Colours of the Wind
Vanessa Williams Lyrics

You think you own whatever land you land on
You mistakenly believe that you have the power to possess and control any land that you come across

The earth is just a dead thing you can claim
You consider the earth as a lifeless, inert object that you are entitled to obtain and assert ownership upon

But I know every rock and tree and creature
Contrary to your belief, I understand that each rock, tree, and organism that exists around us have their own unique identity, consciousness, and relevance in the world

Has a life
Everything that exists on this earth possesses its own unique livelihood and meaning in this world

Has a spirit
Each organism is endowed with its own intrinsic nature, feelings, and emotions that emanate from their life force or essence

Has a name
All living and non-living things have a distinct identity that sets them apart from all others, and hence, they have a name assigned to them

You think the only people who are people
Your perception of humans is focused on those who fall under the same social or cultural norms and values as you do

Are the people who look and think like you
You limit your definition of people to those who share the same physical or psychological characteristics as you

But if you walk the footsteps of a stranger
If you explore the lives of people outside your comfort zone and familiar settings

You'll learn things you never knew
You will discover knowledge and insights that you would have never known and which helps you in broadening your perspective of life

Have you ever heard the wolf cry to the blue corn moon
Have you experienced the beauty and harmony of the natural world around you, such as hearing the howl of a wolf during a full moon?

Or ask the grinning bobcat why he grin
Or questioned the cause of the mysterious grin on the face of a bobcat?

Can you sing with all the voices of the mountain
Can you experience and connect with the various aspects of nature to feel a sense of unity with the world?

Can you paint with all the colours of the wind
Can you express yourself through the myriad of sensations and emotions you experience in the world around you?

Come run the hidden pine trails of the forest
Explore the hidden gems and secrets of the world around you, such as the pine trails in the forest

Come taste the sunsweet berries of the earth
Enrich your senses by enjoying the taste and goodness of the earth's natural fruits

Come roll in all the riches all around you
Revel in the abundance of the wealth and resources that the world has to offer

And for once
Just for a moment

Never wonder what they're worth
Abstain from ascribing materialistic value to these riches, just enjoy their beauty and existence

The rainstorm and the river are my brothers
These aspects of nature are regarded as companions and equal living beings in the same world as humans

The heron and the otter are my friends
Similarly, various organisms of nature are regarded as friends who bring joy and companionship to humans

And we are all connected to each other
All living beings share an intricate connection with each other that cannot be dismissed

In a circle
In a cycle

In a hoop that never ends
This cycle or chain of events is endless and will continue for eternity

How high does the sycamore grow
It questions the extent to which a sycamore tree can rise upwards

If you cut it down
If a tree is cut down

Then you'll never know
You will never understand the true potential of the tree as to how high it can grow if it is cut down prematurely

And you'll never hear the wolf cry to the blue corn moon
Cutting down a tree prematurely would also cause the disruption of the natural environment and fundamentally impact the relationship between wolves and the world around them

Or whether we are white or copper skin
No matter the skin color, race or ethnic background, humans are connected to the natural world around them

We need to sing with all the voices of the mountain
Humans must work with nature and attempt to merge with all the beauty that the world has to offer

We need to paint with all the colours of the wind
Humans need to embrace all the different experiences that life would bring and the emotions that come with it

You can own the earth and still
Merely possessing land does not entitle the person to the whole world

All you'll own is earth until
One would only possess earth till they understand the deeper meaning of nature and the world they live in

You can paint with all the colours of the wind
Only once an individual has understood the workings of the world, can they truly avail the opportunities that it offers (i.e paint with all the different colors of the wind)