Songwriters mainly write about other people. Our relationships–both good and bad–are the main points of contention in our lives, and so, naturally, they end up in our songs. However, some songwriters step outside of themselves and others to see an even bigger picture: nature. Below, find four songs that perfectly capture America’s natural beauty.
Videos by American Songwriter
“Carolina in My Mind” (James Taylor)
Everyone has somewhere they like to escape to in their mind. For many, it’s a picturesque nature scene that soothes their troubles. That’s the case for James Taylor. He details his inner sanctuary in “Carolina in My Mind.” Can’t you see the sunshine? / Now can’t you just feel the moonshine, he asks the listener in this evocative song about nature.
We might not all relate to the Carolinas in the same way as Taylor, but we all know the yearning feeling for a place. Moreover, this song makes us want to make the trek to the East Coast to see the rich natural beauty Taylor describes for ourselves.
“Rocky Mountain High” (John Denver)
Of course, we couldn’t make this list without including something from John Denver. No artist has been able to capture nature in the same way he did in his songs. He has many tracks that would be a shoo-in here, but we’ve chosen to highlight “Rocky Mountain High.”
He climbed cathedral mountains, he saw silver clouds below / He saw everything as far as you can see, he sings in the third verse. Beautiful imagery that somehow pales in comparison to the real thing.
[RELATED: Did You Know John Denver Nearly Took Part in the Challenger Space Shuttle Mission?]
“My Tennessee Mountain Home” (Dolly Parton)
Moving down south, our next entry on this list of songs that help capture the natural beauty of America is Dolly Parton‘s “My Tennessee Mountain Home.” Parton has never been shy about telling the world where she came from. And why should she be when it’s as beautiful as these lyrics describe? Honeysuckle vine clings to the fence along the lane / Their fragrance makes the summer wind so sweet / And on a distant hilltop, an eagle spreads its wings / And a songbird on a fence post sings a melody, she sings in this song about nature. We can’t imagine a more idyllic scene.
“Windsong” (John Denver)
We had to include a second Denver song…It was inevitable, given his appreciation for nature in his songwriting. “Windsong” is chock-full of powerful portraits. The wind brings the fragrance of freshly mown hay / The wind is the racer and the white stallion running / And the sweet taste of love on a slow summer’s day / The wind knows the songs of cities and canyons, he sings as an ode to the natural forces.
There is no better songwriter if you want a sonic, yet visual feast. Denver knew how to paint with his pen. “Windsong” is a prime example of this.
(Photo by R. Diamond/Getty Images)
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