Earth Song

“Earth Song” is een liedje uit 1995 van de betreurde Michael Jackson.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAi3VTSdTxU

Het is een vlijmscherpe aanklacht tegen de manier waarop wij met de wereld en met elkaar omgaan. Het is ook een boze klacht over de vele loze beloftes die mensen gemaakt hebben omtrent een betere toekomst, een betere wereld: van al die beloftes is weinig of niets in huis gekomen. Wel integendeel: wat beter had moeten worden, is erop achteruit gegaan:

“What about all the things
That you said we were to gain?

What about all the things
That you said was yours and mine?”

Het gaat onder andere over de klimaatverandering en de uitroeiing van talloze diersoorten:

“Did you ever stop to notice
This crying Earth, these weeping shores?

What about animals?
We've turned kingdoms to dust
What about elephants?
Have we lost their trust
What about crying whales?
We're ravaging the seas
What about forest trails?
Burnt despite our pleas.”

Maar het gaat evengoed over de oorlogszucht van de mens en het niet-aflatende geweld:

“What about all the peace
That you pledge your only son?

Did you ever stop to notice
All the children dead from war?

What about children dying?
Can't you hear them cry?
Where did we go wrong?”

En het gaat over verloren dromen, over gebroken beloftes:

“What about all the dreams
That you said was yours and mine?”

En het gaat over onze onverschilligheid: we zien het allemaal fout lopen, maar we laten het lijdzaam gebeuren. Uit onmacht? Of omdat het ons niet kan schelen?

“What about death again?
Do we give a damn?”

Nee, het is niet bepaald een vrolijke song, en het zijn vele pijnlijke vragen die gesteld worden. Het is een bitter en boos lied, een schreeuw om meer gerechtigheid, om meer vrede, om meer respect voor de natuur en voor elkaar.

Laat ons hopen dat 2024 een jaar van hoop en positivisme zal zijn, een jaar waarin we eindelijk onze beloftes en goede voornemens kunnen waar maken.

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
This crying Earth, these weeping shores?

Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh

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
This crying Earth, these weeping shores?

Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh

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

Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah

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 apathy?
(What about us?)
I need you
(What about us?)
What about nature's worth?
(Ooh)
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?
(Ooh)
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?
(Ooh)
Someone tell me why
(What about us?)

What about baby boy?
(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 about us?)
What about death again?
(Ooh)
Do we give a damn?