The singers whose lyrics give voice to hope for a sustainable future

Songs have an extraordinary capacity to lift our spirits when we are feeling low as well as giving us the courage to act when our will is weak.

So for those in the sustainability movement, who feel they are powerless to prevent the runaway train of capitalism from hurtling over the proverbial cliff, the selection of inspirational songs below can do the power of good.

We published lyrics yesterday that show the lament of songwriters for all that we are losing through the folly of economic over-development and social strife. If they had you reaching for the bottle, then the songs below should provide a spiritual balm, while also calling people to action, and giving them the fearlessness to make a difference, whatever the forces that are stacked up against them.

These song choices come courtesy of the alumini of the masters programme of business and responsibility at Ashridge Business school. You can listen to them on Spotify. Please add your own song choices in the comments section and tell us why they inspire you.

Let the music begin!

Leonard Cohen – Anthem

The birds they sang
at the break of day
Start again
I heard them say
Don't dwell on what
has passed away
or what is yet to be.
Ah the wars they will
be fought again
The holy dove
She will be caught again
bought and sold
and bought again
the dove is never free.

Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in.

Neil Young – Be the Rain

Save the planet for another day
"attention shoppers, buy with a conscience and save"
Save the planet for another day
"save Alaska! let the caribou stay"
Don't care what the governments say
"they're all bought and paid for anyway"
Save the planet for another day
"hey big oil, what do you say?"

We got a job to do
We got to
Save mother earth

Be the ocean when it meets the sky
"you can make a difference, if you really try"
Be the magic in the northern lights
"six days....six nights"
Be the river as it rolls along
"it has three eyed fish and it's smellin' strong"
Be the rain you remember fallin'
"be the rain, be the rain"

REM – Everybody Hurts

When your day is long
And the night, the night is yours alone
When you're sure you've had enough
Of this life, well hang on

Don't let yourself go
'Cause everybody cries
And everybody hurts sometimes

Elvis Presley – A Little Less Conversation

A little less conversation, a little more action please
All this aggravation ain't satisfactioning me
A little more bite and a little less bark
A little less fight and a little more spark

Rage Against The Machine – Take The Power Back

So called facts are fraud
They want us to allege and pledge
And bow down to their God
Lost the culture, the culture lost
Spun our minds and through time
Ignorance has taken over
Yo, we gotta take the power back!
Bam! Here's the plan
Motherfuck Uncle Sam
Step back, I know who I am
Raise up your ear, I'll drop the style and clear
It's the beats and the lyrics they fear
The rage is relentless
We need a movement with a quickness
You are the witness of change
And to counteract
We gotta take the power back

Talking Heads – (Nothing But) Flowers

From the age of the dinosaurs
Cars have run on gasoline
Where, where have they gone?
Now, it's nothing but flowers

There was a factory
Now there are mountains and rivers
you got it, you got it

We caught a rattlesnake
Now we got something for dinner
we got it, we got it

There was a shopping mall
Now it's all covered with flowers
you've got it, you've got it

This was a Pizza Hut
Now it's all covered with daisies
you got it, you got it

The Turtles – Earth Anthem

And this is but an island in an ocean.
This is our home, third from the sun.
Let it be evergreen.
Let it be evergreen.

And this is but an island in an ocean.
This is our home, third from the sun.
God, keep it evergreen.
To keep it evergreen I would lay my life down.

John Lennon – Imagine

Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world
You, you may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you will join us
And the world will live as one

Bob Marley & The Wailers – One Love / People Get Ready

As it was in the beginning (One love)
So shall it be in the end (One heart), alright
Give thanks and praise to the lord and I will feel alright
Let's get together and feel alright
One more thing

Let's get together to fight this holy armageddon (One love)
So when the man comes there will be no, no doom (One song)
Have pity on those whose chances grove thinner
There ain't no hiding place from the father of creation

The Doors – Waiting For The Sun

At first flash of Eden
We race down to the sea
Standing there on freedom's shore

Waiting for the sun
Waiting for the sun
Waiting for the sun

Can you feel it
Now that Spring has come

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