“Big Yellow Taxi” -Joni Mitchell

Climate change activists have been around long before “going green” was a trendy thing to do. Joni Mitchell wrote this sugar-sweet hit back in the 70s, crooning about how humans were degrading all things beautiful and green into parking lots. Deforestation, pesticide use, and global warming are all touched with a wavering, cherubic voice and frenetically strummed guitar.

“The Times They Are A-Changin'” -Bob Dylan

It’s safe to say the Vietnam era brought the greatest volume of political songs in American history. With noted influence from Woody Guthrie, Bob Dylan stands as the poster child for folk music. Though nearly 20 years post-Guthrie, this Dylan classic holds onto stylings of the past with stripped down guitar and chant-like vocals. “The Times” is a call to recognize everything is not as it seems, and change is inevitable—particularly with 1970’s youths, whose rebellious spirit fell disparate with their bootstrap-pulling elders.

“Where Do The Children Play?” -Cat Stevens

In a similar fashion as Joni Mitchell, this song touches on increasing global industrialization in addition to environmental issues, culminating in asking, where do the children play? If we continue to destroy our world in the way we have, Yusuf Islam worries the poor children will have no more green space, no more safe place left for them to play. In the heartwarming fashion Cat Stevens is known for, his full voice adds some much needed sympathy to the song.