Pōkarekare Ana- 연가 戀歌

"Pōkarekare Ana" is a traditional New Zealand love song, probably communally composed about the time World War I began in 1914. The song is written in Māori and has been translated into English. It enjoys widespread popularity in New Zealand as well as some popularity in other countries.

 

'Pokarekare Ana' - a beatiful love song, written by a homesick soldier, serving in the Maori Battalion during World War I - with it's tale of longing, for home & loved ones immediately touched his fellow countrymen, who adopted the haunting melody as thier own.
It's now a poignient musical touch-stone for any homesick New Zealander.

 

Composition

Eastern Maori politicians Paraire Tomoana and Āpirana Ngata published the song in 1919, but neither of them claimed to have composed it.  They explained that it had "emanated North of Auckland" and was popularised by Māori soldiers who were training near Auckland before embarking for the war in Europe.

 

The Māori words have remained virtually unaltered over the decades, with only the waters in the first line being localized. For example, some versions refer to Lake Rotorua in the North Island. It is then associated with the story of Hinemoa swimming across the lake to her forbidden lover, Tūtānekai, on Mokoia Island. However, there have been many different English translations.

 

"Pōkarekare Ana" was originally written predominantly in triple time, with the verse in duple time, but has been more commonly heard in duple time since World War II.

Lyrics

Māori                                                                    English

Pōkarekare ana, ngā wai o Waiapu Whiti atu koe hine, marino ana e. Refrain E hine e, hoki mai ra. Ka mate ahau I te aroha e. Tuhituhi taku reta, tuku atu taku rīngi, Kia kite tō iwi raru raru ana e. Refrain Whati whati taku pene ka pau aku pepa Ko taku aroha mau tonu ana e. Refrain E kore te aroha e maroke i te rā Mākūkū tonu i aku roimata e. Refrain

They are agitated, the waters of Waiapu, But when you cross over girl, they will be calm. Oh girl, return to me, I could die of love for you. I have written my letter, I have sent my ring, so that your people can see that I am troubled. Refrain My poor pen is shattered, I have no more paper, But my love is still steadfast. Refrain My love will never be dried by the sun, it will be forever moistened by my tears. Refrain

Adaptations

The song was introduced to South Korea by New Zealand soldiers fighting in the Korean War. It was eventually given Korean lyrics and a Korean title, "Yeonga" (Korean: 연가), and has become popular across the country.

The melody of "Pōkarekare Ana" was used for an Irish hymn to the Blessed Virgin: "A Mhuire Mháthair, sé seo mo ghuí".

 

A homophonous translation into Hebrew was composed in 2007 by Ghil'ad Zuckermann. In this translation the approximate sounds of the Māori words are retained while Hebrew words with similar meanings are used. In this translation, however, "Waiapu" is replaced by "Rotorua" (oto rúakh, Hebrew for "that wind"). In 2009 the Israeli composer Rami Bar-Niv wrote a piano piece based on the song, "Pōkarekare Variations".

 

Pokarekare Ana

 New Zealand's Unofficial National Anthem

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgRVK2ge1ys

 

Pokarekare Ana - Hayley Westenra (Gwyl Gobaith 2012)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DsfVXh-H3w 

Hayley Westenra sings Pokarekare Ana at the Gwyl Gobaith Festival (Festival of Hope) on 24 August 2012 at Glyndwr University's Northop campus near Mold in North Wales. Broadcast on S4C TV on 2 September 2012.

 

Pokarekare ana "영원한 밤의 우정" 戀歌

Pokarekare ana Nga wai o Waiapu(Rotorua)

포카레카레 아나 나가 와이 오 와이아푸(로투루아)

와이아푸의 바다엔 폭풍이 불고 있지만

Whiti atu koe E hine Marino ana e

퓌티 아투 코에 에 히네 마리노 아나 에

그대가 건너갈 때면 그 바다는 잠잠해질 겁니다

 

E hine e Hoki mai ra

에 히네 에 호키 마이 라

그대여 내게로 다시 돌아오세요

Ka mate ahau i Te aroha e

카 마테 아하우 이 테 아로하 에

너무나 그대를 사랑하고 있어요

 

Tuhituhi taku reta Tuku atu taku ringi

투히투히 타쿠 레타 투쿠 아투 타쿠 링이

그대에게 편지를 써서 반지와 함께 보냈어요

Kia kite to iwi Raruraru ana e

키아 키테 투 이위 라루라루 아나 에

내가 얼마나 괴로워하는지 사람들이 알 수 있도록 말예요

 

E hine e Hoki mai ra

에 히네 에 호키 마이 라

그대여, 내게로 다시 돌아오세요

Ka mate ahau i Te aroha e

카 마테 아하우 이 테 아로하 에

너무나도 그대를 사랑하고 있어요

 

E kore te aroha E maroke i te ra

에 코레 테 아로하 에 마로케 이 테 라

뜨거운 태양아래에서도 내 사랑은 마르지 않을 겁니다

Makuku tonu I aku roimata e

마쿠쿠 토누 아이 에쿠 로이메이타 에

내 사랑은 언제나 눈물로 젖어있을 테니까요

 

E hine e Hoki mai ra

에 히네 에 호키 마이 라

그대여, 내게로 다시 돌아오세요

Ka mate ahau i Te aroha e

카 마테 아하우 이 테 아로하 에

너무나도 그대를 사랑하고 있어요

 

Mokoia island in Lake Rotorua