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Pocahontas Lyrics

Aurora borealis
The icy sky at night
Paddles cut the water
In a long and hurried flight
From the white man
to the fields of green
And the homeland
we've never seen.

They killed us in our tepee
And they cut our women down
They might have left some babies
Cryin' on the ground
But the firesticks
and the wagons come
And the night falls
on the setting sun.

They massacred the buffalo
Kitty corner from the bank
The taxis run across my feet
And my eyes have turned to blanks
In my little box
at the top of the stairs
With my Indian rug
and a pipe to share.

I wish a was a trapper
I would give thousand pelts
To sleep with Pocahontas
And find out how she felt
In the mornin'
on the fields of green
In the homeland
we've never seen.

And maybe Marlon Brando
Will be there by the fire
We'll sit and talk of Hollywood
And the good things there for hire
And the Astrodome
and the first tepee
Marlon Brando, Pocahontas and me
Marlon Brando, Pocahontas and me
Pocahontas.
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Cover art for Pocahontas lyrics by Neil Young

This is a very heartfelt message of Neil Young, relating the destruction of country by commercialism , the destruction of the Native Americans, and reference to Marlon Brando who refused in humility to accept best actor for the Godfather because he said , Hollywoods insensitivity to suffering peoples, and the constant depiction of Native American Indians in movies demonizing them.

I think Neil Young had a spirituality and connection to the spirits of people in heaven.

Cover art for Pocahontas lyrics by Neil Young

AEnema is a dick. If you're only gonna criticize people for being curious then get off this board. You're not even talking about this song, you dumb fuckin twat

This song kicks ass. I think it's about a modern day white guy who is looking back in the past and is horrified at how the European settlers cheated, killed, and brought disease to the natives, which almost whiped out their entire race.

Marlon Brando rocks and is the best actor ever (I'm an actor too but being like him is beyond my wildest dreams). I think he's mentioned in this song because he fought for Native American Rights and he refused to accept his oscar for THe Godfather (one of his most kick ass roles) due to the terrible treatment of the first nations people

Cover art for Pocahontas lyrics by Neil Young

Its About the English or Spanish invading the Natives land, destroying all they held dear. Then about about remembering the natives while in a busy city street('taxis run across my feet'). I can't really make much other than love from the rest of the song. One of the top ten best Neil young Songs.

Cover art for Pocahontas lyrics by Neil Young

This song is so lonely and beautiful. The unplugged version is my favorite. River Wolf is right about the whole Marlon Brando question.

Cover art for Pocahontas lyrics by Neil Young

Astrodome and the first TV Not TeePee Just a gentle correction I always saw it as a juxtoposition between Native American Life Historically and now. He doesnt seem to be exactly kind to Marlon Brando- Kind of sarcastic I think. Progress at a cost-Thats what Im comin up with as a theme

Cover art for Pocahontas lyrics by Neil Young

Im agree with our point of view, but I just can't see what Marlon Brando is doing in this song.

Cover art for Pocahontas lyrics by Neil Young

First off I want to say I believe that this song is one of Neil Young's masterpieces. Now, about Marlon Brando in this song. First off he adds an iconic figure to the songs feeling. Marlon Brando was a vocal advocate for Native American rights.

Cover art for Pocahontas lyrics by Neil Young

What do you feel about Neil first mentioning the killings in the tepees and then goes one to say how tepees were created in Hollywood. Any significance? I'm sure he left in the first mentioning on purpose.

Cover art for Pocahontas lyrics by Neil Young

this basically fits in with the theme of the rest of the album. an all encompassing vision of america. filled with blood terror, sadness, humor, and wisdom. neil basically proved he was the greatest living songwriter with that album. and this is one of the key tracks.

Cover art for Pocahontas lyrics by Neil Young

The Marlon Brando reference really makes the song, taking what would be trite nostalgia and giving it a real sense of emotional authenticity. Marlon Brando was the epitome of sexual power and grace, and, as noted, a vocal friend of Native Americans. This song retells Young's adolescent dreams as he grew up on a remote reservation, at once lamenting and resenting modernity and at the same time drawn powerfully to it. And like anyone, longing for love and true friendship. Marlon Brando, Pocahontas, a campfire on the fields of green... like a vision of Heaven, a homeland never seen.

In 1973 Marlon Brando declined his Oscar for best actor in "The Godfather" , he instead sent Sasheen Littlefeather to give a speech about the atrocities committed against the native people. This is why he is mentioned in the song!

 
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