Blog #10 Austin Justice

The song, "Only Human," by my favorite musician and American singer-songwriter Jason Mraz, is able to effectively portray the problems plaguing common culture and mainstream society. Although it doesn't blend natural sounds into its soundscape, it definitely summarizes the issue of conserving and preserving the natural environment. The song makes a statement about the nature of humanity and how life is an uphill battle to better ourselves and to improve the ways by which we operate. As common culture and mainstream society continues to gravitate towards modernity, instead of reverting to customs and tradition, humanity has lost sight on the sheer significance of conserving and preserving the world in which we live. The sense of the sacred is absent from our hearts, minds and souls. Indeed, how can we learn to place parameters upon the appropriate aesthetic appreciation of nature if it doesn’t exist? We must take a step back, breathe and relax. We must conserve and preserve natural environments across the globe, before it is too late. I've taken the time to type out the lyrics below: "A squirrel in the tree is he watching me Does he give a damn? Does he care who I am? I'm just a man, is that all I am Are my manners misinterpreted words or only human? I'm human Murderous crow, hey what you know What you reading about, what you hold in your toes Is that a twig, are you a dove of peace A black dove undercover, with another puzzle piece Are you a riddle to solve all along? Or am I over thinking thoughts of human after all Only human Made of flesh, made of sand, made of human The planet's talking about a revolution The natural laws ain't got no constitution They've got a right to live their own life But we keep paving over paradise 'Cause we're only human Yes we are, only human If it's our only excuse do you think we'll keep on being only human Yes we are, yes we are Only human, only human, only human So far: Up in the major's tree, the one he planted back when he was just a boy Back in 1923 Thirty meters and a foot, take a look, take a climb What you'll find is the product of a seed The seed is sown, all alone It grows above, with a heart of love Sharp and shelter of the animals of land and cold weather breathing We're all breathing in The planet's talking about a revolution The natural laws ain't got no constitution They've got a right to live their own life But we keep paving over paradise 'Cause we're only human Yes we are, only human If it's our only excuse do you think we'll keep on being only human Yes we are, only human, only human, so far, so far And this place it will outlive me Before I get to heaven I'll climb that tree And I will have to give my thanks For giving me the branch to swing on If I ever fall in love I'll have to give myself a baby I will let my children have their way 'Cause we're only human, yes we are Only human, so far, so far"