Changes: Savages

Revision as of 05:56, 14 September 2020

"Savages" is a group song and the seventh song of Disney's 1995 animated feature film, Pocahontas, performed by both the Indians and settlers as they prepare for war.

Plot

After John Smith is arrested thinking he killed Kocoum who tried to separate Pocahontas from falling in love with John Smith (actually Thomas who shot him), Thomas worriedly runs to the English settlers' camp, shouting at them that the Native Americans have captured him for killing Kocoum. Ratcliffe overhears Thomas' cries as he and the settlers plan to rescue Smith just as Ratcliffe tells them that Powhatan's tribe couldn't be trusted, judging that they would only fight back upon contact. Explaining about what they did to Smith, Ratcliffe and the settlers prepare for war against Powhatan's tribe in order to save Smith from them. Meanwhile, Chief Powhatan overhears the settlers preparing to fight back just as Kekata helps the tribe members prepare for war. As Powhatan's tribe prepares for war against the settlers, the rage from both groups emits large storm clouds from raging fire, in which the clouds violently clash into each other for war to symbolize prejudice at the end of the first part of the song.

The song is sung again when Pocahontas tries to stop her father from killing John Smith at sunrise in which she successfully does so as the song ends with Pocahontas' tribe and the settlers at peace (with the exception of Ratcliffe who refuses to rejoice).

Lyrics

<poem> Governor Ratcliffe: What can you expect from filthy little heathens? Here's what you get when races are diverse! (Soundtrack version: "Their whole disgusting race is like a curse!") Their skin's are hellish red, they're only good when dead They're vermin, as I said, and worse!

English Settlers: They're savages! Savages!

Governor Ratcliffe: Barely even human!

English Settlers: Savages! Savages!

Governor Ratcliffe: Drive them from our shore! They're not like you and me, which means they must be evil we must sound the drums of war!

English Settlers: They're savages! Savages! Dirty shrieking devils! (Soundtrack version: "Dirty redskin devils!")

Governor Ratcliffe and English Settlers: Now we sound the drums of war!

Chief Powhatan: This is what we feared, the paleface is a demon The only thing they feel at all is greed...

Kekata: Beneath that milky hide, there's emptiness inside...

Native American Indians: I wonder if they even bleed... They're savages! Savages!

Powhatan and Native American Indians: Barely even human!

Native American Indians: Savages! Savages!

Powhatan: Killers at the core...

Kekata They're different from us, which means they can't be trusted.

Powhatan:

We must sound the drums of war!

Native American Indians: They're savages! Savages! First we deal with this one, then we sound the drums of war!

English Settlers: Savages! Savages!

Ben: Let's go get a few, men! (Soundtrack version: "Let's go kill a few, men!")

Native American Indians: Savages! Savages!

Governor Ratcliffe: Now it's up to you, men!

All:

Savages! Savages! Barely even human! Now we sound the drums of war!

Ratcliffe:
This will be the day... (Let's go, men!)

Powhatan:
This will be the morning... (Bring out the prisoner!)

Native American Indians:
We will see them dying in the dust...

Pocahontas:
I don't know what I can do still, I know I've got to try

Ratcliffe and English Settlers:
Now we make them pay...

Pocahontas:
Eagle, help my feet to fly...

Native American Indians:
Now without a warning!

Pocahontas:
Mountain, help my heart be great...

Native American Indians:
Now we leave them blood and bone and rust

Pocahontas:
Spirits of the Earth and Sky...

English Settlers and Native American Indians:
It's them or us?

Pocahontas:
Please don't let it be too late...

English Settlers and Native American Indians:
They're just a bunch of filthy, stinking savages! Savages!

Native American Indians:
Demons!

English Settlers:
Devils!

Ratcliffe:
Kill them!

Native American Indians:
Savages!

English Settlers:
Savages!

Ratcliffe and English Settlers:
What are we waiting for?

Ratcliffe, English Settlers, and Native American Indians:
Destroy their evil race until there's not a trace left!

Pocahontas:
How loud are the drums of the war?

Ratcliffe, English Settlers, and Native American Indians:
We will sound the drums of war! Savages! Savages!
Now we sound the drums of war! Savages! Savages!

Native American Indians:
Now we sound the drums...

English Settlers:
Now we see what comes
Of trying to be chums
Of course it means the drums...

Pocahontas:
Is this the death of all I love carried in the drumming of...

English Settlers and Native American Indians:
Of...war!

Gallery

Trivia

This song is a musical representation of the impact of fear: both the colonists and the Powhatan fear each other to the point where they are willing to got to war due to their fear of being attacked by the other side. The song shows how people will resort to violence when they are overcome by their fear.
Savages is very similar to "The Mob Song" in Beauty and the Beast. The main villain exploits his men's fear of the unknown to get them on a pretended heroic fight, when actually they only want to satisfy themselves and their vices (Governor Ratcliffe's greed and Gaston's jealousy). In fact, both Pocahontas and the original animated Beauty and the Beast star David Ogden Stiers and were scored by Alan Menken.
In the film, Ratcliffe says the line: "Here's what you get when races are diverse!" However, in the soundtrack, he says "Their whole disgusting race is like a curse."
- Similarly, in the film, the settlers and Ratcliffe say "Dirty, shrieking devils." The soundtrack uses "Dirty redskin devils", possibly to be more racially sensitive.

Character's Singing Role In This Song

Governor Ratcliffe - lead vocals and backing vocals

English Settlers - backing vocals

Chief Powhatan - lead vocals and backing vocals

Native American Indians - backing vocals

Pocahontas - lead vocals

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{Infobox Song
-|image       = Pocahontas-disneyscreencaps.com-7775.jpg
+|image = Pocahontas-disneyscreencaps.com-7775.jpg
+|name = Savages
-|composer    = [[Alan Menken]]
-|lyrics_by   = [[Stephen Schwartz]]
+|composer = [[Alan Menken]]
+|lyrics_by = [[Stephen Schwartz]]
-|singer      = [[Pocahontas (character)|Pocahontas]] ([[Judy Kuhn]])<br>[[Governor Ratcliffe]] ([[David Ogden Stiers]])<br>[[Chief Powhatan]] ([[Jim Cummings]])<br>[[Kekata]] (Jim Cummings)
+|singer = [[Pocahontas (character)|Pocahontas]] (Judy Kuhn)<br>[[Governor Ratcliffe]] ([[David Ogden Stiers]])<br>[[Chief Powhatan]] ([[Jim Cummings]])<br>[[Kekata]] (Jim Cummings)
-|films       = ''[[Pocahontas (film)|Pocahontas]]''
+|films = ''[[Pocahontas (film)|Pocahontas]]''
-|shows       = [[Fantasmic!]]
+|attractions = [[Fantasmic!]]
-|games       =''[[Pocahontas (video game)|Pocahontas]]''
-|albums      = ''[[Pocahontas (Original Soundtrack)]]''
+|games =''[[Pocahontas (video game)|Pocahontas]]''
+|albums = ''[[Pocahontas (soundtrack)]]''
 |preceded_by = "[[If I Never Knew You]]"
-|followed_by =
-|video = Pocahontas "Savages" 1080p HD}}"'''Savages'''" is a group song featured in Disney's ''[[Pocahontas (film)|Pocahontas]]'', performed by both the Indians and settlers that make up the film.
+|video = Pocahontas "Savages" 1080p HD}}"'''Savages'''" is a group song and the seventh song of [[Walt Disney Animation Studios|Disney]]'s [[1995]] animated feature film, ''[[Pocahontas (film)|Pocahontas]]'', performed by both the Indians and settlers as they prepare for war.
-==Background==
+==Plot==
+After [[John Smith]] is arrested thinking he killed [[Kocoum]] who tried to separate Pocahontas from falling in love with John Smith (actually [[Thomas (Pocahontas)|Thomas]] who shot him), Thomas worriedly runs to the English settlers' camp, shouting at them that the Native Americans have captured him for killing Kocoum. Ratcliffe overhears Thomas' cries as he and the settlers plan to rescue Smith just as Ratcliffe tells them that Powhatan's tribe couldn't be trusted, judging that they would only fight back upon contact. Explaining about what they did to Smith, Ratcliffe and the settlers prepare for war against Powhatan's tribe in order to save Smith from them. Meanwhile, Chief Powhatan overhears the settlers preparing to fight back just as Kekata helps the tribe members prepare for war. As Powhatan's tribe prepares for war against the settlers, the rage from both groups emits large storm clouds from raging fire, in which the clouds violently clash into each other for war to symbolize prejudice at the end of the first part of the song.
-The song addresses themes of [[Wikipedia:Othering|othering]], [[Wikipedia:Xenophobia|xenophobia]], and [[Wikipedia:Genocide|genocide]]. It is meant to paint both sides in a realistic light of the paranoia and hatred they would feel towards the other side if they had killed one of their group. When decontextualized beyond the characters and situation of the story, the song has been negatively received by critics, who deem it to be racist and horrid, arguing that it encourages the listener to dehumanize Native Americans. Plus, it is sung by two sides: [[Governor Ratcliffe]], English settlers and [[Chief Powhatan]] and the Native Americans. There are two parts of this song, with [[Pocahontas (character)|Pocahontas]] joining in in the second part.
-==Synposis==
-The song sees the British colonizers and the Native American sing about how the other group are savages, and how they will go to war to wipe out the foreign race. The "Powhatans and the colonists break into the same song as they prepare for the upcoming battle". The song concludes when Pocahontas' father prepares to kill John Smith as soon as the troops are positioned, and Pocahontas rushes to stop her father.
-==Composition==
-Pocahontas sings counterpoint melodies during the song which are variations on "[[Colors of the Wind]]" and "[[Steady as the Beating Drum]]". She sings of peace and love to juxtapose their words. This is a "war call that brings back fond memories of the ensemble layers of "[[The Mob Song]]" in ''[[Beauty and the Beast (1991 film)|Beauty and the Beast]]'' and the ominous tone of "[[Hellfire]]" in ''[[The Hunchback of Notre Dame]]''.
-==Themes==
-The song condemns the mixing of races, which some critiques have pointed out is a social construct. The British side is critical of those who do not believe in a Christian God. That side also claims "Native Americans are not civilized, normal, and educated people". The Native Americans also demonize the Whites, describing them as "demon and paleface", and wondering if they bleed. It is "heavily emphasized that the difference between the two peoples are the real cause of the war".
-==Critical response and reception==
-The Washington Post wrote "The most heavy-handed of the seven songs composed by Academy-Award winning composer, [[Alan Menken]] with lyrics by lyricist, [[Stephen Schwartz]], "Savages" lacks the vivacity and wit that Menken's late partner, [[Howard Ashman]], brought to previous Disney musicals". Hidefdigest said "From "[[Just Around the Riverbend]]" to "Savages," 'Pocahontas' has one of the Disney's most unforgettable soundtracks". It however praised the audio and visual quality: "Each of the memorable songs is belted at lofty volumes that seem to surround the listener. The best example of this is the "Savages" musical number. The sub-woofer pounds out the drum beats while both camps sing about their hate for each other. Their voices echo throughout the soundfield. The low-end sonics are deep and rumbling. It's probably the best sounding sequence of the whole film." Americana E-Journal said "This song “Savages” does not lack political incorrectness; moreover, it is nothing but the shocking anger and grievance felt against the other" and notes the song serves as a substitute to actually depicting the bloody war.
-The "Pocahontas Paradox: A Cautionary Tale for Educators" describes the song as "especially unsettling" and "brutal", arguing "While the song presumably meant to unearth and thus neutralize from a perspective 350 years after the fact a pervasive racism of the earlier era, the song nonetheless embodies a complexity of attitudes and beliefs that remain, at their core, offensive to American Indian people and needless to say detrimental to Indian children". Gurl deemed it "gross" and unnecessary, adding "They could have portrayed the issues between settlers and Native Americans without throwing in a catchy song that perpetuates the idea that Native American people aren't human". PBWorks said the song is "extremely offensive", and commented that the lyrics "cultural sensitivity and are incredibly detrimental to Natives Americans". University of Texas anthropologist Pauline Turner Strong wrote "for many Native Americans "savage" is the "S" word, as potent and degrading as the word "rigger." I cannot imagine the latter epithet repeated so often, and set to music in a G-rated film and its soundtrack. It is even more shocking to write it in a review. Is "savage" more acceptable because it is used reciprocally? But then does this not downplay the role the colonial ideology of savagism played in the extermination and dispossession of indigenous people".
+The song is sung again when [[Pocahontas (character)|Pocahontas]] tries to stop her father from killing John Smith at sunrise in which she successfully does so as the song ends with Pocahontas' tribe and the settlers at peace (with the exception of Ratcliffe who refuses to rejoice).
 ==Lyrics==
@@ Line 34: / Line 21: @@
 Part 1=
 <poem>
-'''[[Governor Ratcliffe|Ratcliffe]]:'''
+'''[[Governor Ratcliffe]]:'''
 What can you expect from filthy little heathens?
 Here's what you get when races are diverse! (Soundtrack version: "Their whole disgusting race is like a curse!")
+Their skin's are hellish red, they're only good when dead
-Their skin's a hellish red.
-They're only good when dead!
 They're vermin, as I said, and worse!
 '''English Settlers:'''
-They're savages!
+They're savages! Savages!
-Savages!
-'''Ratcliffe:'''
+'''Governor Ratcliffe:'''
-Barely even human.
+Barely even human!
 '''English Settlers:'''
 Savages! Savages!
-'''Ratcliffe:'''
+'''Governor Ratcliffe:'''
 Drive them from our shore!
-They're not like you and me, which means they must be evil.
+They're not like you and me, which means they must be evil we must sound the drums of war!
-We must sound the drums of war!
 '''English Settlers:'''
-They're savages!
+They're savages! Savages!
-Savages!
 Dirty shrieking devils! (Soundtrack version: "Dirty redskin devils!")
-'''Ratcliffe and English Settlers:'''
+'''Governor Ratcliffe and English Settlers:'''
 Now we sound the drums of war!
-'''[[Chief Powhatan|Powhatan]]:'''
+'''[[Chief Powhatan|Chief Powhatan]]:'''
-This is what we feared.
+This is what we feared, the paleface is a demon
+The only thing they feel at all is greed...
-The paleface is a demon.
-The only thing they feel at all is greed.
 '''[[Kekata]]:'''
-Beneath that milky hide, there's emptiness inside.
+Beneath that milky hide, there's emptiness inside...
 '''Native American Indians:'''
-I wonder if they even bleed.
+I wonder if they even bleed...
-They're savages!
+They're savages! Savages!
-Savages!
 '''Powhatan and Native American Indians:'''
-Barely even human.
+Barely even human!
 '''Native American Indians:'''
@@ Line 85: / Line 65: @@
 '''Powhatan:'''
-Killers at the core.
+Killers at the core...
-'''Kekata:'''
+'''Kekata '''
-They're different from us,
+They're different from us, which means they can't be trusted.
-which means they can't be trusted.
 '''Powhatan:'''
-We must sound the drums of war.
+ We must sound the drums of war!
 '''Native American Indians:'''
-They're savages!
+They're savages! Savages!
+First we deal with this one, then we sound the drums of war!
-Savages!
-First we deal with this one.
-Then we sound the drums of war.
 '''English Settlers:'''
@@ Line 109: / Line 86: @@
 Savages! Savages!
-'''Ratcliffe:'''
+'''Governor Ratcliffe:'''
 Now it's up to you, men!
 '''All:'''
-Savages! Savages!
+Savages! Savages! Barely even human! Now we sound the drums of war!
-Barely even human!
-Now we sound the drums of war!
 |-|Part 2=
 <poem>
 '''Ratcliffe:'''
-This will be the day.
+This will be the day... (Let's go, men!)
-(Let's go, men!)
 '''Powhatan:'''
-This will be the morning.
+This will be the morning... (Bring out the prisoner!)
-(Bring out the prisoner!)
 '''Native American Indians:'''
-We will see them dying in the dust.
+We will see them dying in the dust...
 '''[[Pocahontas]]:'''
-I don't know what I can do.
+I don't know what I can do still, I know I've got to try
-Still, I know I've got to try.
 '''Ratcliffe and English Settlers:'''
-Now we make them pay.
+Now we make them pay...
 '''Pocahontas:'''
-Eagle, help my feet to fly.
+Eagle, help my feet to fly...
 '''Native American Indians:'''
-Now without a warning.
+Now without a warning!
 '''Pocahontas:'''
-Mountain, help my heart be great.
+Mountain, help my heart be great...
 '''Native American Indians:'''
-Now we leave 'em blood and bone and rust.
+Now we leave them blood and bone and rust
 '''Pocahontas:'''
@@ Line 152: / Line 124: @@
 '''English Settlers and Native American Indians:'''
-It's them or us.
+It's them or us?
 '''Pocahontas:'''
@@ Line 158: / Line 130: @@
 '''English Settlers and Native American Indians:'''
-They're just a bunch of filthy, stinking...
+They're just a bunch of filthy, stinking savages! Savages!
-'''Native American:'''
-Savages!
-'''English Settlers:'''
-Savages!
 '''Native American Indians:'''
@@ Line 185: / Line 151: @@
 '''Ratcliffe, English Settlers, and Native American Indians:'''
-Destroy their evil race until there's not a trace left.
+Destroy their evil race until there's not a trace left!
 '''Pocahontas:'''
@@ Line 194: / Line 160: @@
 Now we sound the drums of war! Savages! Savages!
-'''English Settlers and Native American Indians:'''
+'''Native American Indians:'''
-Now we see what comes of trying to be chums.
+Now we sound the drums...
-Now we sound the drums of...
+'''English Settlers:'''
+Now we see what comes
+Of trying to be chums
+Of course it means the drums...
 '''Pocahontas:'''
 Is this the death of all I love carried in the drumming of...
-'''English Settlers and Native American Indians'''
+'''English Settlers and Native American Indians:'''
+Of...war!
-War!
 </poem>
 </tabber>
@@ Line 208: / Line 179: @@
 ==Gallery==
 <gallery position="center">
+Pocahontas-disneyscreencaps.com-7588.jpg|'''Ratcliffe:''' What can you expect from filthy little heathens?
+Pocahontas-disneyscreencaps.com-7608.jpg|"They're vermin, as I said, and worse!" [[Wiggins]] putting the cape on Ratcliffe's armor.
+Pocahontas-disneyscreencaps.com-7611.jpg
 Powhatansavagesong.jpg|'''Powhatan:''' This is what we feared. The paleface is a demon. The only thing they feel at all is greed.
 Justpaintyourface.jpg|'''Native American Warriors:''' I wonder if they even bleed.
@@ Line 213: / Line 187: @@
 Ratcliffe in Armor.jpg|Ratcliffe in his armor.
 GovernorRatcliffe4.jpg|'''Ratcliffe:''' This will be the day!
+Disney's Pocahontas - Savages - Let's Go Men!.jpg|'''Ratcliffe:''' Let's go, men!
+Disney's Pocahontas - Savages - Powhatan - This Will Be the Morning.jpg|'''Powhatan:''' This will be the morning.
+Disney's Pocahontas - Savages - I Don't Know What I Can Do.jpg|'''Pocahontas:''' I don't know what I can do. Still I know I've got to try.
+Disney's Pocahontas - Savages - Now We Make Them Pay.jpg|'''Ratcliffe and the English Settlers:''' Now we make them pay!
+Disney's Pocahontas - Savages - Eagle, Help My Feet to Fly.jpg|'''Pocahontas:''' Eagle, help my feet to fly.
+Disney's Pocahontas - Savages - Mountain, Help My Heart Be Great.jpg|'''Pocahontas:''' Mountain, help my heart be great.
+Disney's Pocahontas - Savages - Spirits of the Earth and Sky.jpg|'''Pocahontas:''' Spirits of the Earth and Sky.
+Disney's Pocahontas - Savages - Please Let It Not Be Too Late.jpg|'''Pocahontas:''' Please, let it not be too late!
 Savages.png|'''Englishmen:''' Savages!
 Disney's Pocahontas - Savages - Governor Ratcliffe - Kill Them!.jpg|'''Ratcliffe:''' Kill them!
 Disney's Pocahontas - Savages - How Loud Are the Drums of War - 1.jpg|'''Pocahontas:''' "How loud..."
-Disney's Pocahontas - Savages - How Loud Are the Drums of War - 2.jpg|"Now we sound the drums of war! Savages! Savages!" Ratcliffe and his men leading in the red morning sky.
+Disney's Pocahontas - Savages - How Loud Are the Drums of War - 2.jpg|Ratcliffe and his men leading in the red morning sky.
 Disney's Pocahontas - Savages - How Loud Are the Drums of War.jpg|'''Pocahontas:''' "...are the drums of war?"
 </gallery>
 ==Trivia==
+*This song is a musical representation of the impact of fear: both the colonists and the Powhatan fear each other to the point where they are willing to got to war due to their fear of being attacked by the other side. The song shows how people will resort to violence when they are overcome by their fear.
-*This is the third song to have a voice actor doing two characters at the same time. (In this case, it's [[Jim Cummings]] voicing Chief Powhatan and [[Kekata]].) The first two are "[[Be Prepared]]" and "[[Mine, Mine, Mine]]". This is also the second time Jim Cummings has voiced two characters in a song.
+*''Savages'' is very similar to "[[The Mob Song]]" in ''[[Beauty and the Beast (1991 film)|Beauty and the Beast]]''. The main villain exploits his men's fear of the unknown to get them on a pretended heroic fight, when actually they only want to satisfy themselves and their vices ([[Governor Ratcliffe]]'s greed and [[Gaston]]'s jealousy). In fact, both ''Pocahontas'' and the original animated ''Beauty and the Beast'' star [[David Ogden Stiers]] and were scored by [[Alan Menken]].
-*This song is an allegory to racism: English settlers call the Natives "savages" while knowing little to nothing about them and being the true aggressors, Natives call English settlers "savages" for the same reasons.
+*In the film, Ratcliffe says the line: "Here's what you get when races are diverse!" However, in the soundtrack, he says "Their whole disgusting race is like a curse."
-*This is the second song that has racist views of Native Americans, the first one being [[What Made the Red Man Red?]] from ''[[Peter Pan (film)|Peter Pan]]'', although it is done intentionally to highlight the prejudice held by Governor Ratcliffe.
-*''Savages'' is very similar to "[[The Mob Song]]" in ''[[Beauty and the Beast (1991 film)|Beauty and the Beast]]''. The main villain exploits his men's fear of the unknown to get them on a pretended heroic fight, when actually they only want to satisfy themselves and their vices ([[Governor Ratcliffe]]'s greed and [[Gaston]]'s jealousy). Plus both songs are composed by Alan Menken.
-*The film cuts out Pocahontas' first verse in the second part, instead beginning with Ratcliffe announcing "This will be the day."
-*In the film, Ratcliffe say the verse: "Here's what you get when races are diverse!" However, in the soundtrack, he says "Their whole disgusting race is like a curse."
 **Similarly, in the film, the settlers and Ratcliffe say "Dirty, shrieking devils." The soundtrack uses "Dirty redskin devils", possibly to be more racially sensitive.
-*This song has some similarities with the score of "[[Paris Burning]]" from ''[[The Hunchback of Notre Dame]]''.
-{{Wikipedia}}
-{{Pocahontas}}
+==Character's Singing Role In This Song==
+Governor Ratcliffe - lead vocals and backing vocals
+English Settlers - backing vocals
+Chief Powhatan - lead vocals and backing vocals
+Native American Indians - backing vocals
+Pocahontas - lead vocals
 [[Category:Songs]]
-[[Category:Villain Songs]]
+[[Category:Villain songs]]
-[[Category:Pocahontas Songs]]
+[[Category:Pocahontas songs]]
 [[Category:Reprise]]
 [[Category:Fantasmic songs]]
 [[Category:Songs in video games]]
-[[Category:Hero/Heroine Songs]]
+[[Category:Hero/Heroine songs]]
 [[Category:Group songs]]
-[[Category:Articles with Wikipedia content]]
+[[Category:Songs with alternate lyrics]]