Litterbugs: ‘Listen’ Up … Cause’ Mother Nature Is Talking!
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Earth Day is an annual event celebrated on April 22. Worldwide, various events are held to demonstrate support for environmental protection. First celebrated in 1970, Earth Day events in more than 193 countries are now coordinated globally by the Earth Day Network.
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In 1969 at a UNESCO Conference on the Environment, Peace activist, John McConnell first introduced the idea of a global holiday called “Earth Day”. The first Earth Day proclamation was issued by San Francisco Mayor Joseph Alioto on March 21, 1970. A month later a separate Earth Day was founded by United States Senator Gaylord Nelson as an environmental teach-in first held on April 22, 1970 in the United States.
An organization launched by Denis Hayes, who was the original national coordinator in 1970, took it international in 1990 and organized events in 141 nations.Celebrations were held in various cities, such as San Francisco and in Davis, California with a multi-day street party. UN Secretary-General U Thant supported McConnell’s global initiative to celebrate this annual event; and on February 26, 1971, he signed a proclamation to that effect, saying:
“May there be only peaceful and cheerful Earth Days to come for our beautiful Spaceship Earth as it continues to spin and circle in frigid space with its warm and fragile cargo of animate life.” AMEN!
Joni says, “I wrote ‘Big Yellow Taxi’ on my first trip to Hawaii. I took a taxi to the hotel and when I woke up the next morning, I threw back the curtains and saw these beautiful green mountains in the distance. Then, I looked down and there was a parking lot as far as the eye could see, and it broke my heart… this blight on paradise. That’s when I sat down and wrote the song.
“Big Yellow Taxi”
They paved paradise Put up a parking lot With a pink hotel, a boutique And a swinging hot SPOTDon’t it always seem to go That you don’t know what you’ve got ’til it’s gone? They paved paradise Put up a parking lotThey took all the trees And put them in a tree museum Then they charged the people A dollar and a half just to see ’emDon’t it always seem to go, That you don’t know what you’ve got ’til it’s gone? They paved paradise Put up a parking lotHey, farmer, farmer, Put away that DDT now Give me spots on my apples But leave me the birds and the bees Please!Don’t it always seem to go That you don’t know what you’ve got ’til its gone? They paved paradise Put up a parking lotLate last night I heard the screen door slam And a big yellow taxi took away my old manDon’t it always seem to go That you don’t know what you’ve got ’til it’s gone? They paved paradise Put up a parking lotI said Don’t it always seem to go That you don’t know what you’ve got ’til it’s gone? They paved paradise Put up a parking lotThey paved paradise Put up a parking lot They paved paradise Put up a parking lot
“After The Goldrush” considers environmental concerns using the form of a dream vision. The three verses move forward in time from the past, to the present, and, finally, the future. The line “Look at Mother Nature on the run / In the 1970s” has been amended by Young in concert over the decades and is currently sung as “Look at Mother Nature on the run / in the 21st century.”
“Gold rush” equates to pillaging of the land for human desires. “Look at Mother Nature on the run” is about Man being the hunter. “Flying Mother Nature’s silver seed” invokes a scenario similar to “Silent Running,” where life on Earth had to be rescued from human greed. This is clearly a song with strong environmental themes (the EPA was created in 1970 because too many industries wouldn’t self-regulate).” (Source: Songfacts)
“After The Goldrush”
Well, I dreamed I saw the knights In armor coming, Saying something about a queen. There were peasants singing and Drummers drumming And the archer split the tree. There was a fanfare blowing To the sun That was floating on the breeze. Look at Mother Nature on the run In the nineteen seventies. Look at Mother Nature on the run In the nineteen seventies.I was lying in a burned out basement With the full moon in my eyes. I was hoping for replacement When the sun burst thru the sky. There was a band playing in my head And I felt like getting high. I was thinking about what a Friend had said I was hoping it was a lie. Thinking about what a Friend had said I was hoping it was a lie.Well, I dreamed I saw the silver Space ships flying In the yellow haze of the sun, There were children crying And colors flying All around the chosen ones. All in a dream, all in a dream The loading had begun. They were flying Mother Nature’s Silver seed to a new home in the sun. Flying Mother Nature’s Silver seed to a new home.
“Where Do the Children Play?” (Cat Stevens)
is a song by British folk-rock musician Cat Stevens, opening his November 1970 album Tea for the Tillerman. The song reflects awareness of the turmoil of the late 1960s and the issues involved: war, urban sprawl, poverty, ecological disaster, and the future of humankind. The same themes and concerns are repeated later in many of his songs.
It is an anti-pollution song, Cat Stevens admits that we’ve progressed a long way through technological advances. However in doing so, he protests that we have destroyed much of our environment by trucks “pumping petrol gas” and by the building over and cementing of children’s play areas in cities.
“Where Do The Children Play”
Well I think it’s fine, building jumbo planes. Or taking a ride on a cosmic train. Switch on summer from a slot machine. Get what you want to if you want, ’cause you can get anything.I know we’ve come a long way, We’re changing day to day, But tell me, where do the children play?Well you roll on roads over fresh green grass. For your lorryloads pumping petrol gas. And you make them long, and you make them tough. But they just go on and on, and it seems you can’t get off.Oh, I know we’ve come a long way, We’re changing day to day, But tell me, where do the children play?When you crack the sky, scrapers fill the air. Will you keep on building higher ’til there’s no more room up there? Will you make us laugh, will you make us cry? Will you tell us when to live, will you tell us when to die?I know we’ve come a long way, We’re changing day to day, But tell me, where do the children play?
“A Cry In The Forest” Dan Fogelberg says, “I’d like to dedicate this song to The Wilderness Society. Especially to all the innocent creatures, that we in our stupidity and apathy and greed are driving off the face of the earth”
“A Cry In The Forest”
There’s a cry in the forest, it’s feathered and brown And it echoes off of nothing as the trees come down It’s the sound of a sparrow hittin’ the ground It’s the sound of one eternity bound It’s the sound of one eternity boundThere’s a cry in the oceans, it’s plaintive and blue And it rises from the depths, breaks my heart in two It’s the dreams of the great whales running aground For they know that they’re eternity bound For they know that they’re eternity boundWhoa eternity bound Once they’ve passed into the timeless, they can never more be found Is there anybody listening, tell me can you hear the sound Of the gentle ones eternity bound Of the gentle ones eternity boundThere’s a cry in the heart of every woman and man We’ve been crying in the darkness since the world began Will we ever seek forgiveness, will we ever earn the crown Or are we in turn eternity bound Or are we in turn eternity boundWhoa eternity bound Once we’ve past into the timeless, we can never more be found Is there anybody listening, tell me can you hear the sound Of the lonely ones eternity bound Of the lonely ones eternity bound Of the lonely ones eternity bound
“Face The Fire”: Fogelberg wrote this in the wake of the March 1979 crisis at the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant. The song is both an attack on nuclear power and the powerful financial interests behind it, and an appeal to promote solar power, hence the lyrics:
The waiting’s over
The moment has come
To kill the fire
And turn to the Sun
“Face The Fire”
I hear the thunder three miles away The Island’s leaking into the bay The poison is spreading The demon is free And people are running from what they can’t even see
Face the fire You can’t turn away The risk grows greater with each passing day The waiting’s over The moment has come To kill the fire and turn to the sun
They’ll take your money And then take your health To line their pockets with unequalled wealth Those men are under the power of gold We won’t be safe until we shut them down
Face the fire You can’t turn away The risk grows greater with each passing day The waiting’s over The moment has come To kill the fire and turn to the sun
The people came to the capitol town One hundred thousand of them laid their hearts down They screamed in anger and broadcast their fears Just to have them fall on deaf ears
Face the fire You can’t turn away The risk grows greater with each passing day The waiting’s over The moment has come To kill the fire and turn to the sun
Kill the fire and turn to the sun
“Nothing But Flowers” describe a world where modern progress has been reverted to a more natural state, due either to a political movement, a global disaster, or by a necessity, such as dealing with overpopulation. While the protagonist may have once been in favor of the transformation, he finds himself now missing the conveniences and culture of the modern world.
“(Nothing But) Flowers” – David Byrne
Here we stand
Like an Adam and an Eve
Waterfalls
The Garden of Eden
Two fools in love
So beautiful and strong
The birds in the trees
Are smiling upon them
From the age of the dinosaurs
Cars have run on gasoline
Where, where have they gone?
Now, it’s nothing but flowers
There was a factory
Now there are mountains and rivers
you got it, you got it
We caught a rattlesnake
Now we got something for dinner
we got it, we got it
There was a shopping mall
Now it’s all covered with flowers
you’ve got it, you’ve got it
If this is paradise
I wish I had a lawnmower
you’ve got it, you’ve got it
Years ago
I was an angry young man
I’d pretend
That I was a billboard
Standing tall
By the side of the road
I fell in love
With a beautiful highway
This used to be real estate
Now it’s only fields and trees
Where, where is the town
Now, it’s nothing but flowers
The highways and cars
Were sacrificed for agriculture
I thought that we’d start over
But I guess I was wrong
Once there were parking lots
Now it’s a peaceful oasis
you got it, you got it
This was a Pizza Hut
Now it’s all covered with daisies
you got it, you got it
I miss the honky tonks,
Dairy Queens, and 7-Elevens
you got it, you got it
And as things fell apart
Nobody paid much attention
you got it, you got it
I dream of cherry pies,
Candy bars, and chocolate chip cookies
you got it, you got it
We used to microwave
Now we just eat nuts and berries
you got it, you got it
This was a discount store,
Now it’s turned into a cornfield
you got it, you got it
Don’t leave me stranded here
I can’t get used to this lifestyle
“That’s The Way” – Led Zeppelin
As pointed out in Stephen Davis’s Hammer of the Gods, this song’s lyrics reflected Robert Plant’s views on ecology and environment.
Jimmy Page and Robert Plant wrote this piece in 1970 on a retreat at Bron-Yr-Aur cottage, Wales. Page explained:
“That’s the Way” was written in Wales. It was one of those days after a long walk and we were setting back to the cottage. We had a guitar with us. It was a tiring walk coming down a ravine and we stopped and sat down. I played the tune and Robert sang the first verse straight off. We had a tape recorder with us and we got the tune down”.
In an interview he gave to Mojo magazine in 2010, he elaborated:
I can still remember exactly where we were when we wrote That’s the Way. Robert was seriously affected by the situation and being able to write it down and make a statement was great. That wouldn’t have happened if we hadn’t been there.
“That’s The Way”
I don’t know how I’m gonna tell you, I can’t play with you no more, I don’t know how I’m gonna do what mama told me, My friend, the boy next door. I can’t believe what people saying, You’re gonna let your hair hang down, I’m satisfied to sit here working all day long, You’re in the darker side of town.And when I’m out I see you walking, Why don’t your eyes see me, Could it be you’ve found another game to play, What did mama say to me.That’s the way, oh, That’s the way it ought to be, Yeah, yeah, mama say That’s the way it ought to stay.And yesterday I saw you standing by the river, And weren’t those tears that filled your eyes, And all the fish that lay in dirty water dying, Had they got you hypnotized?And yesterday I saw you kissing tiny flowers, But all that lives is born to die. And so I say to you that nothing really matters, And all you do is stand and cry.I don’t know what to say about it, When all you ears have turned away, But now’s the time to look and look again at what you see, Is that the way it ought to stay?That’s the way… That’s the way it oughtta be Oh don’t you know now, mama said.. That’s the way it’s gonna stay, yeah.
“Apeman” (The Kinks)
is a 1970 song by the English rock band The Kinks. It was written by Ray Davies and appears on the album Lola Versus Powerman and the Moneygoround, Part One.
In the song, Davies is fed up with the modern world and declares that he wants to “sail away to a distant shore and make like an apeman”. He also expresses how man created our problems and, given half a chance, he would leave the cities and traffic to live in the jungle. In some ways, this is the epitome of the nostalgia expressed on the albums Lola vs. Powerman and The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society.
“Apeman”
I think I’m sophisticated ‘Cos I’m living my life like a good homosapien But all around me everybody’s multiplying Till they’re walking round like flies man So I’m no better than the animals sitting in their cages In the zoo man ‘Cos compared to the flowers and the birds and the trees I am an ape man I think I’m so educated and I’m so civilized ‘Cos I’m a strict vegetarian But with the over-population and inflation and starvation And the crazy politicians I don’t feel safe in this world no more I don’t want to die in a nuclear war I want to sail away to a distant shore and make like an ape man I’m an ape man, I’m an ape ape man I’m an ape man I’m a King Kong man I’m ape ape man I’m an ape man ‘Cos compared to the sun that sits in the sky Compared to the clouds as they roll by Compared to the bugs and the spiders and flies I am an ape man In man’s evolution he has created the cities and The motor traffic rumble, but give me half a chance And I’d be taking off my clothes and living in the jungle ‘Cos the only time that I feel at ease Is swinging up and down in a coconut tree Oh what a life of luxury to be like an ape man I’m an ape, I’m an ape ape man, I’m an ape man I’m a King Kong man, I’m a voo-doo man I’m an ape man I look out my window, but I can’t see the sky ‘Cos the air pollution is fogging up my eyes I want to get out of this city alive And make like an ape man Come and love me, be my ape man girl And we will be so happy in my ape man world I’m an ape man, I’m an ape ape man, I’m an ape man I’m a King Kong man, I’m a voo-doo man I’m an ape man I’ll be your Tarzan, you’ll be my Jane I’ll keep you warm and you’ll keep me sane And we’ll sit in the trees and eat bananas all day Just like an ape man I’m an ape man, I’m an ape ape man, I’m an ape man I’m a King Kong man, I’m a voo-doo man I’m an ape man. I don’t feel safe in this world no more I don’t want to die in a nuclear war I want to sail away to a distant shore And make like an ape man.
“One Sweet World” (Dave Matthews Band)
This song – like many other Dave Matthews Band songs – is about celebrating your life. live life happy, fun and free, but also remember you have responsibilities to be aware of.
“One Sweet World”
Nine planets round the sun
Only one does the sun embrace
Upon this watered one
So much we take for granted
So let us sleep outside tonight
Lay down in our mother’s arms
For here we can rest safely
If green should slip to grey
But our hearts still bloody be
And if all mountains crumble away
And the river dry Would it stop the stepping feet
Take all that we can get
When it’s done
Nobody left to bury here
Nobody left to dig the holes
And here we can rest safely
One sweet world
Around a star is spinning
One sweet world
And in her breath I’m swimming
And here we will rest in peace
“Earth Song” (Michael Jackson)
Jackson already had a long-standing history of writing charitable or socially conscious material. As a child, he had recorded the song “In Our Small Way” for his first album Got to Be There. As an adult, Jackson used his fame and wealth to promote various causes. In 1985, he co-wrote the charity single “We Are the World” with Lionel Richie, which was released worldwide to aid the poor in Africa and the US. The single became one of the best-selling singles of all time, with nearly 20 million copies sold and millions of dollars donated
to famine relief. It was also the first time Jackson was seen as a humanitarian.
“What have we done to the world? / Look what we’ve done / What about all the peace / That you pledge your only son?”
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“Earth Song”
What about sunrise What about rain What about all the things That you said we were to gain… What about killing fields Is there a time What about all the things That you said was yours and mine… Did you ever stop to notice All the blood we’ve shed before Did you ever stop to notice The crying Earth the weeping shores?Aaaaaaaaah Oooooooooh Aaaaaaaaah OoooooooohWhat have we done to the world Look what we’ve done What about all the peace That you pledge your only son… What about flowering fields Is there a time What about all the dreams That you said was yours and mine… Did you ever stop to notice All the children dead from war Did you ever stop to notice The crying Earth the weeping shoresAaaaaaaaah Oooooooooh Aaaaaaaaah OoooooooohI used to dream I used to glance beyond the stars Now I don’t know where we are Although I know we’ve drifted farAaaaaaaaah Oooooooooh Aaaaaaaaah Oooooooooh Aaaaaaaaah Oooooooooh Aaaaaaaaah OoooooooohHey, what about yesterday (What about us) What about the seas (What about us) The heavens are falling down (What about us) I can’t even breathe (What about us) What about apathy (What about us) I need you (What about us) What about nature’s worth (Ooo, ooo) It’s our planet’s womb (What about us) What about animals (What about it) We’ve turned kingdoms to dust (What about us) What about elephants (What about us) Have we lost their trust (What about us) What about crying whales (What about us) We’re ravaging the seas (What about us) What about forest trails (Ooo, ooo) Burnt despite our pleas (What about us) What about the holy land (What about it) Torn apart by creed (What about us) What about the common man (What about us) Can’t we set him free (What about us) What about children dying (What about us) Can’t you hear them cry (What about us) Where did we go wrong (Ooo, ooo) Someone tell me why (What about us) What about babies (What about it) What about the days (What about us) What about all their joy (What about us) What about the man (What about us) What about the crying man (What about us) What about Abraham (What about us) What about death again (Ooo, ooo) Do we give a damnAaaaaaaaah Oooooooooh Aaaaaaaaah Oooooooooh
“Beautiful Day”
The heart is a bloom Shoots up through the stony ground There’s no room No space to rent in this townYou’re out of luck And the reason that you had to care The traffic is stuck And you’re not moving anywhereYou thought you’d found a friend To take you out of this place Someone you could lend a hand In return for graceIt’s a beautiful day Sky falls, you feel like It’s a beautiful day Don’t let it get awayYou’re on the road But you’ve got no destination You’re in the mud In the maze of her imaginationYou love this town Even if that doesn’t ring true You’ve been all over And it’s been all over youIt’s a beautiful day Don’t let it get away It’s a beautiful dayTouch me Take me to that other place Teach me I know I’m not a hopeless caseSee the world in green and blue See China right in front of you See the canyons broken by cloud See the tuna fleets clearing the sea out See the Bedouin fires at night See the oil fields at first light And see the bird with a leaf in her mouth After the flood all the colors came outIt was a beautiful day Don’t let it get away Beautiful dayTouch me Take me to that other place Reach me I know I’m not a hopeless caseWhat you don’t have you don’t need it now What you don’t know you can feel it somehow What you don’t have you don’t need it now Don’t need it now Was a beautiful day
“Where Is The Love?”
What’s wrong with the world, mama People livin’ like they ain’t got no mamas I think the whole world addicted to the drama Only attracted to things that’ll bring you traumaOverseas, yeah, we try to stop terrorism But we still got terrorists here livin’ In the USA, the big CIA The Bloods and The Crips and the KKKBut if you only have love for your own race Then you only leave space to discriminate And to discriminate only generates hate And when you hate then you’re bound to get irate, yeahMadness is what you demonstrate And that’s exactly how anger works and operates Man, you gotta have love just to set it straight Take control of your mind and meditate Let your soul gravitate to the love, y’all, y’allPeople killin’, people dyin’ Children hurt and you hear them cryin’ Can you practice what you preach? Or would you turn the other cheek?Father, Father, Father help us Send some guidance from above ‘Cause people got me, got me questionin’ Where is the love (Love)Where is the love (The love) Where is the love (The love) Where is the love, the love, the loveIt just ain’t the same, old ways have changed New days are strange, is the world insane? If love and peace are so strong Why are there pieces of love that don’t belong?Nations droppin’ bombs Chemical gasses fillin’ lungs of little ones With ongoin’ sufferin’ as the youth die young So ask yourself is the lovin’ really goneSo I could ask myself really what is goin’ wrong In this world that we livin’ in people keep on givin’ in Makin’ wrong decisions, only visions of them dividends Not respectin’ each other, deny thy brother A war is goin’ on but the reason’s undercoverThe truth is kept secret, it’s swept under the rug If you never know truth then you never know love Where’s the love, y’all, come on (I don’t know) Where’s the truth, y’all, come on (I don’t know) Where’s the love, y’allPeople killin’, people dyin’ Children hurt and you hear them cryin’ Can you practice what you preach? Or would you turn the other cheek?Father, Father, Father help us Send some guidance from above ‘Cause people got me, got me questionin’ Where is the love (Love)Where is the love (The love)? Where is the love (The love)? Where is the love (The love)? Where is the love (The love)? Where is the love (The love)? Where is the love (The love)? Where is the love, the love, the love?I feel the weight of the world on my shoulder As I’m gettin’ older, y’all, people gets colder Most of us only care about money makin’ Selfishness got us followin’ the wrong directionWrong information always shown by the media Negative images is the main criteria Infecting the young minds faster than bacteria Kids wanna act like what they see in the cinemaYo’, whatever happened to the values of humanity Whatever happened to the fairness and equality Instead of spreading love we’re spreading animosity Lack of understanding, leading us away from unityThat’s the reason why sometimes I’m feelin’ under That’s the reason why sometimes I’m feelin’ down There’s no wonder why sometimes I’m feelin’ under Gotta keep my faith alive ’til love is found Now ask yourselfWhere is the love? Where is the love? Where is the love? Where is the love?Father, Father, Father, help us Send some guidance from above ‘Cause people got me, got me questionin’ Where is the love?Sing with me y’all: One world, one world (We only got) One world, one world (That’s all we got) One world, one world And something’s wrong with it (Yeah) Something’s wrong with it (Yeah) Something’s wrong with the wo-wo-world, yeah We only got (One world, one world) That’s all we got (One world, one world)
“Mr. Blue Sky”
{Morning! Today’s forecast calls for blue skies}
Sun is shining in the sky
There ain’t a cloud in sight
It’s stopped raining
Everybody’s in a play
And don’t you know
It’s a beautiful new day
Hey ay ay!
Runnin’ down the avenue [panting x3]
See how the sun shines brightly
In the city
On the streets where once was pity
Mr. Blue
Sky is living here today
Hey ay ay!
[Chorus:]
Mr. Blue Sky
Please tell us why
You had to hide away
For so long (so long)
Where did we go wrong?
Mr. Blue Sky
Please tell us why
You had to hide away
For so long (so long)
Where did we go wrong?
Hey you with the pretty face
Welcome to the human race
A celebration
Mr. Blue Sky’s up there waitin’
And today
Is the day we’ve waited for
Ooorrr
[Chorus:]
Oh, Mr. Blue Sky
Please tell us why
You had to hide away
For so long (so long)
Where did we go wrong?
Hey there Mr. Blue
We’re so pleased to be with you
Look around see watch ya’ do
Everybody smiles at you
Hey there Mr. Blue
We’re so pleased to be with you
Look around see watch ya’ do
Everybody smiles at you
[Robotic Voice x3:]
Mr. Blue Sky
Mr. Blue you get it right
But soon comes Mr. Night
Creeping over
Now his hand is on your shoulder
Nevermind.
I’ll remember you this
I’ll remember you this way!
[Chorus]
Mr. Blue Sky
Please tell us why
You had to hide away
For so long [so long]
Where did we go wrong?
Hey there Mr. Blue (Skyyy)
We’re so pleased to be with you (Skyyy)
Look around see watch ya’ do (Bluuueee)
Everybody smiles at you
“Dragonfly”
Everybody’s worried about time But I just keep that shit off my mind People living on twenty four hour clocks But we’re on a ride that never stopsHey mister bee the world change but you remain the same And I wonder how you’ll survive with the environment going down the drain Hey miss dragonfly I see you look at me with your beautiful eyes You must be wondering what type of creature am iA dog looked at me and said ziggy why can’t we trust man Puss and me get together why can’t you all just understand An old tree stood there silently listening to every word we said As a tear fell he cried what type of creature is manI said hey mister tree the world change but you remain the same And I wonder how you survive with the environment going down the drain Hey miss butterfly I see you look at me with your beautiful eyes You must be wondering what kind of creature am i You must be wondering what kind of creature am iEverybody’s worried about time But I just keep that shit off my mind People living on twenty four hour clocks But we’re on a ride yes we’re on a ride we’re on a ride that never stopsHey mister bee the world change but you remain the same And I hope you’ll survive with the environment going down the drain Hey miss butterfly I see you look at me with your beautiful eyes You must be wondering what type of creature am i You must be wondering what type of creature is man
Time to come together to make a difference for the future of this planet. For our children and for our children’s children. “Together We Can Make Things Happen”
What do you do to help the future? Do you have any suggestions on the little things we can do to help? We would love to hear. Every little change has a big impact. Can you think of any other songs for our Earth Day list? We would love to keep building it! Hope you enjoyed!