First, to address the title of the song itself. When I was a kid, I always interpreted “colors of the wind” to signify autumn leaves being blown around by gusts of wind. In the fall climate of Virginia, where the movie is set, leaves do change colors, fall off the trees, and get caught in the wind. Even in the film itself, you see the leaves in the wind. It’s very similar to your interpretation of the “voices of the mountains”.

Next there’s the point about rocks not having spirits when animals and plants do. Animals and plants are living things, but rocks aren’t. As many people have already pointed out, many indigenous, animist cultures believe all things to have life, including rocks.

Now, what is interesting is the way in which you get defensive about this point in your comments section. Your defence is that, even if the lyric is supposed to speak from Pocahontas’ animist perspective, animism is a load of crap. I noticed you didn’t criticize Pocahontas’ belief in spirits in general, too. Do you believe in the existance of spirits? Many people would find that absurd. Animism is no less legitimate or deserving of respect than Christianity or any other belief system, and laughing at another culture’s beliefs is a sign of ignorance.

Finally, I’d like to backtrack to the beginning, where you suggest a double standard in Pocahontas hinting that John Smith is ignorant. Even without the context of the earlier scenes in the film, it is no secret that Europeans historically looked down on Native Americans as “ignorant savages”. Pocahontas, therefore, is responding to the way of thinking prevalent back then.

As to your hypothetical, supposing the song was reversed with John Smith in his native land of England singing about his worldview to Pocahontas, there’s a reason this never happens. Although the Disney movie is not very historically accurate, the general concept is – Europeans colonized the Americas, not the other way around. The Native Americans kept to themselves, living on and appreciating their own environment, while the Europeans set out to conquer new lands. There’s no need for John Smith to sing about how much Pocahontas doesn’t understand about London, because Pocahontas isn’t trying to colonize London. He’s on her turf, trying to tell her what the land is for.

While I do understand that this is your personal opinion, I never understood why people try to make writers seem bombastic and nonsensical just because they show something differently than others see it.

I think it is a little narrow-minded to say that a certain image doesn’t make sense just because you don’t get it. So the wind doesn’t actually have color but…who really cares? Maybe the speaker /was/ trying to a prove a point that seemed “deep” and “spiritual”, but why does that necessarily have to be a bad thing? What makes personifying a bobcat oh-so horrible? So we don’t really know why it’s smiling…what’s the harm in wondering? I just don’t get why people condemn writers just because they make them stretch their imaginations and /think/ abit.

i am not from the states and do not claim to know much about native american history, but it is not uncommon for many native or tribal cultures to have a belief that every object, whether living or inanimate, possesses a spirit. therefore from pocahontas’ point of the view the lyrics would make sense.

i come from a mixed chinese and western background and therefore i can try to see two difference points of view of two distinct cultures.

i can in a way understand the feelings expressed concerning if the opening lines. however if taken in a historical context, i don’t actually find it too problematic. i am sure both cultures (white western culture and native american culture) at least during the period the story was set viewed each other as savage or uncultured. this stems from a basic difference in the system of beliefs. the opening lines therefore only serve to highlight the differences or misunderstandings between the two protagonists or both cultures…..with neither (at least at the beginning) being able to understand the other or why the other views themselves as “savage”. it is this that sets the starting point for a journey of discovery and understanding and in the case of the film..a love story.

finally regarding the title, yes wind itself has no color..but it we were to push it….when sand or leaves blow in the wind..color is added….

essentially the title is only a metaphor…a metaphor that it you are willing to look with your heart and not just your eyes…you may be able to see things you didn’t

there will always be a degree of creative license in any form of art or creative work. the idea of color does not have to literally mean color. if can imply a sense of feeling…excitment…imagination.

for example when someone’s life is described as “colorful”…it does not literally mean they wear rainbow colored clothes on a daily basis…rather it means a life that is full, exciting, and dynamic…

the same would apply to the title…it is merely a metaphor to suggest something special beyond the mundane…something we might just be able to see and feel it we opened our minds