Since its creation, music has been used as a tool to invoke emotion, express feeling and spark discussions on topical issues in the world around us. Many artists over the last few decades have often used their music to offer insight or dialogue on a range of social or political issues — everything from racism to the patriarchy to poverty. Another topic often found in popular music is commentary on environmental issues.
Whether it’s animal rights, global warming or pollution, many musical artists have used their platform to speak out on serious environmental concerns over the years. In light of Earth Day 2025, we’ve chosen a few standout songs that focus on the environment and ring true now more than ever.
“Don’t Go Near The Water” – The Beach Boys
Featured on the band’s 1971 hit album Surf’s Up, “Don’t Go Near The Water” is just as relevant now as it was over 50 years ago. While The Beach Boys were known for their upbeat artistry focusing on surfing and fun under the sun, the band decided to take a different stance on this track, writing a song about avoiding the water in order to protect it.
As Beach Boys vocalist Mike Love sings, “Oceans, rivers, lakes and streams / Have all been touched by man / The poison floating out to sea / Now threatens life on land,” listeners are made aware of how humans are ruining the beautiful environment around them.
“Wake Up America” – Miley Cyrus
Featured on her 2008 sophomore album Breakout, pop sensation Miley Cyrus sings from the point of view of one of the young voices being affected by climate change. The song sonically registers as a typical Y2K teen pop track, but the lyrics “Everything you do matters in some way / I know that you don’t wanna hear it / Especially coming from someone so young,” still make the song resonate today — perhaps even stronger in 2025 than 2008. With Gen Z being one of today’s most politically vocal age groups, a song about younger generations advocating for environmental awareness remains timeless.
“Skies of L.A.” – Celine Dion
Canadian pop singer Celine Dion took to “Skies of L.A.” to write a song about air pollution. Included on the artist’s 2007 album Taking Chances, Dion sings that her future lies in the skies of L.A., and the pollution of the world around her makes her feel unsure about the days ahead. Combining her distinctive, angelic voice with soft piano, “Skies of L.A.” is a highly emotive number about an issue that is still prominent today.
“Big Yellow Taxi” – Joni Mitchell
Folk legend Joni Mitchell wrote “Big Yellow Taxi” about how cities destroy the paradise of nature around us. In a 1996 interview with Robert Hilburn, Mitchell explains how she wrote the song after her first trip to Hawaii:
“I took a taxi to the hotel and when I woke up the next morning, I threw back the curtains and saw these beautiful green mountains in the distance,” she says. “Then, I looked down and there was a parking lot as far as the eye could see, and it broke my heart…this blight on paradise. That’s when I sat down and wrote the song.”
The track was originally released in 1970 as a single ahead of her album Ladies Of The Canyon. The song has since been covered famously by The Counting Crows and Vanessa Carlton.
“Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)” – Marvin Gaye
“Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)” was the second single to come ahead of Marvin Gaye’s legendary album What’s Going On. The album’s lead single, the title track, was critically acclaimed at the time of its success, arriving ahead of a concept album which holds a legacy for commenting on several ecological issues way before the U.S. was publicly voicing concern for them.
Written from the point of view of a Vietnam War veteran returning home and finding his home country in a state of struggle and hatred, “Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)” topped the charts upon release and is now one of Gaye’s most famous songs. Today, the song is regarded as one of the greatest songs providing commentary on the environment.
“Hands All Over” – Soundgarden
The second single to come ahead of the rock group’s 1989 sophomore album Louder Than Love, “Hands All Over” serves as a grungy, noise-infused track that has remained timeless since its inception. With Chris Cornell’s signature poetic lyrics overlaying a punchy string groove, “Hands All Over” is a bold discussion on how humans destroy the world around them.
“It’s just sort of an environmental thing,” Cornell says of the lyrics. “Not strictly environmental, but mostly. It’s basically about how we humans tend to screw up everything that’s good enough as it is…or everything that we’re attracted to, we love to go and defile it.”
The song’s unrelenting sonic force is in itself a deep message, reflecting the unapologetic destruction mankind instills upon the environment.
“all the good girls go to hell” – Billie Eilish
One of the most standout songwriters and artists from our generation, Billie Eilish released “all the good girls go to hell” as the sixth single ahead of When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?, her debut full-length record. With lyrics discussing global warming, the song’s music video is equally impactful.
In the video, after Eilish falls into an oil spill, she walks among burning city streets with large, oil-covered wings. A clear allusion to wildlife being harmed by environmental pollution, the song’s video and lyrics serve as an emotive and passionate story about the harm of global warming, and the dangers of not focusing on these issues.
Upon the music video’s release, Eilish encouraged her fans to educate themselves on climate change, notifying fans about the 2019 Climate Action Summit hosted by the UN.
“Earth” – Lil Dicky
In 2019, Lil Dicky released his single “Earth” to spread awareness and raise money for climate change. For the music video, Lil Dicky joined forces with numerous major celebrities, including Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande, Snoop Dog, Kevin Hart, Miley Cyrus, Bad Bunny, Backstreet Boys, Halsey, Leonardo DiCaprio and many more. In all, over 30 different celebrities and musicians were in the studio to record the song. Each celebrity sings from the point of view of a different animal, utilizing Lil Dicky’s signature comedic delivery to raise awareness on a very serious issue.
“Earth Song” – Michael Jackson
Having worked on previous songs like “Man In The Mirror,” “We Are The World” and “Heal The World,” the King of Pop is no stranger to incorporating social commentary and advocacy in his artistry. Topping charts across the world, “Earth Song” was written with deep yet simple lyrics, as Michael Jackson wanted fans around the world to be able to sing it.
Featured on his 1995 album HIStory: Past, Present, and Future Book I, Jackson wrote “Earth Song” to explore topics like environmental pollution and animal welfare. The song’s music video was equally impactful, as it focused on the destruction and rebirth of planet earth.
“What A Wonderful World” – Louis Armstrong
One of the most touching songs ever made, “What A Wonderful World” was written by Bob Thiele and George David Weiss and recorded by Louis Armstrong in 1967. Written during a decade filled with political and social turmoil, “What A Wonderful World” was written to unite people.
Upon release, the song topped U.K. charts but failed to do well in the U.S., as ABC Records president Larry Newton didn’t like the song and chose not to promote it. However, after the song was featured in the 1987 film “Good Morning, Vietnam,” it was rereleased as a single in 1988 and topped the Billboard Hot 100 at 32.
A song that has withstood the test of time, “What A Wonderful World” has always provided hope for generations when facing trying times. Despite the state of our world, Armstrong’s beloved performance reminds listeners to take a look around and see just how wonderful it can be.
