Colors Of The Wind

"Colors of the Wind" from Disney's "Pocahontas" is a passionate ballad criticizing colonialism, because at once it allows nature to take most of the damage and destruction it brings along with it and celebrates the beauty and wisdom of nature. Its powerful evocative lyrics challenge the Eurocentric ideology of ownership and domination by propounding the case for further understanding and respect towards the earth and all life. It then turns into an appeal to empathize, become environmentally conscious, and be unified among all the creatures living on this planet.

The song opens right away with the singer facing prejudices even to what the listener might be thinking in terms of other cultures, particularly that of the Native Americans. The lyrics "You think I'm an ignorant savage" don't waste time in going directly at the dehumanizing stereotypes which colonialists have always put on indigenous peoples. An introduction to a story that sets up some stories looking to dismantle these illusions and calls the listener to view the world with more respect and a fuller view.

The song is basically about appreciation toward nature and the indigenous point of view of people living in cooperation with nature, while being exploited by the colonizers. Lines such as "But I know every rock and tree and creature / Has a life, has a spirit, has a name" capture the idea of intrinsic value and sacredness in every aspect of nature, hence raising the question if Earth is really a resource to own and use.

"Colors of the Wind" further supports interrelatedness through metaphors that underline relations of man with nature. It is through the images of the wolf crying to the blue corn moon, the rainstorm and river being related as siblings, and the shared existence within a "circle, in a hoop that never ends," that perfects the idea of how all things are tied together in the environment in a very delicate balance.

The peak of the song is actually when finally she asks, "How high will a sycamore grow?" This, of course, is a metaphor for the vision and appreciation the world needs; how high a sycamore grows is, of course, representative of how high she has the potential to raise her vision. It directly challenges the listener to take deeper interest in the understanding of another culture and environment as opposed to being superficial by making simple judgments and hence shallower ones.