"Earth Song" by Michael Jackson, with a note from Spruce

[Mamaka]

Earth Song by Michael Jackson, with a note from Spruce:

MICHAEL JACKSON'S "EARTH SONG" MUSIC VIDEO:

An extraordinarily powerful statement about the environmental crisis on planet earth.

This is an unusual message being sent. But then it was most uncommon for a celebrity with the stature of Michael Jackson to take such a controversial stance on the plight of the planet. Following his passing, the mainstream media is
providing saturation coverage about his life. But there was another dimension of Jackson beyond his status as a "pop star".

In 1995, he released a music video called "Earth Song" which still stands today as an extraordinarily powerful statement about the environmental crisis on planet earth. As its somewhat "radical" tone in calling for humanity to reverse its direction is not likely to be highlighted in mass media tributes to him (it received more play in Europe than the U.S.), I felt it worthwhile to honor this aspect of his life by sharing it with those who might empathize.

In 2007 he told Ebony magazine he was “very concerned” about the “international global warming phenomenon.” He
continued: “I wish they would have gotten people’s interest sooner. But it’s never too late … It’s been described as a runaway train; if we don’t stop it, we’ll never get it (our world) back. So we have to fix it, now. That’s what I was trying to do with ‘Earth Song,’ ‘Heal the World,’ ‘We Are the World’ – writing those songs to open up people’s consciousness. I wish people would listen to every word.”

Though the term has become almost daily fare on the news, the great bulk of humanity does not appear to be fully comprehending the enormity of the climate crisis and the forces being unleashed which are quite capable of collapsing our civilization. Those who recognize this massive danger as all too real and are now engaged in a race against
time to warn humanity are continually confronted with an exhausting need to overcome a sometimes overwhelming "wall" of collective denial and apathy.

Jackson's plaintive and primal "cry from the heart" combined with a dynamic montage of images gives expression to an
anguish that for some of us is beyond what mere words can describe. His vision in this song of a cleansing wind sweeping across the earth and reversing the direction of our society continues to be most timely and relevant.

According to a recent article in San Francisco Bay View: " On June 29, 1999, Michael was injured after falling over 50 feet when a bridge collapsed during a concert at Munich’s Olympic Stadium. He was singing 'Earth Song' at the time. 'Michael Jackson did care about the environment, and it’s tragic he did not get to make his final comeback tour before he was taken from us,' wrote blogger Vondega. "

Below is a direct link to the 7 minute music video, followed by the evocative lyrics of the song. Jackson himself composed the music and wrote these lyrics. For a higher quality picture and sound, one should
click on the symbol "HQ" at the bottom of the screen. Some may wish to forward this link to friends and colleagues.

Peace, Gary "Spruce" Houser

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Michael Jackson - Earth Song
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOnL5c8LMqM&NR=1


Lyrics:


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?
(Refrain:) What about us?

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?

Aah............... Oo...........
Aah............... Oo...........

What 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?
(Refrain:) What about us?

Did you ever stop to
notice,
All the children dead from war?
Did you ever stop to notice,
The crying Earth the weeping shores?

Aah............... Oo...........
Aah............... Oo...........

I used to dream.
I used to glance beyond the stars.
Now I don't know where we are.
Although I know we've drifted far.

Aah............... Oo...........
Aah............... Oo...........
Aah............... Oo...........
Aah............... Oo...........

Hey-yea!
What about yesterday?
What about the seas?
The heavens are falling down.
I can't even breathe!
What about apathy?
I can feel its wounds.
What about nature's worth?
It's our planet's womb!
(Refrain:) What about us?


What about animals?
We've turned kingdoms to dust,
What about elephants?
Have we lost their trust?
What about crying whales?
Ravaging the seas.
What about forest trails?
Burnt despite
our pleas!
(Refrain:) What about us?

What about the holy land?
Torn
apart by creed.
What about the common man?
Can't we set him free?
What about children dying?
Can't you hear them cry?
Where did we go wrong?
Someone tell me why!
(Refrain:) What about us?

What about baby boy?
What about the days?
What about all their joy?
What about the man?
What about the crying man?
What about Abraham?
What about death again?
Do we give a damn?!
(Refrain:) What about us?


***
The videos are also posted on Transition Ohio:
Earth Song

We Are the World

Heal the World can be accessed via youtube.