Alan Menken (born July 22, 1949 in New Rochelle, New York, United States) i… Read Full Bio ↴Alan Menken (born July 22, 1949 in New Rochelle, New York, United States) is an American musical theatre and film composer, and pianist. Menken has collaborated with several renowned lyricists including Howard Ashman (1950-1991), Tim Rice and Stephen Schwartz. For his work he has won eight Academy Awards as well as ten additional nominations.
His best known work includes the Disney animated movies, The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Pocahontas and The Hunchback of Notre Dame, as well as Little Shop of Horrors, Enchanted, Tangled and most recently, Sister Act the Musical.

Steady As the Beating Drum
Alan Menken Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

(Native Americans)
Hega hega ya-hi-ye-hega
Ya-hi-ye-ne-he hega

Hega hega ya-hi-ye-hega
Ya-hi-ye-ne-he hega

Steady as the beating drum

Singing to the cedar flute
Seasons go and seasons come
Bring the corn and bear the fruit

By the waters sweet and clean
Where the mighty sturgeon lives
Plant the squash and reap the bean
All the earth our mother gives

O Great Spirit, hear our song
Help us keep the ancient ways
Keep the sacred fire strong
Walk in balance all our days

Seasons go and seasons come
Steady as the beating drum
Plum to seed to bud to plum
(Hega hega ya-hi-ye hega)
Steady as the beating drum

Hega hega ya-hi-ye-hega
Ya-hi-ye-ne-he hega

Overall Meaning

The song "Steady As the Beating Drum" by Alan Menken is a tribute to the Native American life - it celebrates their close relationship with the earth, their customs and traditions, and their spirituality. The lyrics describe the cyclical nature of life, how everything is connected, and how it is important to honor the past and maintain balance in the present.

The opening lines of the song, "Hega hega ya-hi-ye-hega, Ya-hi-ye-ne-he hega", are in the language of the Powhatan tribe, which is the tribe that the legendary Native American princess, Pocahontas, belonged to. The opening lines are a chant, which indicates that the song has significant spiritual connotations. The rest of the song is sung in English.

The lyrics describe the Native American approach to farming, which involves respecting and nurturing the earth. The opening lines of the second verse, "By the waters sweet and clean, Where the mighty sturgeon lives, Plant the squash and reap the bean, All the earth our mother gives", emphasis the importance of taking care of our natural resources by planting crops and making the earth fruitful. The last verse of the song asks the Great Spirit to help people stay true to their traditions, keep the sacred fire burning, and walk in harmony with nature.

Line by Line Meaning

Hega hega ya-hi-ye-hega
Traditional chant, no specific meaning

Ya-hi-ye-ne-he hega
Traditional chant, no specific meaning

Steady as the beating drum
Our way of life is consistent and unwavering

Singing to the cedar flute
Our music is a celebration of nature

Seasons go and seasons come
Life is cyclical and always changing

Bring the corn and bear the fruit
We must honor the earth and its resources

By the waters sweet and clean
We cherish the purity of nature

Where the mighty sturgeon lives
We acknowledge the power and significance of local wildlife

Plant the squash and reap the bean
We sustain ourselves through agriculture

All the earth our mother gives
The earth is our caretaker and provider

O Great Spirit, hear our song
We call upon our higher power to guide us