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My friend, My friend, I hate to see you suffer, |
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Events conspire to bring us to our knees, |
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My friend, my friend, you've taken this the wrong way, |
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Rise up, defend yourself, never give in, |
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Look to the sky, the spirit of Te Whiti, |
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The endless tide is murmuring his name. |
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I know Te Whiti will never be defeated, |
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And even at the darkest hour, |
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His presence will remain. |
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I'll sing to you the song of Parihaka. |
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Te Whiti he used the language of the spirit, |
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Then stood accused, the madman and his dream, |
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He saw the train go roaring through the tunnel, |
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He heard the voice travel on the magic wire, |
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But he loved the silence of the river, |
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He watched the dog piss on the cannon's wheel. |
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I know Te Whiti will never be defeated, |
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And even at the darkest hour, |
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His presence will remain. |
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I'll sing to you the song of Parihaka. |
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One day you'll know the truth, |
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They can't pull out the roots, |
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Come and take me home, |
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To weep for my lost brother. |
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They gather still, the clouds of Taranaki, |
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His children's children wearing the white plume, |
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So take me for the sins of these sad islands, |
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The wave still breaks on the rock of Rouhotu. |
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And when you taste the salt that's on your pudding, |
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And when you taste the sugar in your soup, |
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Think of Te Whiti, he'll never be defeated, |
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Even at the darkest hour, |
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His presence will remain, |
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I'll sing for you the song of Parihaka, |
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Come to Parihaka, |
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Weep for my lost brother, |
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The spirit of nonviolence, |
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Has come to fill the silence, |
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Come to Parihaka. |