The Virginia Company

The song 'The Virginia Company' from the movie Pocahontas captures the spirit and motivations of the English settlers who embarked on a journey to the New World in 1607. The lyrics are sung by a group of men who are part of the Virginia Company, a joint-stock company that funded the establishment of the Jamestown colony in what is now Virginia. The song reflects the settlers' dreams of wealth, religious freedom, and glory, which were common driving forces behind many colonial expeditions during that era.

The lyrics emphasize the settlers' belief that the New World is a land of boundless opportunities, likening it to heaven. They are enticed by promises of riches, freedom, and a better life, as conveyed by the Virginia Company. The repeated mention of 'glory, God, and gold' encapsulates the threefold motivation behind their journey: the pursuit of personal and national glory, the spread of Christianity, and the quest for material wealth. This triad was a common justification for European colonization efforts.

However, the song also hints at the naivety and idealism of the settlers. The imagery of diamonds on the beaches and gold that can be picked off trees paints an overly simplistic and fantastical picture of the New World. This reflects the exaggerated promises made by the Virginia Company to attract settlers, which often led to disillusionment and hardship upon arrival. The song serves as a historical commentary on the early colonial mindset and the often harsh reality that awaited the settlers, contrasting their lofty expectations with the actual challenges they faced in the New World.