Music is a rich source of inspiration for those of us who want to end population growth and improve environmental conditions. TOP looks at some classic hits and new songs recently sent to us and asks for more.
By The Overpopulation Project
A few weeks ago, two readers contacted us regarding their own songs. Kelvin Thomson, long-time population advocate and contributor to TOP, sent us four songs, several with environmental themes. You can listen to Kelvin and his band, including the song ‘Break Away’.
The next day we got an email from Colin Macpherson, a singer-songwriter, who sent us his song ‘Too Many People’. While we at TOP tend to go for charts and graphs, we have to admit that snappy lyrics can be just as effective! Thanks to both Colin and Kelvin for sending over some inspiring songs.
Historically, one famous population-related song is The Pill, by American country singer Loretta Lynn (1932-2022). It was written in 1975, as the contraceptive pill was revolutionizing the sexual lives of many women around the world. No more worry about an extra child. As Loretta sang:
All these years I’ve stayed at home
While you had all your fun
And every year that’s gone by
Another baby’s come
There’s a gonna be some changes made
Right here on nursery hill
You’ve set this chicken your last time
‘Cause now I’ve got the pill
Of course, the population issue made it into rock music too. Here is an early mention from 1971, the Kinks’ song ‘The Apeman’ , that swings well. Frontman Ray Davies was the seventh of eight children! Here are some thoughtful lyrics from the song:
I think I’m so educated and I’m so civilized
‘Cause I’m a strict vegetarian
But with the over-population and inflation and starvation
And the crazy politicians
I don’t feel safe in this world no more
I don’t want to die in a nuclear war
I want to sail away to a distant shore and make like an apeman
Elvis also highlighted the tragedy of unwanted births leading to a vicious cycle of poverty, lawlessness and violence in ‘In the Ghetto’:
As the snow flies
On a cold and gray Chicago mornin’
A poor little baby child is born
In the ghettoAnd his mama cries
‘Cause if there’s one thing that she don’t need
It is another hungry mouth to feed
In the ghetto …
Marvin Gaye’s ‘Mercy Me’ expresses the ecological grief many of us feel:
Woah, ah, mercy, mercy me
Ah, things ain’t what they used to be
Where did all the blue skies go?
Poison is the wind that blows
From the north and south and east
…
Hey, mercy, mercy me, oh
Hey, things ain’t what they used to be
What about this overcrowded land?
How much more abuse from man can she stand?
There have also been population-related songs from outside the Western world. For instance ‘Overpopulated’ by Alaa Wardi, born to Iranian parents and living in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. You can read more about Alaa here.
We are curious, what’s your favorite song on population and the environment?
Malvina Reynolds’ ‘Little Boxes’?
Michael Bayliss’ recent variation on the same theme, ‘In a Box’?
Or if it’s ‘Big Yellow Taxi,’ do you prefer the Counting Crows version, or Joni’s original?
Let us know in the comment section below – and if possible, include an Internet link to your favorites (note: only one link is possible per comment, but you can post multiple comments).
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