The world will celebrate Earth Day April 22 as a moment to spotlight nature and current environmental issues. The annual celebration began in 1970, and has since inspired environmental protests, anti-pollution and recycling initiatives and environmental protection legislation. Each Earth Day, with the push for conservation also comes the opportunity to reflect on what nature can offer in return—solace, wonder and a sense of wild possibility.
As Earth Day approaches, these three songs will help listeners rediscover the unparalleled power of nature and ground them in something deeper than themselves. They describe different parts of the environment, from mountains to the moon and stars to rainbows. The common denominator is the same, however — a deep reverence for nature.
“To the Mountains” by Lizzy McAlpine
“To the Mountains” by Lizzy McAlpine, released in 2020, is a song that captures the classic feeling of finding comfort in nature when life’s troubles become overwhelming.
McAlpine’s voice flows sweetly atop layered harmonies and acoustic guitar as she sings, “Oh, I’m headed to the mountains / Where the air is sweet and new / don’t you try to reach me ‘cause I don’t want to talk to you / I’ve got some thinking to do.”
The lyrics convey a desire to escape with mountains serving as a place to emotionally reset. The instrumentation is subtle, with acoustic guitar, strings and layered vocal harmonies, mirroring the beautiful serenity of being alone in nature. McAlpine’s voice is gentle but firm, and emotion-filled, filling listeners with that same powerful desire to escape. At the end, soft birdsong joins the track, deepening the natural imagery McAlpine creates.
Very few songs immediately awaken an irresistible desire to escape to, and reconnect with, the natural world such as “To the Mountains.” It is the perfect soundtrack to reassure listeners that nature can provide comfort and clarity when it is needed the most.
“The Moon is Made of Gold” by Rickie Lee Jones
In the 2009 track “The Moon is Made of Gold,” American singer-songwriter Rickie Lee Jones presents some of the most imaginative, rich imagery of the wonders of the night sky. The song is atmospheric, painting a picture of a dreamy night and highlighting the timelessness of nature.
The song is chock-full of stunning lyrics like, “The night has wealth untold … the moon is made of gold” and “see how the shadows enhanced by the light above / dance in the night as the breeze sigh.”
The track’s instrumentals blend elements of jazz and folk, with whimsical scatting, whistling and thick harmonies accompanying an acoustic guitar and Jones’ sultry voice, creating a mesmerizing air around the song.
Together, the instrumentation, lyrics and Jones’ vocals evoke an enchanting world where nighttime — and its moon, stars and shadows — is a place where dreams come true. Because nighttime affords endless dreaming and fantasizing, listeners should lean into this wealth of possibilities, Jones asserts. Like she says, “the night has wealth untold” — so this Earth Day should be about cherishing the beauty of nature that is often taken for granted.
“Somewhere Over the Rainbow / What a Wonderful World” by Israel Kamakawiwo’ole
Few songs capture the human connection to the natural world like Kamakawiwo’ole’s 1993 medley of “Over the Rainbow” by Judy Garland and “What a Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong. Set to a simple ukulele accompaniment, Kamakawiwo’ole transforms the two classics into his own classic that describes the feeling of loving nature — and through that love, embracing the world with warmth and wonder.
From “What a Wonderful World,” Kamakawiwo’ole sings, “I see trees of green and red roses too / I’ll watch them bloom for me and you / and I think to myself / what a wonderful world.” From “Over the Rainbow,” he sings, “someday I’ll wish upon a star / wake up where the clouds are far behind me / where trouble melts like lemon drops.” The vivid descriptions of how Kamakawiwo’ole interacts with nature conveys deep appreciation of the “wonderful world” all around — not just natural elements, but people and relationships, too.
The acoustic ukulele and Kamakawiwo’ole’s iconic soulful voice make the song incredibly dreamy and meditative, inspiring listeners to take a look at the world around them and appreciate it with a loved one. So uniquely gentle, the rendition encourages listeners to open their eyes to the world around them and simply notice — whether it be red roses and green trees around them, or blue skies above them.
As the world hurries on, these songs urge listeners to pay attention to nature’s quiet brilliance. This Earth Day, these tracks can serve as reminders to deepen the connection between the body, mind and the natural world. After all, it can provide everything from tranquility to adventure. All one must do is notice.
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