From the recording Nukukehe
In memory of the 19 young girls who lost their lives when a fire broke out in the Motufoua boarding school on the Island of Vaitupu, Tuvalu in 2000
Tuvalu language
LOIMATA E MALIGI (Let the tears fall down)
Lyrics and Music - Opetaia Foa'i
Loimata e maligiToku loto fanoanoaKo galo atuA fakapelepele
Omai te fakamafanafanagaSolo te mae teneiKo galo atuNa tamafine
Faigata fakamalamalamaTino gafulu ma te toko ivaAve ai te lumanaiA te atunuku
Loimata e maligiToku loto fanoanoaKo galo atuA fakapelepele
Let the tears fall downMy heart is filled with sorrowFor we have lostMany loved ones
Let the healing flow over meand wash this pain awayFor we have lostMany of our young women
It¹s hard to understandThat 19 lives were takenAnd along with itThe future of a small nation
Let the tears fall downMy heart is filled with sorrowFor we have lostMany loved ones
Loimata e maligi
Toku loto fanoanoa
Ko galo atu
A fakapelepele
Omai te fakamafanafanaga
Solo te mae tenei
Ko galo atu
Na tamafine
Faigata fakamalamalama
Tino gafulu ma te toko iva
Ave ai te lumanai
A te atunuku
Loimata e maligi
Toku loto fanoanoa
Ko galo atu
A fakapelepele
LET THE TEARS FALL DOWN
Let the tears fall down
My heart is filled with sorrow
For we have lost
Many loved ones
Let the healing flow over me
and wash this pain away
For we have lost
Many of our young women
It¹s hard to understand
That 19 lives were taken
And along with it
The future of a small nation
Let the tears fall down
My heart is filled with sorrow
For we have lost
Many loved ones
© Spirit of Play Productions/Opetaia Foa'i