Heroes
Augusta, GA
2020, Senior, Performing Arts
Verse 1
Turn up if you like to breathe
Recipe to save the seven seas
Earth’s home. All 2020 quarantine
No keys. Can’t leave, but we can keep it clean
Bored in the house and
You in the house bored
The ocean calling
Girl don’t press ignore
It’s a show.
Climate change
At the door
Greenhouse gas
From the floor to the shore
Sea levels rising
People denying
Atlanta. Atlantis
Not covered. Verizon
No Aquaman or Poseidon
Chewed up
Spit out three times like Trident
I’m by the Atlantic
And you’re by the Pacific
Oceans connect us
But let’s be specific
You pump half of our O2
Yeah, we owe you
CO2 in the soul too
Gives the blues
With weather and climate
Sandy. Katrina.
The oceans behind it
I’m not trippin’
Facts not fiction
Oceans in the lungs,
Pockets, and kitchens
Glazing our glaciers
Need more inhalers
They buy on credit
We pay interest later
Another hottest year
Incredible like Frozone
Avenge our planet
Climate change go home
Whip up
lower carbon meals
Turn down the AC
And up the Green New Deal
You afraid, you betta
Off the hook, won’t let ‘em
People want money
Yeah, they only want the feta
I’m seventeen like Greta
Callin’ and writing letters
Call me AOC
I’m federally fed up
With disposables
Cut it out and cut costs
Go green, plant trees
Trending on Tik Tok
Cut fossil fuels
Cut back on plastic
Stretch out your food
Mr. Fantastic
By 2050 we gotta reach net zero
Now put on your mask
‘Cause we all
Need to be heroes
Chorus 1
Look at what we’ve done
From sea to rising sea
We’re hurting our home
And won’t stop ‘til we
Can’t breathe
We’re all scared
But not alone
Just take my hand
And we’ll all be heroes
Verse 2
Won’t fall back
Congress give a call back
Scientists to referees
70s they called that
Companies we saw that
Gen Z can solve that
So don’t ask what’s the big deal
About drawback
Y’all want beef
But we need coral reefs
Get out of the kitchen
Can’t stand the heat
Don’t know what to fear
Pollution or the police
But nobody’s free
If one of us can’t breathe
They think low carbs
We think low carbon
They think its costly
To me, it’s a bargain
Y’all thinking diet
I’m thinking riot
I’m an X-Men
Storm ‘bout to fly in
Trying to stop
species from dying
As they choke on plastics
‘Cause we keep buying
As gas keep pumping
Driving, drying, and flying
It won’t stop
‘Til California is an island
Invest, protect
Carbon sinks
Less trash, quick fast
Like the Flash in a blink
These chickens politicking
Only wanna bread
All I know imma do
What the science said
Clean it up clean it up
In the water to da air
Clean it all up everywhere
Save the oceans
And coral reefs
Ice on top and underneath
Thousands of homes
Soon underwater
Ocean guardian
Call me Groot and Gamora
Phytoplankton
Being scorched
More than four
Hotter than the human torch
Sea levels high
like unemployment
Our oceans give life
But humans exploit it
We have power
To Peter park our cars
Carpool, not Deadpool
Walking’s not that hard
Deceived
By big companies
Served as guardians
Call that Lo-Ki
A manmade problem
Women solve
Educate more girls
No cape involved
No spandex
Do need thanks and ranks
Now I’m the captain
Fat cats walk the plank
Forgive mistakes
Not too late
To create
A future our children won’t hate
It’s up to us
To beat this crisis
Like a Lysol wipe
Meets Coronavirus
We do have powers
But we don’t need magic
Protest for the laws
Imma need y’all to pass it.
This will end.
Change is more than a trend
It’s you and me
Enemies and friends
By 2050 gotta reach net zero
Now put on your mask
‘Cause we all
‘bout to be heroes
Chorus 2
Look at what we’ve done
From sea to rising sea
We’re hurting our home
And won’t stop ‘til we
Can’t breathe
We’re all scared
But not alone
Just take my hand
And we’ll all be heroes
Look at what we’ve done
From sea to rising sea
We’re hurting our home
And won’t stop ‘til we
Can’t breathe
We’re all scared
But not alone
Just take my hand
And we’ll all be heroes
Reflection
Reflection
The climate crisis has left people in fear, destruction, and despair in every corner of the world. Although the compounding effects of climate change have been ravaging areas for decades, gigantic action must be taken immediately for humanity to survive the monster we created. It was clear that I had to center my work on a concept that has given me endless courage my whole life: heroism. With a combination of incredible power and unmatched bravery, fictional heroes always arrive when needed. While researching the climate crisis’ effects on oceans, I realized that many of earth’s destructive events including rising temperatures, melting glaciers, and natural disasters were not as “natural” as I thought, but in fact heavily influenced by humans. Overwhelmed by apocalyptic science articles and news reports, I longed for a larger-than-life being in a mask and cape to use his/her powers to swoop in and “save the day.” Though unrealistic, the courage, strength, and upbeat energy of popular heroes inspired every word of my creation. The thousands of youth protesting for our future and our planet’s in 2019 gave me hope and the power to enlist in this fight. I will continue this work by advocating for legislation, promoting climate studies in schools, and investing in clean energy and potential solutions. I leave you all with this message: we are in for the battles of our lives. We are the heroes who will save generations to come, and heroes must fight together.