Written by a man whose brother was taken away to a leper colony in Makogai, Fiji.
Le manutagi e ua tagi ta’amilo
Pei o se ta mai o se logo fa’ailo
Ma’imau pe ana iai se televise
Se o penei ua ilo atu lo’u tino
Aumia le lupe e fai ona apa’au
Pe ana o a’u e lele atu ma toe sau
Se’i ou asia le atu Fiti ma Makogai
Aue Tasi e, ta fia alu nei iai
Matua e, se’i ala maia sa’ili le tama
Po’o moe po’o tafao i le taulaga
Sa’ili ane ma su’e ane i Vaitele
Se ae faimai ua te’a ese ma Aele
Aumia le lupe e fai ona apa’au
Pe ana o a’u e lele atu ma toe sau
Se’i ou asia le atu Fiti ma Makogai
Aue Tasi e, ta fia alu nei iai
E ui na maua lou tino i le ma’i
Pe le o vai po’o ali’i foma’i
To’aga pea i le tatalo to’atasi
E le pine ona maua lona tali
English translation:
The weeping pigeon circles
Like the sound of a warning bell
If only there was a television
For then I would see you
[CHORUS]
Oh blessed is the pigeon who has wings
For if I could, I would fly to you
Just to visit Fiji and Makogai
Oh Tasi e, if only I could visit you
Dear parents awaken and find the boy
Is he sleeping or has he gone to town?
Search for him at Vaitele
For he has gone from Aele
Even though you have this sickness
It may have been the Doctor’s medicine
Keep on praying
Soon your prayer will be answered
—
Learn more about the history of this song – and of leprosy in Samoa – in this 2007 academic paper by Safua Akeli.
English translation:
The weeping pigeon circles
Like the sound of a warning bell
If only there was a television
For then I would see you
[CHORUS]
Oh blessed is the pigeon who has wings
For if I could, I would fly to you
Just to visit Fiji and Makogai
Oh Tasi e, if only I could visit you
Dear parents awaken and find the boy
Is he sleeping or has he gone to town?
Search for him at Vaitele
For he has gone from Aele
Even though you have this sickness
It may have been the Doctor’s medicine
Keep on praying
Soon your prayer will be answered
—
Learn more about the history of this song – and of leprosy in Samoa – in this 2007 academic paper by Safua Akeli.