers korero better than myself in reo. I just playd and mixed it, i only korero iti.

[@c.talagi7122]

Just a question for a line clarity: aatahua e panapana as seen on another lyric site or the one that is here aaatahua ia kanapa? Confused? Thank you. Let me know.

[@annabanana5350]

Yeah it's panapana, usually most version have it. I haven't seen any with kanapa. Hope this helps 👍

[@Homegamers001]

Dialects within the Iwis.

[@jodypuhara8383]

Kei te mohio ahau tenei waiata...why does it sound so bloody depressing

[@oldscool5343]

Because it's aligned to your comment!? .. āna

[@Homegamers001]

Ata mārie koutou🥰