Song Meaning

The lyrics of "Savages" present a stark, dualistic portrayal of conflict, primarily through the dehumanizing language of the English settlers and the fearful, defensive language of the Powhatan natives. The settlers, led by Ratcliffe, initiate the narrative with visceral contempt, describing the natives as "filthy little heathens" whose "skins a hellish red" and who are "only good when dead." This framing establishes an immediate, aggressive "us vs. them" mentality, painting the natives as inherently evil and less than human, thus justifying their extermination. The repetition of "savages" by both groups underscores this shared, yet differently motivated, perception of the "other." The central tension arises from the mutual fear and hatred that drives both sides toward war. The English settlers see the natives as a "curse" and "vermin," while the Powhatan, through characters like Powhatan and Kekata, perceive the "paleface" as a "demon" driven by "greed" with "emptiness inside." This mirroring of dehumanization is a key craft element; both groups strip the other of their humanity to legitimize violence. The phrase "barely even human" is echoed by both sides, highlighting how the conflict reduces all involved to a primal, fearful state. The most striking aspect of the lyrics is the way the song weaponizes the term "savages." It's not just a label; it's a battle cry, a justification, and a self-fulfilling prophecy. The settlers' call to "sound the drums of war" is echoed by the natives, who also see the English as "savages." This shared vocabulary of animosity creates a tragic irony, suggesting that in their pursuit of war and their inability to see beyond their own fear and prejudice, both groups are becoming the very thing they condemn. Pocahontas's interjections, pleading for understanding and intervention with pleas like "Eagle help my feet to fly" and "Spirits of the Earth and Sky," offer a desperate counterpoint to the escalating violence, but her voice is ultimately drowned out by the collective roar of "It's them or us." Ultimately, the lyrics are effective because they so brutally illustrate how prejudice and fear can create a feedback loop of violence. The relentless repetition of "savages" and the "drums of war" builds an overwhelming sense of inevitable conflict. The song doesn't just describe a historical clash; it dissects the psychological mechanisms of dehumanization that fuel such conflicts, leaving the listener with the chilling realization that the "savages" are not just the "other," but a reflection of the darkness that war ignites within all parties involved. The final lines, where Pocahontas questions "How loud are the drums of the war?" and fears "the death of all I love," underscore the devastating cost of this mutual descent into barbarism.

David Ogden Stiers - Pop, Children's Music

Savages

49.4K Plays

Duration: 3:58

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[RATCLIFFE] What can you expect From filthy little heathens? Their whole disgusting race is like a curse 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, savages [RATCLIFFE] Barely even human [ENGLISH SETTLERS] Savages, savages [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 [RATCLIFFE & ENGLISH SETTLERS] Now we sound the drums of war [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 [NATIVES] I wonder if they even bleed They're savages, savages [POWHATAN & NATIVES] Barely even human [NATIVES] 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 [NATIVES] 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 [NATIVES] Savages, savages [RATCLIFFE] Now it's up to you, men [ALL] Savages, savages Barely even human Now we sound the drums of war [INSTRUMENTAL] [RATCLIFFE] This will be the day (Spoken) Let's go men [POWHATAN] This will be the morning (Spoken) Bring out the prisoner [NATIVES] 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 & ENGLISH SETTLERS] Now we make them pay [POCAHONTAS] Eagle help my feet to fly [NATIVES] Now without a warning [POCAHONTAS] Mountain help my heart be great [NATIVES] Now we leave 'em blood and bone and rust [POCAHONTAS] Spirits of the Earth and Sky [ENGLISH SETTLERS & NATIVES] It's them or us [POCAHONTAS] Please don't let it be too late [ENGLISH SETTLERS & NATIVES] They're just a bunch of filthy, stinking [NATIVES] Savages [ENGLISH SETTLERS] Savages [NATIVES] Demons [ENGLISH SETTLERS] Devils [RATCLIFFE] Kill them [NATIVES] Savages [ENGLISH SETTLERS] Savages [RATCLIFFE] What are we waiting for? [RATCLIFFE, ENGLISH SETTLERS, & NATIVES] Destroy their evil race until there's not a trace left [POCAHONTAS] How loud are the drums of the war? [RATCLIFFE, ENGLISH SETTLERS, & NATIVES] We will sound the drums of war Savages, Savages Now we sound the drums of war Savages, Savages [ENGLISH SETTLERS & NATIVES] Now we see what comes of trying to be chums Now we sound the drums of ... [POCAHONTAS] Is this the death of all I love carried in the drumming of [ENGLISH SETTLERS & NATIVES] War

Credits

Writers: Stephen Schwartz
Alan Menken

Savages

Savages

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