Teka was from Ruatahuna in the Ureweras (1937), and had a musical childhood… Read Full Bio ↴Teka was from Ruatahuna in the Ureweras (1937), and had a musical childhood. His mother played mouth organ and clarinet, and his father was a saxophonist with a bush band. After learning guitar and saxophone at woolshed dances with teenage bands, Teka moved to Sydney and began a six-year stand with the Maori Volcanics showband on the Japan and Pacific circuit. The 'Prince' title was adopted when Teka joined the Maori Troubadours: 'In those days Elvis was the king of rock'n'roll so we thought up New Zealand's prince of entertainment.'
In the 1970s Teka performed solo in Sydney and southeast Asian clubs, his extravagant stage wardrobe including rhinestone jackets and embroidered shirts cut for his one hundred and forty kilogram frame. His cabaret set was enlivened with downhome jokes: Nat King Cole ('I'm his half-brother Charcoal'). His over-sized choreography added to the fun, as Teka found later when he dieted down forty kilograms on medical advice: "I had no stomach to wiggle."

By 1981 he had returned to Tokomaru Bay ('I began to feel homesick') and became a household name during the next year with E Ipo, and two albums with Teka originals including Real Love and Oh Mum.

Prince Tui teka passed away in 1985 after heart difficulties.

Louise
Prince Tui Teka Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

They all said, Louise "was one half bad",
It was written on the walls and window shades,
Sometimes she acts like a little girl,
But if you see her, don't believe her
That's her trade

Sometimes a bottle of perfume,
Can be your maybe, or some lace

Men brought Louise ten cent trinkets,
But their intentions, were easily traced

And everybody knew the time she cried,
Although women like Louise they can cry,
And everybody thought it kind of sad,
When they found Louise in the room,
They'd always put her down,
Below their kind
Still some cried, when she died
This afternoon

Now Louise she rode home on the mail train,
Somewhere to the south I heard them say,
To bad it ended so ugly, (ohhhh)
To bad, to bad she had to go this way

But the wind is blowing cold tonight,
So goodnight, Louise goodnight

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Prince Tui Teka's song "Louise" tell the sad story of a woman who was judged and rejected by society for her profession as a prostitute. The first verse describes how people used to write on walls and window shades about Louise being "one half bad," showing that she was widely regarded as immoral. Despite this, she could sometimes appear childlike, but anyone should not believe her because prostitution was her way of living.

The second verse brings out how men would give her trinkets as gifts, but their intention behind the act was evident. The following lines express the sadness of all who knew her. Even though women like her could cry, it still seemed like a pity when they found Louise alone in her room, and people would look down on her, regarding her as beneath them. Nonetheless, some would still cry for her when she died.

The final verse describes how Louise had to leave town, and people expressed regret that things had ended so tragically for her. The song's final line sends her off, wishing her good night as the wind blows cold.

Overall, the song exposes how Louise's status as an outcast made her extremely vulnerable and powerless, leading to her sad demise.

Line by Line Meaning

They all said, Louise "was one half bad",
People described Louise as someone who was not entirely good.

It was written on the walls and window shades,
Rumors and gossip about Louise were spread everywhere.

Sometimes she acts like a little girl,
Louise sometimes behaves in a naive, childish way.

But if you see her, don't believe her / That's her trade
Louise's job involves deception and trickery.

Sometimes a bottle of perfume, / Can be your maybe, or some lace
Louise receives gifts from men, which are usually small and inexpensive.

Men brought Louise ten cent trinkets, / But their intentions, were easily traced
Men gave Louise cheap gifts in the hopes of winning her affection, but it was clear that they only wanted one thing.

And everybody knew the time she cried, / Although women like Louise they can cry,
People were aware of the times that Louise cried, despite the perception that women like her are not supposed to show their emotions.

And everybody thought it kind of sad, / When they found Louise in the room,
People found it heartbreaking when Louise was discovered in a bad situation.

They'd always put her down, / Below their kind
Society looked down on Louise and considered her to be beneath them.

Still some cried, when she died / This afternoon
Despite everything, some people were emotional when Louise passed away.

Now Louise she rode home on the mail train, / Somewhere to the south I heard them say,
Louise's body was transported home by train to a southern location.

To bad it ended so ugly, (ohhhh) / To bad, to bad she had to go this way
It's a shame that Louise's life came to such a tragic end.

But the wind is blowing cold tonight, / So goodnight, Louise goodnight
As the night grows colder, people say their final goodbyes to Louise.

Contributed by Connor V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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