All images are my own.
What if the Ohio Department of Natural Resources produced songs to encourage sustainable behavior?
“One Earth, One Chance” (FT. Dan + Shay)
Verse 1:
It’s a sunrise over fields of green,
A river running wild and clean,
The kind of beauty you can’t ignore,
But we’ve been taking, always wanting more.
There’s a breath of fresh air in every breeze,
A home for the birds in the tallest trees,
But we’ve gotta hold on, gotta take a stand,
Together we can make this last hand in hand.
Pre-Chorus:
Every moment we’ve got is a gift, don’t you see?
Let’s make sure the world stays wild and free.
Chorus:
It’s one Earth, one chance, let’s make it right,
We’ve got a future shining in our sights.
So plant the seeds, let’s watch them grow,
Together we can make the whole world glow.
It’s our time to give back, take a stand,
One Earth, one heart, in our hands.
Yeah, one Earth, one chance, for you and me,
Let’s keep it beautiful, wild, and free.
Verse 2:
There’s a hope we hold deep in our hearts,
For little hands to take our parts.
We dream of the day they’ll run and play,
In fields that haven’t faded away.
Will they climb the trees we used to know,
Chase the fireflies in twilight’s glow?
We’ve got to protect it for the kids we’ll meet,
So they can grow up with the earth beneath their feet.
Pre-Chorus:
Every moment we’ve got is a gift, don’t you see?
Let’s make sure the world stays wild and free.
Chorus:
It’s one Earth, one chance, let’s make it right,
We’ve got a future shining in our sights.
So plant the seeds, let’s watch them grow,
Together we can make the whole world glow.
It’s our time to give back, take a stand,
One Earth, one heart, in our hands.
Yeah, one Earth, one chance, for you and me,
Let’s keep it beautiful, wild, and free.
Bridge:
Every sunrise, every sunset,
Is a chance we haven’t lost yet.
For the ones who’ll follow, the ones we’ll know,
Let’s make sure this world keeps shining bright.
Chorus:
It’s one Earth, one chance, let’s make it right,
We’ve got a future shining in our sights.
So plant the seeds, let’s watch them grow,
Together we can make the whole world glow.
It’s our time to give back, take a stand,
One Earth, one heart, in our hands.
Yeah, one Earth, one chance, for you and me,
Let’s keep it beautiful, wild, and free.
Outro:
One Earth, one chance, we’ll see it through,
For the kids and the dreams we’re holding onto.
(OpenAI, 2024b)
This design conjecture proposes that ODNR produce music with local and popular music artists to reach audiences across Ohio. In this example, I image that “Odie” (an alias for ODNR producers) collaborates with artists such as Dan + Shay and Old Dominion to produce songs that might connect with conservative perspectives that are often not included in sustainability conversations. An album like this reminds people about the importance of engaging with the land in sustainable ways without the baggage of political movements, divisive conversations, etc. It is the kind of album that anyone may relate to, especially those who dream of a future where their land remains healthy and can support future generations.
Is this idea perfect? No. Are there stereotypes at play? Yeah. However, Dan + Shay are a hugely popular band, and as an occasional listener of their music I get the appeal. When I drive through rural Ohio with my windows down and Dan + Shay on the radio, part of me wants to live that life. These dreams about living a slow life off the land are highly related to sustainability and an album like this could help strengthen that connection that is usually overlooked. For example, farmers rotate crops to keep the soil fertile and reduce erosion, and this album could show people that such behavior is already one part of acting sustainably.
Also the revenue from this album could pay for more sustainable management solutions in the parks, like compost processing!
References
- OpenAI. (2024, September 16). Generate a hypothetical tracklist for Old Dominion
[prompt]. In ChatGPT. https://chatgpt.com/c/
66e843f4-4f54-8001-90ab-c74e04db5a8a - OpenAI. (2024, September 16). Write a song with dan and shay vibes that
encourages people to care for their environment. Edit this song to include
a scene about parents hoping to watch future kids grow up in a healthy
environment. [prompt]. In ChatGPT. https://chatgpt.com/c/
66e843f4-4f54-8001-90ab-c74e04db5a8a
