I chose this song because it is my favorite. The song gives an important message to everybody. It calls to take conscience about our environment. It explicitly shows that we have to take care of our planet because it is our home and it has given everything for the survival of living beings.
The ethos of the song is established by the career of Michael Jackson. He is considered the king of pop music and one of the most successful stars in the history of music and entertainment. He also wrote songs that send positive messages about sensitive and social issues such as “Heal the World”, “Man in the Mirror”, “We Are the World”, “Black and White.”
Michael Jackson evokes pathos by contrasting different scenarios. He shows the Amazon Rainforest, a savanna probably in Africa, a war zone, and a fired forest. He masters very well the presentation of these places that wake up the responsibility about the animal welfare and the health of the Earth. The video shows shocking images such as factories emitting pollution, dolphins caught in fishing nets, baby seals being killed, huge trees being cut down in the rainforest, drought affected barren farmland, and dead elephants with their tusks removed. All of these scenes are very emotional and demonstrates the destruction that human beings are causing to our planet.
Moreover, Jackson uses logos by presenting the truth through images. For example: the Amazon Rainforest is being destroyed, wars are still present, illegal hunting is causing atrocities and even the progressive extinction of many species, and others.
"Earth Song" 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...
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 apathy
(What about us)
I need you
(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
