Vanessa Williams struts her stuff in this single version of Colours of the Wind. It’s slower, more melancholy, has better instrumentals and takes its time to hit its peak, like many other Disney singles. However, it lacks the earnest storytelling of the movie version. I always change preferences, so sometimes I prefer the movie version, and sometimes I prefer the single version. Doesn’t really matter.

I remember watching Ms Williams’ performance of this song at the Academy Awards. I was wowed by three things: her outfit (I likey!), the fancy clothwork the dancers used to represent wind, and how fast she was singing. Halfway through watching I was like, “Is it just me, or is the song half a pace faster than usual?” I haven’t any confirmation of that, though. Oh yeah, and this song won that Academy Award for Best Song. Yay!

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 colours of the wind
Can you paint with all the colours 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 colours of the wind
Can you paint with all the colours 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 colours of the wind
You can own the earth and still
All you’ll own is earth until
You can paint with all the colours of the wind