"Pocahontas" is an agonizingly lonely ballad that explores themes of time, space, and companionship. The song's lyrics primarily describe the massacre of an indigenous tribe by European colonizers, starting with an image of a cold breeze and then detailing the tragedy with a restrained tone. The narrative then jumps to modern times, envisioning a surreal meeting in the Astrodome between the narrator, Pocahontas, and indigenous rights activist Marlon Brando. Young was inspired to write the song after reading Hart Crane's 1930 poem The Bridge, which features Pocahontas as a central character, and following Marlon Brando's protest of the portrayal of Native Americans in film. At its heart, the song is a journey through history and a reflection on past injustices that connects them to the present.