"Colors of the Wind" received a mostly positive reception from critics, with a number of them citing it as one of the best songs from a Disney film. A pop ballad, the song's lyrics are about animism and respecting nature, and have been compared to both transcendentalist literature and New Age spirituality. The film's theme song, "Colors of the Wind" was originally recorded by American singer and actress Judy Kuhn in her role as the singing voice of Pocahontas. The second time the chorus is sung in the single version, the second line becomes “Or let the eagle tell you where he’s been” from the original “Or asked the grinning bobcat why he grinned,” likely because of the addition of a third chorus to the song that uses the original’s second chorus “For whether we are white or copper-skinned.” The third line tells of singing with the voices of the mountains, as the fourth line concludes with the title imagery of painting with the colors of the wind."Colors of the Wind" is a song written by composer Alan Menken and lyricist Stephen Schwartz for Walt Disney Pictures' 33rd animated feature film Pocahontas (1995). The first line of the chorus tells of the wolf crying to the “blue corn moon” with the second line varying with the verse context. She also urges him to accept humans who are different in appearance and culture and to learn from them. In the song, Pocahontas attempts to explain to John Smith about the wonders of the earth and nature including the spirit within all living things, encouraging him not to think of them as things he can conquer or own, but rather as beings to respect and live with in harmony. For her version, Williams received a Grammy nomination as Best Pop Female Vocal Performance in 1996 (she lost to Annie Lennox’s “No More I Love You’s”). Singer/actress Vanessa Williams recorded a version for the end credits which was successfully released as a single and became one of Williams’ biggest hits in 1995, earning a Gold single for sales of 500,000 copies, and reaching #4 on the U.S. The song was performed within the movie’s narrative by Judy Kuhn as the singing voice of Pocahontas.
The song poetically presents the Native American viewpoint that the earth is a living entity where humankind is connected to everything in nature.
It also won the Golden Globe in the same category as well as the Grammy Award for Best Song Written for a Movie. “Colors of the Wind” by composer Alan Menken and lyricist Stephen Schwartz was the 1995 Oscar-winner for Best Original Song from the Disney animated feature film Pocahontas.
You can paint with all the colors of the windįACTS ABOUT THE SONG – COLOURS OF THE WIND We need to paint with all the colors of the wind We need to sing with all the voices of the mountains If you cut it down, then you’ll never knowĪnd you’ll never hear the wolf cry to the blue corn moonįor whether we are white or copper skinned The rainstorm and the river are my brothers Or asked the grinning bobcat why he grinned?Ĭan you sing with all the voices of the mountains?Ĭan you paint with all the colors of the wind?Ĭome run the hidden pine trails of the forestĬome taste the sunsweet berries of the EarthĬome roll in all the riches all around youĪnd for once, never wonder what they’re worth Have you ever heard the wolf cry to the blue corn moon? You’ll learn things you never knew you never knew. You think the only people who are people,Īre the people who look and think like you,īut if you walk the footsteps of a stranger, The Earth is just a dead thing you can claim,īut I know every rock and tree and creature, Colors of the Wind Lyrics | Vanessa Williams