Parihaka - Tim Finn and the herbs

PARIHAKA - 

Parihaka by Tim Finn        

My friend, My friend, I hate to see you suffer,

Events conspire to bring us to our knees,

My friend, my friend, you've taken this the wrong way, 

Rise up, defend yourself, never give in,

Look to the sky, the spirit of Te Whiti,

The endless tide is murmuring his name. 

I know Te Whiti will never be defeated,

And even at the darkest hour,

His presence will remain.

I'll sing to you the song of Parihaka.

Te Whiti he used the language of the spirit,

Then stood accused, the madman and his dream,

He saw the train go roaring through the tunnel,

He heard the voice travel on the magic wire,

But he loved the silence of the river,

He watched the dog piss on the cannon's wheel.

I know Te Whiti will never be defeated,

And even at the darkest hour,

His presence will remain.

I'll sing to you the song of Parihaka.

One day you'll know the truth,

They can't pull out the roots,

Come and take me home,

To weep for my lost brother.

They gather still, the clouds of Taranaki,

His children's children wearing the white plume,

So take me for the sins of these sad islands,

The wave still breaks on the rock of Rouhotu.

And when you taste the salt that's on your pudding,

And when you taste the sugar in your soup,

Think of Te Whiti, he'll never be defeated,

Even at the darkest hour,

His presence will remain,

I'll sing for you the song of Parihaka,

Come to Parihaka,

Weep for my lost brother,

The spirit of nonviolence,

Has come to fill the silence, Come to Parihaka.

What was the main message of this song and what lines explain their passive resistance method? 

The main message of this song is to look up to what happened in parahaka and use that as an example of how we should fight for land and rights, and overall telling people that what happened in parihaka should be praised and looked up upon. And that the story of parihaka will remain and the stories of the brave leaders and civilians will live on, to this day followers still represent their leaders by wearing the feathers from the prophecy that two birds would come to the mountain and would come to lead them. 

What does ‘you can’t pull out the roots’ refer to in the song?

In this song, you cant pull out the roots refers to the British not being able to rip their culture and heritage from their land.  And you can never forget the stories and myths and legacy that the land holds for those people. There's also another meaning saying that they can't pull up the soil that they had planted and grown food on and ultimately made their own. 

Give evidence of their determination? and how does this song show the significance of Parihaka?

"Events conspire to bring us to our knees,

My friend, my friend, you've taken this the wrong way, 

Rise up, defend yourself, never give in,

Look to the sky, the spirit of Te Whiti,

The endless tide is murmuring his name. "

This section of the song shows how the British were wanting to break them down and steal their land and culture but, the song was saying to never give up, and fight for what you believe, but fight in a way that won't lead to violence and harm.

  

"Think of Te Whiti, he'll never be defeated,

Even at the darkest hour,

His presence will remain."

This shows the significance of what happened in parihaka and how the leaders who led the revolution will never be defeated or forgotten and he will live on forever, through stories and culture.