Kia Kaha Lyrics & Chords By Split Enz

(NB: Kia Kaha translates as "Forever strong")

(Kia kaha)
I left you in the shelter
On a wet waikato day.
The rain came like a flood
Washed our stamping ground away.
And so the ties were broken (never look back)
Our situation's changed(Kia kaha)
I wonder to myself now
If we are still the same.

We used to laugh at the words of the old school song(Kia kia kia kia)
But now I hope that you will be ever strong(Kia kaha)

We gathered in the basement
Like some religious sect.
A band of idle dreamers
In a small town safety net.
It's been as long as five years
Since we were face to face(Kia kaha)
We're feeling for the first time
Should have something to show for our age.

We used to laugh at the words of the old school song(Kia kia kia kia)
But now I hope that you will be ever strong(Kia kaha)
When I left town I thought an angel watched over me(Kia kia kia kia)
It was a shock to find the devil inside me, beside me(Kia kaha)

Maori Haka:
Ka mate! Ka mate!(It is death for me)
Ka ora! Ka ora!(I live!)
Ka mate! Ka mate!(It is death for me)
Ka ora! Ka ora!(I live!)
Tenei te tangata puhuru-huru (Behold the brave man
Nana nei i tiki mai, (literally the hairy man))
Whakawhiti te ra!(who has caused the sun to shine again)
Aue upane! Aue kaupane!(Up the ladder)
Aue upane, kaupane (Up and up)
Whiti te ra! (Into the light of the sun)

(Kia Kaha)
Where did it go, I never noticed it passing
(Kia Kaha)
Already it's a long time ago...