Spiritual but not religious songs about nature and saving the planet

April 2, 2019 8:02 AM

I’m looking for songs about nature, especially with a conservationist/ecological bent. Songs that belong in a playlist with Big Yellow Taxi and/or point to our reliance on nature and the survival of the planet are great, non-preachy songs about how trees, for example, are pretty awesome, would also work.
posted by bunderful to Media & Arts (23 answers total)

This Pretty Planet by Tom Chaplin. It’s taught every year at my kids’ school.
posted by defreckled at 8:06 AM on April 2, 2019 [1 favorite]

Salt Water by Julian Lennon.
posted by meronym at 8:15 AM on April 2, 2019 [1 favorite]

There Won't Be No Country Music (There Won't Be No Rock 'n Roll), C.W. McCall.
posted by asperity at 8:23 AM on April 2, 2019

The first thing that popped in my head was What a Wonderful World. It's not so much about saving the planet, but more "Look at this wonderful creation we have right in front of us." Which leads (me, anyway, but ymmv) to thinking of ways to preserve it.
posted by BlueBear at 8:25 AM on April 2, 2019 [1 favorite]

Big Falls, Wisconsin by Maggi, Pierce and EJ
posted by prewar lemonade at 8:31 AM on April 2, 2019

Branching Out by John Gorka ("When I grow up, I wanna be a tree"). Escarpment Blues by Sarah Harmer (about the Niagara Escarpment in Ontario).
posted by ldthomps at 8:35 AM on April 2, 2019 [1 favorite]

Sparks - Never Turn Your Back on Mother Earth
(Because she'll get very mad if you do.)
posted by SansPoint at 8:38 AM on April 2, 2019 [1 favorite]

”Wondering Where the Lions Are” by Bruce Cockburn
posted by sallybrown at 8:43 AM on April 2, 2019 [1 favorite]

Marvin Gaye - Mercy Me (The Ecology) is a lament and may not be hopeful enough for your needs.
posted by soelo at 8:52 AM on April 2, 2019 [1 favorite]

Go to the Woods by Dar Williams is a pop folk anthem in the tradition of Big Yellow Taxi.

Global Warming by Vermillion Lies is not at all the tone you're going for, but I couldn't not mention it.
posted by toastedcheese at 9:48 AM on April 2, 2019

Where Do the Children Play - Cat Stevens
God Bless the Grass - Malvina Reynolds
posted by fourpotatoes at 10:19 AM on April 2, 2019

We sing this hymn often at my UU church, but I wouldn't say it's particularly religious: Blue Boat Home. I've always thought it had a vaguely save-the-earth message.
posted by cpatterson at 10:31 AM on April 2, 2019 [2 favorites]

A masterpiece.

"Cut and move on
Cut and move on
Take out trees
Take out wildlife at a rate of species every single day"

If A Tree Falls In The Forest
posted by Cosine at 11:09 AM on April 2, 2019

Mountain Goats' Deuteronomy 2:10, despite the title, is not explicitly religious. It's about extinction from the POV of dying species ("I have no fear of anyone/I'm dumb, and wild, and free/I am a flightless bird/And there'll be no more after me").
posted by praemunire at 11:15 AM on April 2, 2019

Gentle Arms of Eden - Dave Carter & Tracy Grammer. (Despite the title, it is not religious except in perhaps a general Mother Earth goddess kind of way.)
posted by darchildre at 11:33 AM on April 2, 2019 [5 favorites]

Colors of the Wind from Pocahontas
EarthSong by Michael Jackson
Seminole Wind by John Anderson
Rocky Mountain High by John Denver
posted by tracer at 12:56 PM on April 2, 2019

Seconding Rocky Mountain High
posted by Rash at 1:21 PM on April 2, 2019

I immediately thought of Gentle Arms of Eden—what a wonderful song!! “The Garden Song”, covered by many folkie types, is about being part of nature’s cycle.
posted by epj at 1:47 PM on April 2, 2019

R. Dean Taylor's Ain't It A Sad Thing.
posted by parki at 4:47 PM on April 2, 2019

A stretch maybe but Storm by Tim Minchin?
posted by getawaysticks at 5:18 PM on April 2, 2019

Rise Up and Sing has a whole section of songs on Earthcare, as well as a lyrics and more. This is a link where you can scroll down to the list of songs, all of them singable https://www.riseupandsing.org/songs/lists/chapters

The site also has a Music Box which has videos of the songs being performed. Quite a few songs that have been on the radio, and others that are new treasures. Many, many secular ones, if not most. The book is an excellent reference for finding something to sing or listen to for a range of situations.
posted by childofTethys at 3:52 AM on April 3, 2019

It’s where I found Polly Fiveash and Anand Nayak’s Granddaughter’s Wedding Day which is a lot like Big Yellow Taxi
posted by childofTethys at 4:39 AM on April 3, 2019

Radiohead - The Numbers (originally titled "Silent Spring", after the Rachel Carson book). It was my least-favorite off their latest album -- a little too on-the-nose for my taste -- but it may suit your purposes.

It holds us like a phantom, the touch is like a breeze
It shines its understanding... see the moon smiling
Open on all channels -- ready to receive
'Cause we're not at the mercy of your shimmerers and spells

We are of the earth -- to her we do return
The future is inside us, it's not somewhere else
It's not somewhere else... It's not somewhere else...
(One day at a time)

We call upon the people... only people have this power
The numbers don't decide -- your system is a lie
The river running dry... the wings of a butterfly

And you may pour us away like soup, like we're pretty broken flowers
We'll take back what is ours... take back what is ours...
One day at a time

posted by Rhaomi at 11:33 PM on April 4, 2019