From the recordings Macro2Micro, Jim Ocean's "Poetic Science" Sampler, and Songs for Mother Earth
Dedicated to scientist James Lovelock and the Gaia hypothesis, this folk ballad explores both his predictions of population collapse and the human tendency to deny evidence and "kill the messenger".
Lyrics
The Lovelock Dilemma
© Jim Ocean
What are we gonna do about James Lovelock?
He says that the earth is alive
He says that the earth is gonna weed us
He says that the earth will survive us…
Should we burn his books
Put a gag in his mouth
Tie him up like a crook
Send him way down south
Put him out on the ice
As it’s melting away
Melting away…
What are we gonna do about James Lovelock?
He says that the earth will abide
He says that the earth is gonna bleed us
He says that the earth will do just fine
Without us…
Should we call him a name
Should we call him a flake
Take a match and a flame
Say he’s made a mistake
Galileo was jailed
And nearly burned at the stake
Say you’ve made a mistake
Oh James….
Oh Gaia!
Oh Gaia!
What are we gonna do about James Lovelock?
He says that the earth is alive
He says that the earth…
He says that the earth is alive.