kia kaha

split enz

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

our situation's changed

i wonder to myself now

if we are still the same

we used to laugh at the words of the old school song

but now i hope that you will ever be strong

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

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

but now i hope that you will ever be strong

when i left town i thought an angel watched over me

it was a shock to find the devil inside me

beside me

ka mate! ka mate!

ka ora! ka ora!

ka mate! ka mate!

ka ora! ka ora!

tenei te tangata puhuru-huru

nana nei i tiki mai

whakawhiti te ra!

aue upane! aue kaupane!

aue upane

kaupane

whiti te ra!

where did it go

i never noticed it passing

already it's a long time ago.