The Manu Siva Tau is a Samoan war dance, performed by the Samoan sporting teams before each match.
The national rugby union team used to perform the traditional 'Maulu'ulu Moa' on tour. Prior to the 1991 World Cup, the 'Manu' war chant was composed, it was considered to be more effective at psyching up players.
The national Australian rules football team performs the Siva Tau at its International Cup appearances.
In WWE, The Usos, as faces, performed the Siva Tau as part of their ring entrance.[1]
The Toa Samoa national rugby league team also perform the Siva Tau before each match (with the "Toa" replacing "Manu" in the words).
The song "Le Manu" by the New Zealand metal band Shepherds Reign has the lyrics of the Siva Tau as performed by the Manu Samoa.[2]
| English language | ||
| Leader: Samoa! | Samoa! | |
| Sauni e tau le taua! | Ready for the war! | |
| Tau e matua tau! | Fight fiercely! | |
| Fai ia mafai! | Work to achieve! | |
| Le Manu! | The Manu! | |
| Team: Sau ia! | Let's go! | |
| Le Manu Samoa e ua malo ona fai o le faiva Le Manu Samoa e ua malo ona fai o le faiva | The Manu Samoa, may you succeed in your mission The Manu Samoa, may you succeed in your mission | |
| Le Manu Samoa lenei ua ou sau | The Manu Samoa here we have come | |
| Leai se isi Manu oi le atu laulau | There is no other Manu (team) anywhere | |
| Ua ou sau nei ma le mea atoa | Here I come completely prepared | |
| O lou malosi ua atoatoa | My strength is at its peak | |
| Ia e faatafa ma e soso ese | Make way and move aside | |
| Leaga o lenei manu e uiga ese | Because this Manu is unique | |
| Le Manu Samoa | The Manu Samoa | |
| Le Manu Samoa | The Manu Samoa | |
| Le Manu Samoa e o mai I Samoa | The Manu Samoa reigns from Samoa | |
| Le Manu! | The Manu! |
During the 2007 Rugby World Cup, the Samoa national rugby union team used a more aggressive version of the Siva Tau. However, this version was dropped by the Manu Samoa before the 2007 Rugby World Cup match against United States in favour of the original version.
| Leader: Samoa! | Samoa! | |
| Sauni ia tau le taua! | Ready for the battle! | |
| Ia tau matua tau! | Fight fiercely! | |
| Ia fai ia mafai! | Work to achieve! | |
| Le Manu Samoa e! | The Manu Samoa! | |
| Team: O a'u le Manu, O a'u le Manu, Samoa! | I am the Manu,I am the Manu, Samoa! | |
| Leader:Toe sau | Again! | |
| Team: O a'u le Manu, O a'u le Manu, Samoa! | I am the Manu,I am the Manu, Samoa! | |
| Leader: Ia tau matua tau! | Let's go to the war! | |
| Team: Tau tau tau matua tau! | Fight! Fight | Fight fiercely! |
| Leader:Toe tau! | Never give up! | |
| Team: Tau tau tau matua tau! | Fight! Fight | Fight fiercely! |
| Leader:Ia fai ia mafai | Work to achieve! | |
| Team: O lo'u fatu lea, | Here is my heart | |
| O lo'u loto lea, | Here is my soul, | |
| O a'u o le toa! | I am a warrior! | |
| Leader: Sau ia! | Let's go! | |
| Ia e faatafa ma e soso ese | Make way and move aside | |
| Leaga o lenei manu e uiga ese | Because this Manu is unique | |
| Le Manu Samoa | The Manu Samoa | |
| Le Manu Samoa | The Manu Samoa | |
| O a'u o le toa | I am a warrior | |
| O'au le Manu, Samoa! | I am the Manu, Samoa! |
This version of the Siva Tau, similar to the version used by the Manu Samoa in the 2007 Rugby World Cup, is used by the Samoa national rugby league team, however, differently from the prior version, the final lines are similar to the Siva Tau performed by the Manu Samoa.
| Samoa, o ai le Toa? | Samoa, are you brave? | ||
| Team: O ai le Toa! O ai le Toa, Samoa | We are the brave!,We are the Toa, Samoa | ||
| Samoa, o ai le Toa? | Samoa, are you brave? | ||
| Team: O ai le Toa! O ai le Toa, Samoa | We are the brave!,We are the Toa, Samoa | ||
| Leader: Samoa, tatou o tatou tau! | Samoa, let's fight! | ||
| Team: Tau tau tau ia matua tau! | Fight! Fight | Fight fiercely! | |
| Leader: Samoa, tatou o tatou tau! | Samoa, let's fight! | ||
| Team: Tau tau tau ia matua tau! | Fight! Fight | Fight fiercely! | |
| Ia e faatafa ma e soso ese | Make way and move aside | ||
| Leaga o lenei toa e uiga ese | Because this Toa is unique | ||
| Le Toa Samoa | The Toa Samoa | ||
| Le Toa Samoa | The Toa Samoa | ||
| Le Toa Samoa e mai I Samoa | The Toa Samoa reigns from Samoa | ||
| Le Toa! | The Toa! |