2.9 Response 6 - Earth Song
Text Type: Lyrics
Title: Earth Song
Artist: Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson’s “Earth Song” is about the damage humans have done to the earth through environmental destruction and wars, and it also asks the listener if we notice or even care enough to do something about this destruction. When I first heard this song I knew it would be very strong and meaningful, as the entire song is filled with rhetorical questions to really get the listener thinking. I noticed the questions in the first and second verse were about the environment and mankind’s greed, the pre choruses were exposing the issue of humanity’s wars within itself. The last verse is encouraging the listener to do something about it. At first I felt guilty for the damage mankind has done to the earth, but after listening to the entire song I found it so inspirational because there is so much passion behind the lines. I am a strong believer in protecting our planet, and Michael Jackson has given the planet a voice, where it cannot speak he fills the spaces with music promoted to healing the world.
Something I found interesting in the text was the recurring theme of the damage mankind is doing to the earth for our own gain. This involves both killing the environment and harming each other. I believe this is an important idea because it exposes the actions of mankind to society and hopefully sparks discussions about our treatment of the Earth. The pre chorus, which is repeated twice throughout the song, voices concern not only for the wars of humanity, but for the earth itself. “Did you ever stop to notice the crying Earth, these weeping shores?” To me, this example reveals that humanity has been damaging the earth for a long time. It is referring to the fact that we have been polluting and taking materials from the earth for so long without giving back, that the Earth has begun to “cry”, meaning it is displaying warning signs of the havoc we are bestowing on it. This made me feel guilty because it is stuck into our heads that we can take all the resources the earth provides without thinking of the consequences. We are sacrificing the Earth for greed. Another point of interest in the song is the war and destruction of humanity. In the lyrics there are many examples of war, two of which being: “Did you ever stop to notice all the children dead from war?” and “What about children dying?”. These examples show the reader that our negative actions have an effect on the children of the future. Michael Jackson is asking society if our battles over resources and land are worth the lives of our children. I have chosen to put both the dying children, and the wounded planet in the same general idea for a reason: both are defenceless victims of man’s greed. I think Michael Jackson was right to address this idea in the text, because it is showing society the direction the world is headed, and exposes how much damage and destruction we have already caused to our homeland.
As well as highlighting the destruction of the planet, another idea running through the song is the questioning of society. Michael Jackson uses questions to direct the attention to how we are harming the environment and questioning what we will do about it. I believe this is such an important idea in the song because society will become exposed to the flaws of mankind, and we are hearing what destruction we are causing to the Earth so we can stop it early. Almost every line in the text is a question, which sparks interest and thoughts in listeners. An example of this is “What about elephants? Have we lost their trust?”. This line was included because it provokes the audience to think about how gentle and trusting an elephant is. By questioning the loss of trust Michael Jackson is expressing that through the destruction of the elephant (and many other animals) habitats, we have separated ourselves from other species, becoming more greedy for resources and forgetting the planet and creatures that gives us life. Repeated throughout the song is the phrase “Did you ever stop to notice...”. Most of the song, and the entirety of the last verse, is the earth asking have we noticed all of the destruction and harm we have caused to the environment and the Earth’s inhabitants. It is provoking thought in the listener, asking if we are going to do anything about it, ever going to fight for the survival of our planet? Or if we are going to turn a blind eye and act like we can get by without Earth and all its natural luxuries and wonders. I think this is a very strong idea in the song, and very relevant in the world today. It upsets me to think about the ideas within these questions, but I know it is an important topic that needs to be discussed more about in society, and I am grateful to Michael Jackson for coming out with this song to start the movement for a better tomorrow.
This song would be important for other year 12 students to listen to because the issue it is discussing is the end of the planet, and the end of mankind. Even though the song is over twenty years old, I think the questions raised are thought provoking, and are as relevant or even more relevant than at the time of release. Year 12’s today could benefit from knowing how the world is changing and could start asking their own questions about it. It isn’t long until we year 12’s can have a say in society, and we need to be ready when the day comes to decide the future of the planet. “Earth Song” could help year 12’s understand the damage we have caused to this planet and each other, and by teaching us young we can teach future generations. I remember in primary school we discussed how we can help the environment, which is something I have carried with me all through high school and hopefully into my future life. At TGS there is the environmental group which continues to raise awareness around school about small things we can do to help the planet, but the song also would make Year 12’s think on a global perspective, as when we leave school we will become part of either the problem or the solution. This song can help us to make this choice, and we can get behind organizations fighting for the world’s future. Countdown have already banned plastic bags by 2018, but there is still so much more we can do to help the earth. That’s why with awareness through Michael Jackson’s song we students can gain the knowledge to fix our future.
The writer/composer of this song wants to draw our attention to the state of the planet in the hope that society will listen and learn from it. Through pop culture, Michael Jackson is helping society become aware of the destruction of Earth. I think it is right to address this idea in the text “Earth Song” because it is a very relevant idea in the world today. The writer is opening the perspective of society to something so great that we have turned our backs on. A technique the composer uses is building intensity throughout the song, ending with a very strong question - “Do we give a damn?” The purpose of the composer’s choice of intensity is to leave the question on our conscience. We get to decide the future of our planet. We need to take control. Michael Jackson was a well known lover of nature and animals so it is a song filled with passion because it was close to his heart. I believe he was an inspiration to the world, and surely was to me because this song has encouraged me to think about the wider world in my life choices. If we want to honour his legacy, and make room for the future, saving the world is a good place to start.
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