Disney lyrics of a racist nature
One of the reasons Disney are strongly accused for their inconsiderate, racial reputations are for their song lyrics being often about, yes, you guessed it! Race!
Pocahontas – Savages
This song is about battle between the English men and American Indians. It contains a lot of violent implications, death threats and mostly racist descriptions against the enemy. War, death, racism, violence, aggression and shocking language have all been piled into this song…
[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 redskin devils!
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
[Native Americans]
I wonder if they even bleed
They’re savages! Savages!
Barely even human
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 Americans]
They’re savages! Savages!
First we deal with this one
[All]
Then we sound the drums of war
[English Settlers]
Savages! Savages!
[Ben]
Let’s go kill a few, men!
[Native Americans]
Savages! Savages!
[Ratcliffe]
Now it’s up to you, men!
[All]
Savages! Savages!
Barely even human!
Now we sound the drums of war!
These lyrics create only a negative impact upon children, embodying any existing racial conflict. Although the hate in this song is neutral rather than a one sided torment, it still is very offensive and can certainly inflict much psychological distress mostly on Indian children, for children of other races are being taught only prejudice opinions upon this culture.
Aladdin – Arabian Nights
Arabian nights is a song featured in Aladdin. Lyrics taken from the song once resulted in an uproar for they were considered too outrageous under racial circumstances.
“Oh, I come from a land
From a faraway place
Where the caravan camels roam.
Where they cut off your ear
If they don’t like your face
It’s barbaric, but hey, it’s home.”
The controversy resulted in the lyrics being changed to…
“Where it’s flat and immense
And the heat is intense
It’s barbaric, but hey, it’s home.”
However, the original version by Disney has never been forgotten, for they were discriminating against the Arabic culture implying danger and cruelty in their society.
The Jungle Book – I wanna be like you
This song, sung by ape’s who are supposedly stereotypes of black people (which may be a matter of opinion!) because of their ‘jive-speak’ and behaviour; it is about how they wish they could be like Mowgli – the American speaking white boy.
Oh, the jungle VIP
I’ve reached the top and had to stop
And that’s what botherin’ me
I wanna be a man, mancub
And stroll right into town
And be just like the other men
I’m tired of monkeyin’ around!
I wanna be like you
I wanna walk like you
Talk like you, too
You’ll see it’s true
An ape like me
Can learn to be humen too
You’re doin’ real good
Lay the secret on me of man’s red fire
But I don’t know how to make fire
Now don’t try to kid me, mancub
I made a deal with you
What I desire is man’s red fire
To make my dream come true
Give me the secret, mancub
Clue me what to do
Give me the power of man’s red flower
So I can be like you
You!
I wanna be like you
I wanna talk like you
Walk like you, too
You’ll see it’s true
Someone like me
Can learn to be
Like someone like me
Can learn to be
Like someone like you
Can learn to be
Like someone like me!
They live in a part of the jungle with a run-down ‘ghetto’-resembling habitat. The whole concept of the song can be taken offensively for it almost & metaphorically is implying that black people aren’t equivilant to white people, they’re poorer, less educated, less important and in a different league – conclusively revealing their desire to be white.
Peter Pan – What made the red man red?
Yet another song written about the topic of race. So according to Disney, Indians skin colour is due to their sexual attraction and conclusively blushing, which is why they’re ‘red’. The young Tiger Lily performs a flirtacious dance for Peter Pan, kisses him and he instantly turns red as a result, furthermore revealing a facial expression of arousal. These messages are misleading for young children about Indians and their culture.
Why does he ask you, “How?”
Why does he ask you, “How?”
Once the Injun didn’t know
All the things that he know now
But the Injun, he sure learn a lot
And it’s all from asking, “How?”
Hana Mana Ganda
Hana Mana Ganda
We translate for you
Hana means what mana means
And ganda means that too
When did he first say, “Ugh!”
When did he first say, “Ugh!”
In the Injun book it say
When the first brave married squaw
He gave out with a big ugh
When he saw his Mother-in-Law
What made the red man red?
What made the red man red?
Let’s go back a million years
To the very first Injun prince
He kissed a maid and start to blush
And we’ve all been blushin’ since
You’ve got it from the headman
The real true story of the red man
No matter what’s been written or said
Now you know why the red man’s red!
jenikent 