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Colors of the Wind (Pocahontas) Lyrics
from Pocahontas
You think I'm an ignorant savage
And you've been so many places
I guess it must be so
But still I cannot see
If the savage one is me
Now can there be so much that you don't know?
You don't know ...
You think you own whatever land you land on
The Earth is just a dead thing you can claim
But I know every rock and tree and creature
Has a life, has a spirit, has a name
You think the only people who are people
Are the people who look and think like you
But if you walk the footsteps of a stranger
You'll learn things you never knew you never knew
Have you ever heard the wolf cry to the blue corn moon
Or asked the grinning bobcat why he grinned?
Can you sing with all the voices of the mountains?
Can you paint with all the colors of the wind?
Can you paint with all the colors of the wind?
Come run the hidden pine trails of the forest
Come taste the sunsweet berries of the Earth
Come roll in all the riches all around you
And for once, never wonder what they're worth
The rainstorm and the river are my brothers
The heron and the otter are my friends
And we are all connected to each other
In a circle, in a hoop that never ends
How high will the sycamore grow?
If you cut it down, then you'll never know
And you'll never hear the wolf cry to the blue corn moon
For whether we are white or copper skinned
We need to sing with all the voices of the mountains
We need to paint with all the colors of the wind
You can own the Earth and still
All you'll own is Earth until
You can paint with all the colors of the wind
And you've been so many places
I guess it must be so
But still I cannot see
If the savage one is me
Now can there be so much that you don't know?
You don't know ...
The Earth is just a dead thing you can claim
But I know every rock and tree and creature
Has a life, has a spirit, has a name
Are the people who look and think like you
But if you walk the footsteps of a stranger
You'll learn things you never knew you never knew
Or asked the grinning bobcat why he grinned?
Can you sing with all the voices of the mountains?
Can you paint with all the colors of the wind?
Can you paint with all the colors of the wind?
Come taste the sunsweet berries of the Earth
Come roll in all the riches all around you
And for once, never wonder what they're worth
The heron and the otter are my friends
And we are all connected to each other
In a circle, in a hoop that never ends
If you cut it down, then you'll never know
And you'll never hear the wolf cry to the blue corn moon
We need to sing with all the voices of the mountains
We need to paint with all the colors of the wind
All you'll own is Earth until
You can paint with all the colors of the wind
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I love this movie so much! It is so meaningful and amazing with a great message. This song is also extraordinarily powerful. Being Native American myself, I believe like Poccahontis that every single thing from humans to animals to trees to rocks have souls and names just like it says in the song. Whether you believe in evolution or some form of creation, we all came from the same place and thus, we are all connected. Man can learn so much from the animals and the plants and truly all of nature so we mustn't go destroying it or we'll never learn the lessons it has to teach us. Even if we look drastically different, we are all the same and we must appreciate and value one another.
lol, pocahontas is such a hippie.
i love this song! it means so much to me!:)
I'm not sure that this song was adapted from this, but I read a letter that an actual Indian Cheif named Chief Seattle wrote to the U.S. government in 1852 that sounds very similar to this song. It brang a whole new meaning to this song after I read it. It's really a very beautiful song that should inspire you to respect the beauty that's all around you more.
"The earth does not belong to man, man belongs to the earth. All things are connected like the blood that unites us all. Man did not weave the web of life, he is merely a strand in it. Whatever he does to the web, he does to himself."
@LilyBear Sorry to burst your bubble but that letter you are referring to was actually written by a white man named Ted Perry for a film script. It is still a fantastic speech none the less and I think you have a point there are a number of things that are said in that letter that are reminiscent to the lyrics of this song. There was a Chief Seattle and he did write a letter however it was nothing like the one you are referring to, in fact in it he stated his belief that "the red mans God" is...
@LilyBear Sorry to burst your bubble but that letter you are referring to was actually written by a white man named Ted Perry for a film script. It is still a fantastic speech none the less and I think you have a point there are a number of things that are said in that letter that are reminiscent to the lyrics of this song. There was a Chief Seattle and he did write a letter however it was nothing like the one you are referring to, in fact in it he stated his belief that "the red mans God" is not the same as the "white mans God" and that they could not coexist together, just like day cannot exist with night. He goes on to talk about his great sadness of the demise of his people and that although he does not want war he fully understands the younger generation of his people being frustrated and angry. It ends with an ultimatum Paraphrased he says he will ponder the offer but if you trick/betray him and his people there will be consequences. Message me and I can send you the links if you wish.
I LOVE THIS SONG! It's soo sweet. The meaning is self explanatory. It's soo truuueee and I love it!
Don't like the movie, but this song gives me chills. So meaningful and beautiful.
I love this song so much! It has such a powerful meaning to it.
Well, I just learned about this in my Religion class. Native Americans were often animistic, which means they believed everything had a soul. So, that's where the "Every rock, and tree, and creature has a life, has a spirit, has a name" thing comes from.
Pocahontas used to be my favourite movie. Beautiful music, especially this song. I love the intention, that we are all human, all equal. We need to appreciate nature. But then I did some research and found out the real Pocahontas was actually kidnapped by an American, makes more sense so it was actually a sick adaptation. I can't imagine how Pocahontas's descendants feel now, knowing that their history was sabotaged and turned into a kids movie! Now this beautiful story has lost most of its appeal to me although I may never be able to hate this song. It just seems pure still.
@Sarena Where did you do your research? Pocahontas was captured by the English in hopes that she could be ransomed for English hostages captured by her father Chief Powhatan. She never saw a prison but lived with a Vicar and his wife where she converted to Christianity. After been given the chance to return home to her own people she refused wanting to stay with the English. She fell in love with an Englishman named John Rolfe she was baptised and changed her name to Rebecca and then married with her father Chief Powhatan's blessing. They had a child together...
@Sarena Where did you do your research? Pocahontas was captured by the English in hopes that she could be ransomed for English hostages captured by her father Chief Powhatan. She never saw a prison but lived with a Vicar and his wife where she converted to Christianity. After been given the chance to return home to her own people she refused wanting to stay with the English. She fell in love with an Englishman named John Rolfe she was baptised and changed her name to Rebecca and then married with her father Chief Powhatan's blessing. They had a child together and moved to England where she was a bit of a celebrity.
Unfortunately she died (it is thought to have been from Tuberculosis) in her early twenties and is buried at St Georges Gravesend in Kent England.
There is nothing "sick" about the film whatsoever, The only thing that's nonsense is the romance between herself and John Smith.
The native Americans have far more to be annoyed about then a Disney Cartoon. The song is fantastic.
my favorite animated movie