Nature in music

Already since antiquitiy, authors have used nature as a means to express their feelings and emphasize a point they are trying to make.
often the author will use the beauty of flowers as a parable for the beauty or softenss of something, or use an animal known for certain traits as an alegory for something.
sometimes, the author will use a more general natural phenomena like the water cycle or the sheer size of mountains.

The Bible is an example for a source of many of these parallels.
one of the more famous is that of King David in his psalms, where he equates his longing for God to the longing of a deer for water in the desert.

Also, a song might use imagery of a storm to convey feelings of turmoil or a sunset to convey feelings of peace and contentment. Nature can also be used to describe the passage of time, such as the changing of seasons or the passage from youth to old age. Some songs use nature imagery to express longing or longing for a simpler way of life. Some songs use nature as a symbol of freedom and peace. Other songs use nature as a symbol of change and growth, or to reflect on the beauty and mystery of the natural world.

Flow of water and rivers.

the first example that comes to mind is the famous song by elvis presly “can’t help falling in love”.

In this song, Elvis sings about the inevitebility of falling in love.
in this song, elvis sings the line
“like a river flows, surely to the sea, darling so it goes, some things, are meant to be..”

the song as a whole refers to the powerlessness the singer feels and how he hopelessly falls in love with whoever the song is sung to, similar to how the river will always flow to the sea, no matter what we wish to do about it.

In addition, in the song “Blue River” by Elvis Presley, the river serves as a metaphor for the passage of time and the memories of the past. The lyrics describe the river as “blue” which could symbolize sadness or melancholy, as the protagonist remembers the happy moments he had with his former love by the river side. The song describes the protagonist sitting by the river and reflecting on the past, the river serves as a reminder of the time that has passed, the happy moments and the missed opportunities. The lyrics convey the idea of nature as a place for contemplation and reflection, and how the natural elements can evoke strong emotions and memories. The blue color of the river could also be interpreted as the protagonist feeling a sense of longing or sadness when thinking about the past. The river is also used as a metaphor for the passage of time, as it flows, it takes with it the memories of the past, much like the river takes the water downstream.

this leads us to the next song, “By the rivers of Bablylon” by Boney M.
the lyrics of the song are once again taken from scripture.
Here the river is used as a place where people go to grieve about beautiful past memories. And the fact that the river continues flowing emphasizes the time passing by and further illustrates the Longing to return to Jerusalem. Also, Bablyon is used in rastafarian and afro-american culture to represent the oppresive western towards the exiled african slaves, and thus the lyrics recieve another meaning in this context.

Animals in songs

the song “Wild Thing” by The Troggs uses imagery of wild animals in its lyrics to convey feelings of passion and desire. The lyrics use phrases such as “you make my heart sing” and “you make everything groovy” which are metaphors for the feelings of excitement and euphoria that come with being in love. The lyrics also use phrases such as “you move me” and “you’re an animal” which are references to the physical and animalistic aspects of desire and attraction. The lyrics also use the phrase “wild thing” which is a reference to the wild and untamed nature of passion and desire. The lyrics of the song convey the idea that when someone is in love they can become wild and animalistic, the imagery of wild animals is used to convey the idea of passion and desire as something that is natural, powerful and wild. The song uses this imagery to add a sense of excitement and energy to the message of the song, and to make the listener feel the intensity of the emotions described.

another example is “eye of the tiger” by survivor.

this song uses the imagery of a tiger in its lyrics to convey feelings of strength, determination, and power. The lyrics of the song make reference to the fierce and powerful nature of a tiger.

In addition to mammals, songs often also use birds for their metaphors.

οne example is “close to you” by the carpenters.”Close to You” by The Carpenters does make use of birds in the lyrics. The song makes reference to birds in the line “Why do birds suddenly appear, every time, you are near? just like me, they long to be close to you.” The lyrics use the metaphor of birds appearing when the person is near, to convey the idea that this person brings happiness and joy, like birds singing. The lyrics are expressing the idea that the person’s presence is associated with happiness and the natural beauty of birds singing.

“Blackbird” by The Beatles uses the imagery of a blackbird in its lyrics to convey feelings of freedom and longing. The lyrics describe the blackbird singing in the dead of night, and the speaker’s longing to be free like the bird. The blackbird is used as a symbol of freedom and the ability to fly away, and the lyrics convey the speaker’s desire to break free from their current situation and to be able to fly away, like the blackbird. The lyrics also use the metaphor of the wings of the blackbird, to express the idea of longing for freedom and the ability to soar. The imagery of the blackbird is used to convey the idea of longing for something unattainable, and the desire to be free, both physically and emotionally.

“morning has broken” by cat stevens also mentiones the blackbird. referencing to the early morning chirping of the bird in a song that praises the beauty of a new day.

Plants

in addition to flow of water to showcase the passage of time, or the flight of birds to express desire for freedom, songs also make use of the beauty of flowers and plants in their lyrics to convey emotions or tell stories.

“Strawberry Fields Forever” by The Beatles uses strawberry fields to convey feelings of longing for a simpler way of life. The lyrics convey the idea of Strawberry Fields as a place of childhood innocence and simplicity, and the longing for a return to that simpler time. The imagery of strawberry fields is used to convey the idea of a peaceful, idyllic setting, and the longing for a return to a simpler, more natural way of life. The lyrics also convey the idea of Strawberry Fields as a place of refuge, a place where one can escape from the complexities and pressures of the modern world. The imagery of strawberry fields is used to create a sense of longing and nostalgia, and to convey the idea of a simpler, more natural way of life. A feeling one might get when going out to see nature.

“Morning Has Broken” by Cat Stevens uses imagery of morning light and dew on grass to convey feelings of peace and renewal. The lyrics describe the beauty of nature in the morning, with lines such as “Like the first dewfall on the first grass
Praise for the sweetness of the wet garden
Sprung in completeness where His feet pass”. The picture of the morning light shining on the dew on the grass is used to convey the idea of a new beginning, a new day with all it’s new opportunities,together with the beauty and wonder of nature.

Summary

in this book, i have shown that nature is used in various ways in songs from the 20th century, ranging from the comparison of the inevitability of the flow of a river to the sea to the feeling of falling in love, the flow of water a metaphor for time passing to usage of animals like tigers and birds and the beauty and simplicity of flowers that remind us of the simple things in life.

nature has and still is an undying source of inspiration for songwriters.