“Colors Of The Wind” is a theme song to one of the most popular Disney films, Pocahontas. This soundtrack recording was a masterpiece arranged and produced by Alan Menken with lyrics by Stephen Schwartz.

Song Facts: 

• “Colors Of The Wind” became a top-ten hit on Billboard Hot 100 after its release on May 23, 1995.
• It also won a Grammy Award for Best Song Written For A Motion Picture, Television Or Other Visual Media in 1996.
• ​​The song was originally sung by Judy Kuhn, who also voiced Pocahontas. However, Vanessa Williams recorded a cover for her album, The Sweetest Days.
• Pocahontas was Disney’s 33rd animated feature film and brought in over $346 million at the box office. 
• Popular covers were made by many artists, including Brian Wilson and Ashanti. 
• The song references “Circles of Life” from the Lion King Soundtrack in the line, “And we are all connected to each other, in a circle, in a hoop that never ends.”
• Vanessa Williams released two versions, a single and a version for the movie, which was played over the movie’s credits. 
• Vanessa Williams is an American actress, singer, and fashion designer. She is best known for being the first African American woman to be crowned Miss America in 1984. However, after nude photos were released (without her consent) in Penthouse, Williams gave back her title. She was later issued a formal apology.
• “Colors Of The Wind” beat the songs “Have You Ever Really Loved A Woman?” and “You’ve Got A Friend In Me” in the nomination for an Oscar Award and a Golden Globe in the category of Best Original Song.

Lyrics 

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 mountain?

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 sun-sweet 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

Have you ever heard the wolf cry to the blue corn moon

Or let the eagle tell you where he’s been

Can you sing with all the voices of the mountain?

Can you paint with all the colors of the wind

Can you paint with all the colors of the wind

How high does 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 mountain

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