# Songs with an ecological message **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 3, 2019, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-an-ecological-message/834977 "2019-06-03T20:57:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2019, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-an-ecological-message/834977/1 "2019-06-03T20:57:37Z")
I’m listening to the magnificent classic album “What’s Going On” by Marvin Gaye, an album about all the societal ills of 1971 which are still so true and important today. Of course that album went against everything Motown was known for, and Berry Gordy hated it, but its success and now legendary status tells its own tale. My favorite song is probably “[Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efiDnHS3fzk)” which bears its theme already in the title. An earlier example I can think of is Joni Mitchell’s “[Big Yellow Taxi](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94bdMSCdw20)”. Then there’s Neil Young’s “[Mother Earth](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Fg4QFd8fOo)” from 1990, though he had expressed ecological concerns already in 1970 in “[After The Goldrush](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DrJydtXURgY)” with the line “Look at Mother Nature on the run in the nineteen seventies.” Which are are other examples, especially early ones? ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2019, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-an-ecological-message/834977/2 "2019-06-03T21:13:37Z")
This isn’t that early (1989) but otherwise qualifies: [“Channel Z”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3hvzJiyFEg)- The B-52’s ---
**Author:** ![74westy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/74westy/32/3950_2.png) [@74westy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/74westy)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2019, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-an-ecological-message/834977/3 "2019-06-03T21:14:33Z")
[I’m a Stranger Here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CeVhhHRDcQU) by Five Man Electrical Band is one I jam on with some friends. From the early seventies if that counts as early. ---
**Author:** ![74westy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/74westy/32/3950_2.png) [@74westy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/74westy)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2019, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-an-ecological-message/834977/4 "2019-06-03T21:15:56Z")
Forgot [Paradise](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DEy6EuZp9IY) by John Prine. about strip mining. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2019, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-an-ecological-message/834977/5 "2019-06-03T21:27:10Z")
Blue Sky Mine by Aussie band Midnight Oil. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/Ofrqm6-LCqs/maxresdefault.jpg "Midnight Oil - Blue Sky Mine") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ofrqm6-LCqs) “And some have sailed from a distant shore And the company takes what the company wants And nothing’s as precious, as a hole in the ground.” ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2019, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-an-ecological-message/834977/6 "2019-06-03T21:40:22Z")
Cat Stevens - [Where Do the Children Play?](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXxcMw5PTDg) Talking Heads - [Nothing but Flowers](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2twY8YQYDBE) Ian Dury - [Poo Poo in the Prawn](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTE1rCcMaZY) > [@](#): > > Some turds were teeny-tiny > And some were big and shiny > But they all fucked up the briney > In which I dipped my toe > > If you go swimming in the shite-us > You’ll get worse than dermititis > From the sea of grey detritus > Where the sewage ebbs and flows mmm ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2019, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-an-ecological-message/834977/7 "2019-06-03T21:47:12Z")
“Whose Garden Was This?” by Tom Paxton ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2019, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-an-ecological-message/834977/8 "2019-06-03T21:51:15Z")
Another not-that-early example: Jeff Lynne’s “[Save Me Now](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VChiKsQo534),” from 1990. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2019, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-an-ecological-message/834977/9 "2019-06-03T21:57:42Z")
Eagles, “[The Last Resort](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bOJiTskr6w)” (1976) _Some rich men came and raped the land Nobody caught them Put up a bunch of ugly boxes And Jesus people bought 'em […] They call it paradise I don’t know why Call someplace paradise, Kiss it goodbye_ ---
**Author:** ![Labdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2019, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-an-ecological-message/834977/10 "2019-06-03T22:07:19Z")
“Paradise” by John Prine “Save the Whales” by Country Joe McDonald ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2019, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-an-ecological-message/834977/11 "2019-06-03T22:12:52Z")
Kansas - “Song for America” ---
**Author:** ![Topologist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/topologist/32/3208_2.png) [@Topologist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Topologist)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2019, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-an-ecological-message/834977/12 "2019-06-03T22:23:04Z")
I’m surprised I’m the first to mention it: Tom Lehrer’s “Pollution” (1965). ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2019, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-an-ecological-message/834977/13 "2019-06-03T22:47:50Z")
About chemical pollution/Superfund type events. Dead Kennedys - Moon Over Marin Dead Kennedys - Cesspools in Eden Dead Kennedys - Kepone Factory Dead Kennedys - Chicken Farm Dead Milkmen - Watching Scotty Die ---
**Author:** ![Alley\_Dweller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alley_dweller/32/430_2.png) [@Alley\_Dweller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alley_Dweller)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2019, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-an-ecological-message/834977/14 "2019-06-03T23:20:49Z")
[Miracle by OceanLab](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JsL9q3Pr4kw). This is not an early example, it’s from the 2008 Sirens of the Sea album, which I think is a magnificent work. _It’s too easy to turn a blind eye to the light It’s too easy to bow your head and pray There are some times when you should try to find your voice This is one voice that you must find today Are you hoping for a miracle, As the ice caps melt away? No use hoping for a miracle There’s a price we’ll have to pay_ ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Q](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/898d66/32.png) [@Johnny\_Q](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Q)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2019, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-an-ecological-message/834977/15 "2019-06-03T23:22:21Z")
[Johnny Appleseed](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4IbMiqIdeME)–Joe Strummer ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2019, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-an-ecological-message/834977/16 "2019-06-03T23:35:12Z")
Merle Haggard’s _Rainbow Stew_: \*When they find out how to burn the water And the gasoline car is gone. When the airplanes fly without any fuel And the sunlight heats our homes. One of these days when the air clears up And the sun comes shining through, We’ll all be drinkin’ that free Bubble Up, And eatin’ that Rainbow Stew… \* Is Bubble Up still being sold today? ---
**Author:** ![Weedy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/weedy/32/301_2.png) [@Weedy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weedy)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2019, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-an-ecological-message/834977/17 "2019-06-03T23:38:05Z")
[Garbage](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZgSu2L9UQI) by Bill Steele (though this is a Pete Seeger version) from 1969. ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2019, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-an-ecological-message/834977/18 "2019-06-03T23:48:54Z")
[“Fall on Me”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lf6vCjtaV1k) - R.E.M. ---
**Author:** ![Peanuthead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peanuthead/32/360_2.png) [@Peanuthead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peanuthead)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2019, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-an-ecological-message/834977/19 "2019-06-04T03:43:43Z")
[Questions](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9jhR700QXk) by Bobby Darin. ---
**Author:** ![Covfefe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ee7513/32.png) [@Covfefe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Covfefe)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2019, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-an-ecological-message/834977/20 "2019-06-04T03:49:21Z")
[End of the Page](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvaQfG6Kgrs) by Bulbous Creation [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-an-ecological-message/834977.md?page=2)