TE VAKA - TOKU MATUA (Live)

http://www.tevaka.com Toku Matua from the "Nukukehe" album performed at Apia Park, Samoa in 2002. Written by Opetaia Foai in Tuvaluan, his mother's language. Lyrics and Translations below:

Toku Matua

E isi se nuku e iloa ne au
Se fenua e uke mea fou
Ae fakamataku au e alofa
Mo aso mai aso mai mua

Au e manako e oko ki ei
Koi maua ne se avanoa
Koe tuai o goto ki lalo
Te fenua o toku matua

Au e fia pese i luga
Au e fia siva i luga
Ke kau atu au ki fenua nei
Au e fia pese i luga
Au e fia siva i luga
O te fenua o toku matua

Mafaga- la ose mea fakamataku
Koe tuai o galo atu
Fakatagi nei a loto o tino
Ko la ne ola i te atunuku
Koe tuai o goto ki lalo
Koe tuai o goto ki lalo

I luga I luga
Te fenua ne vau ei
Toku matua

land of MY MOTHER

There is a place that I know of
A land threatened by something new
I fear for it¹s safety
I¹m concerned for it¹s future

I need to go there
It might be my last chance
Before it sinks below
This land of my mother

I want to dance in this land
I want to sing in this land
I need to swim in this land
Let me dance in this land
Let me sing in this land
This land of my mother

A disaster, a catastrophe
When it returns to the sea
Breaking the hearts of it¹s people
Taking the name of it¹s people
To forever live below the sea