Environmental Songs

Don't Go Near the Water-Beach Boys

Gone- Jack Johnson

Blackened- Metalica

Nothing but Flowers- Talking Heads

Treat yo Mama- John Bulter Trio
Mercy, Mercy Me (The Ecology)- Marvin Gaye
Traffic Jam- James Taylor
Earth Blues- Jimi Hendrix
The 3 Rs- Jack Johnson

Big Yellow Taxi was written by Joni Mitchell in 1970 while she was on a trip to Hawaii. Joni was shocked one morning when she looked out her window. In the distance there were mountains and lush forests, paradise, but for as far as she could see around her there were only parking lots. The meaning of this song is very clear "you don't know what you got till it’s gone." We take for granted clean air, fresh water, forests, land, biodiversity, and people. But we only realize how precious this all is once its gone, but by then its often too late. We try to find solutions or ways to connect with what was lost (ie. Tree museum) but it’s not the same. This song plea is not to mourn the lose of nature but to prevent further damage (Hey farmer farmer Put away that DDT * now Give me spots on my apples But leave me the birds and the bees Please!).
Earth Song was recorded in 1994-1995 and was written and preformed by Michael Jackson. The song is a plea to all of humanity to stop and realise what we are doing to our planet. How we are hurting our Earth and the future children that will inherit it. It is a song that points out that we have failed ourselves, our planet, our ancestors, and our children. It does not provide solutions but is meant to grab the listeners’ attention and bring into light the devastation and inspire change.