Colors of the Wind
MAX Lyrics


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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
Youβ€²ll learn things you never knew you never knew

Have you ever heard the wolf cry to the blue corn moon
Or asked the grinning bob cat why he grins?
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 of a hoop that never ends

Have you ever heard the wolf cry to the blue corn moon
Or let the eagle tell you where heβ€²s 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
We need to paint with all the colors of the wind

You can own the earth and still




All you own is earth until
You can paint with all the colors of the wind

Overall Meaning

MAX's song "Colors of the Wind" draws its inspiration from the Disney animated movie Pocahontas. It utilizes the themes and messages conveyed by the original soundtrack to deliver a powerful message about respecting and living harmoniously with the natural world.


The lyrics call out the perception that one can own the land and nature. It asserts that everything on this planet - be it a rock, a tree, or an animal - has a spirit, life, and a name, and therefore, it is unjust to try and claim ownership over it. It also points out the dangers of living in isolation as it leads to narrow-minded thinking. One can learn and gain wisdom by walking in a stranger's footsteps and seeing things from different perspectives.


The song also touches upon the importance of connecting with nature and life's other simple pleasures. The singer describes the joys of running in the forest, tasting the sweet berries, and rolling around in the riches surrounding him. It highlights that satisfaction doesn't come from material possessions but from the relationships we form with the world around us.


Line by Line Meaning

Think you own whatever land you land on
Believing you have ownership over any piece of land you step foot on


The earth is just a dead thing you can claim
The planet is simply an object that can be taken ownership of


But I know every rock and tree and creature
Understanding the life and significance of every natural element


Has a life, has a spirit, has a name
Recognizing that every rock, tree, and creature has its own unique identity and value


You think the only people who are people
Believing that only individuals who physically resemble oneself have true humanity


Are the people who look and think like you
This belief is based on shared physical characteristics as well as shared beliefs


But if you walk the footsteps of a stranger
By experiencing the journey of someone who is different from oneself,


You'll learn things you never knew you never knew
Gain knowledge and perspective that were previously unimagined


Have you ever heard the wolf cry to the blue corn moon
Ever experienced the call of the wild and the beauty of the natural world


Or asked the grinning bob cat why he grins?
Explored the unique qualities and personalities of all creatures


Can you sing with all the voices of the mountain?
Connect with the grandeur and power of nature in song and spirit


Can you paint with all the colors of the wind?
Capture the vibrance and diverse beauty of the wind and all it touches


Come run the hidden pine trails of the forest
Explore the secret, hidden places that make nature so breathtaking


Come taste the sun-sweet berries of the earth
Connect with the simple, natural pleasures of the earth


Come roll in all the riches all around you
Indulge in all the wealth of nature that surrounds you


And for once never wonder what they're worth
Appreciate nature for its inherent value, rather than its monetary worth


The rainstorm and the river are my brothers
The natural elements are imbued with life and considered family


The heron and the otter are my friends
All creatures, no matter how small, can connect with one another on a profound level


And we are all connected to each other
The Earth, its inhabitants, and its natural elements are all interdependent


In a circle of a hoop that never ends
The cycle of life and nature is eternal and never ending


How high does the sycamore grow
Pondering the limitless beauty and possibilities of nature


If you cut it down then you'll never know
If you destroy nature, you will never experience what it can offer or what you have lost


And you'll never hear the wolf cry to the blue corn moon
If nature is destroyed, its unique call and beauty may never be experienced again


For whether we are white or copper skinned
Regardless of physical characteristics, all individuals deserve access to the beauty and marvel of nature


We need to sing with all the voices of the mountain
It is crucial that we embrace and strengthen our bonds with nature


We need to paint with all the colors of the wind
We must capture and celebrate the unique, diverse beauty of nature in all of its forms


You can own the earth and still
Despite perceived ownership, humans cannot truly control or conquer nature


All you own is earth until
Ownership of Earth is temporary and fleeting


You can paint with all the colors of the wind
However, the ability to connect with and capture the beauty of nature will last a lifetime




Writer(s): Charles Strouse, Stephen Laurence Schwartz

Contributed by Jayce K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

Zoodiyah Garrick

You just made this song even better than it already was before the nostalgia is real 😒😍

Ray Claire

amazing as always, the lyrics of this song is so deep and this version respect that and make it deeper β™‘ this sound totally magic.

adriellovesart

GAH! This is so awesome! Funnily enough, This is one of my favorite Disney songs, and Pocahontas premiered on my birthday, May 1, 1995. This was a great cover of it, and it was fun to see you come back to YouTube for a second.😊 Max, much love, from a loyal fan who has enjoyed watching your career unfold through the years. -Adriel

IvΓ‘n Tavella

Muy buena versiΓ³n, todas las felicitaciones!

simon

this is just AMAZING. I love this cover and also his dance... love you MAX.

Francesca Edralin

you reinvented this song so beautifully, please do more covers like this!!!

Lisa Sofia

I really love this song so much. And this cover is really perfect too!

Diana Mora

this is amazing. max, you rock any song you sing πŸ’œ

Tatiana Lopes

This still hits so hard!

Constanze Ring

This was very special. You took the beauty of the original song and made it your own - love it!

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