earth song

Fifteen years ago, the Prince of Pop had his biggest UK hit with this desperate prayer for the whole planet. The lyrics were some of his most outspoken and this was the first time he directly addressed concerns over the environment and animal welfare. He sought to create a song that could transcend language with a deep emotional message. His anguished, inarticulate refrain seems to speak for all of us as well as our troubled sphere and climaxes into a powerful gospel call and response with Andraé Crouch's Choir. For some reason, it was not released as a single in the US.

This thought-provoking video was directed by Nick Brandt (who was so inspired by the wildlife and topography of Eastern Africa that he went on to release a trilogy of groundbreaking photography books of the region) and filmed on location in the Amazon rain forest, Croatia, Tanzania, and New York State depicting scenes of deforestation, war, animal cruelty, and pollution. Michael joins with suffering people around the globe in an anguished cry digging at the soil which stirs up winds of change that begin to reverse the destruction. The video ends with a request for donations to the Heal the World Foundation, which was set up years earlier to provide medicine to children and fight world hunger, homelessness, child exploitation and abuse. It received a Best Video Award at Le Film Fantastique, the Doris Day Music Award at the Genesis Awards, and a Grammy nomination for Best Music Video, Short Form.

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...
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?

Aaaaaaaaah Aaaaaaaaah
Aaaaaaaaah Aaaaaaaaah

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

Aaaaaaaaah Aaaaaaaaah
Aaaaaaaaah Aaaaaaaaah

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

Aaaaaaaaah Aaaaaaaaah
Aaaaaaaaah Aaaaaaaaah
Aaaaaaaaah Aaaaaaaaah
Aaaaaaaaah Aaaaaaaaah

Hey, what about yesterday
(What about us)
What about the seas
(What about us)
The heavens are falling down
(What about us)
I can't even breathe
(What about us)
What about the bleeding Earth
(What about us)
Can't we feel its wounds
(What about us)
What about nature's worth
(ooo, ooo)
It's our planet's womb
(What about us)
What about animals
(What about it)
We've turned kingdoms to dust
(What about us)
What about elephants
(What about us)
Have we lost their trust
(What about us)
What about crying whales
(What about us)
We're ravaging the seas
(What about us)
What about forest trails
(ooo, ooo)
Burnt despite our pleas
(What about us)
What about the holy land
(What about it)
Torn apart by creed
(What about us)
What about the common man
(What about us)
Can't we set him free
(What about us)
What about children dying
(What about us)
Can't you hear them cry
(What about us)
Where did we go wrong
(ooo, ooo)
Someone tell me why
(What about us)
What about babies
(What about it)
What about the days
(What about us)
What about all their joy
(What about us)
What about the man
(What about us)
What about the crying man
(What about us)
What about Abraham
(What was us)
What about death again
(ooo, ooo)
Do we give a damn

Aaaaaaaaah Aaaaaaaaah