How many times can we go to the store
With apologies to Bob Dylan. Couldn't resist.
And forget bags of cloth like we’d planned?
How many plasticized things can we buy,
Use them once, and then never again?
Yes, and how many years will it take ‘til the laws
Say that single-use plastics are banned?
The answers my friend may all be found within,
The plastic is blowin’ in the wind.
How many years will the plastic persist,
And then wash away to the sea?
How will the fish and the birds still exist
When poisoned and damaged they be?
Yes, and how many times can we all turn our heads
And pretend that we just didn’t see?
The answers must come; humanity has sinned,
The plastic is blowin’ in the wind.
How many times will it take ‘til we hear
Our children and grandchildren cry?
How can we live with ourselves if we know
That really, we just didn’t try?
Yes, and how many deaths will it take ‘til we know
That too many species have died?
Just love mother earth, it’s time now to begin,
The plastic is blowin’ in the wind.
Khati Hendry
Brava Khati, and bravo to the more-and-more stores that are no longer bagging our purchases in those deadly plastic bags.
It has certainly taken us too long to learn!
Times they are a-changing. Or so we hope, for the better.
Perfect use (reuse?) of the great Dylan song to make the point about getting rid of plastic bags (as my city has done – they are outlawed in Newton; I forgot to mention that, except in my comment to Dana). We are doing our part. Now everyone must, so we don’t strangle our planet.
Hooray for Newton! Every step forward helps.
This is awesome, Khati, and sadly true. During the pandemic we got into bad habits, and I need to bring out my cloth bags. Most towns in the Bay Area banned plastic before COVID and are returning to “normal” practices. It’s a start …
Bay Area has had some excellent recycling programs, and good to hear that is is getting back on track after COVID detours. All the takeout food people have been ordering during the pandemic is often supplied in styrofoam, plastic containers, with plastic utensils, plastic straws and plastic bags–and it doesn’t have to be that way.
This is brilliant, Khati. You have perfectly “recycled” (if you will) Dylan’s song title to apply to one of our greatest ecological scourges. And your lyrics are equally spot on.
And, most important, is your dire message. Please continue to sing it out.
Ha Ha, good point re: recycling the song. I haven’t sung it out loud yet. We are building a repertoire in this group though. We can put it on the list.
Well done, Khati. FYI, New York State bans any store that collects sales tax (i.e. all of them) from using single use plastic bags.
So great to hear of all the places that already have single use plastic bans in place. May the force continue.
I sang the whole song out loud, Khati, it works perfectly! Maybe you should contact Dylan for permission to release it publicly. I can see it being sung around campfires everywhere. . . .
Single use plastic bags are banned in Sacramento too, except for those really thin ones that you put fruit or vegetables in. I guess they haven’t figured out what they could use to replace those. After bringing them home from the grocery story, I recycle them by using them for my cat’s waste products when I clean the litter box, so at least they aren’t blowing in the wind.
I admit I use them to pick up the dog poop too. And there is a place that will accept the bags back for some type of recycling–just have to collect and bring them in. So I end up with a closet full of stuff that needs to move on. I think there is a ban on the bags that will come into effect here, but not there yet. Still have to work on all the other plastic. It drives me crazy to work in the vaccination clinic and discard vast amounts of syringes, plastic safety tops, plastic packaging, plastic vials, face shields, and masks.
Love how you co-opted this song; great in its original intent as well as in yours. Thanks for sharing!
Don’t think twice, it’s alright. It fairly wrote itself 😀
Khati, A wonderful adaption! Your lyrics keep the scan AND the spirit of the tune. Please record this with voice and guitar! Conversely, you may have prompted me to bare my long-lost musical chops (my calluses have melted) and try myself.
But of course. I gave up my guitar years ago, so will have to borrow one or see if the piano will do the trick.or maybe you can record it 😀