Tōtara by Aro
“Kua hinga he tōtara i te wao nui a Tāne”
“A great tree has fallen in the great forest of Tāne”
‘Tōtara’, originally taking its inspiration from the above whakatauki, has become a song of aroha, grief and remembrance - a song of aroha for those significant and special people, who are no longer with us.
Tracklist
| 1. | Tōtara | 4:07 |
Lyrics
Tōtara
Ko tō mahana
Me he kāuta
He wahine aumiti tāngata
Me he pōike
pūkeke
He kōhanga mo tēnei pīpī e…
E…te tōtara
Haemata
Ka mau tonu ki tō aroha
Ko wai ka tohu
Tō hinga i te mumu
I te wao nui a Tāne
Kua hinga he tōtara i tēnei wao
Puhake te aroha
Riringi noa ngā roimata
He awa e rere
Ki to taha hei kawe
I tō waka Tōtara
Tōtara - a translation
Your warmth
Is like the kitchen/home fire
You were a warm and welcoming woman
Like the top
Of a strong/unyielding/steadfast tree
You were a safe place where I could build my nest
Tōtara
Who was so vigorous
We will always have your love
Who could tell/say
That boisterous winds would beat you
In Tāne’s great forest
A great tree has fallen
Love overflows
Into tears falling down
A river that flows
To where you are
To carry your waka Tōtara
Credits
Music by Aro, Charles & Emily Looker
Mātanga Reo - Te Kuru Dewes
Recorded & Produced by Vivek Gabriel at Gabriel Audio
Strings - Gin Papali'i
Drums & percussion - Aaron Clarke
Bass - Chip Matthews
Pounui - Warren Maxwell
Electric Guitar - Abraham Kunin
Acoustic Guitar - Charles Looker
PIano/keys - Eli Moore, Emily Looker
Sound textures - Vivek Gabriel
License
All rights reserved.
Aro is a Te Tiriti-based music duo made up of Charles (Ngāpuhi, Te Rarawa, Ngāti Te Ata, Ngāti Mutunga) and Emily Looker. Known for the uniquely rich way their voices weave and sit together in harmony, Aro blend reo Māori with RnB, soul, and folk to craft music that honours the beauty and depth of te ao Māori, while celebrating their shared love of storytelling, language, and whānau.