Dolly Parton's Stand on Climate: Her Legacy, Her Gifts and song "World on Fire"

Like the rest of the world, the OneGreenThing team is heartbroken about the news of the passing of iconic Dolly Parton. She was a force of goodness, kindness, and acceptance. Her songwriting is a gift to humanity and her work for literacy and education in East Tennessee and around the country made an enormous impact on the lives of so many. 

Dolly also took a stand. One of her last songs “World on Fire” was about the climate crisis and how we need to wake up and face it.

As Dolly sings: "Let's show some love. Let's rise above. Let's take a stand. Let's heal the Earth."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QJXsmDBS8k

We are running out of time. 

Stand up for kindness and decency and what is right. Her memory will continue to grace us all. 

Lyrics to “World on Fire” are here: 

Oh-oh

Liar, liar, the world's on fire

What you gonna do when it all burns down?

Fire, fire, burnin' higher

Still got time to turn it all around

Now, I ain't one for speakin' out much

But that don't mean I don't stay in touch

Everybody's trippin' over this or that

What we gonna do when we all fall flat?

Liar, liar, the world's on fire

What we gonna do when it all burns down?

I don't know what to think about us

When did we lose "In God we trust?"

God almighty, what we gonna do?

If God ain't listenin' and we're deaf too

Liar, liar, the world's on fire

What you gonna do when it all burns down?

Fire, fire, burnin' higher

Still got time to turn it all around

Don't get me started on politics

Now how are we to live in a world like this?

Greedy politicians, present and past

They wouldn't know the truth if it bit 'em in the ass

(What you gonna do?) Now tell me, what is truth?

(What you gonna do?) Have we all lost sight

(What you gonna do?) Of common decency?

(What you gonna do?) Of wrong and right?

How do we heal this great divide?

Do we care enough to try?

But liar, liar, the world's on fire

What we gonna do when it all burns down?

Billy got a gun, Joey got a knife

Janie got a sign to carry in the fight

Marchin' in the streets with sticks and stones

Don't you ever believe words don't break bones

Oh, can't we rise above?

Can't we show some love?

Do we just give up or make a change?

We know all too well

We've all been through hell

Time to break the spell in Heaven's name

(Liar, liar, the world's on fire

Whatcha gonna do when it all burns down

Liar, liar, the world's on fire

Whatcha gonna do when it all burns down)

Show some love

(Liar, liar, the world's on fire

Still got time to turn it all around)

Let's rise above

(Liar, liar, the world's on fire

Whatcha gonna do when it all burns down)

Let's make a stand

(Liar, liar, the world's on fire

Whatcha gonna do when it all burns down)

Let's lend a hand

(Liar, liar, the world's on fire

Still got time to turn it all around)

Let's heal the hurt

(Liar, Liar, the world's on fire

Whatcha gonna do when it all burns down)

Let kindness work

(Liar, liar, the world's on fire

Whatcha gonna do when it all burns down)

Let's be a friend

(Liar, liar, the world's on fire

Whatcha gonna do when it all burns down)

Let hatred end

(Liar, liar, the world's on fire

Whatcha gonna do)

Liar, liar, the world's on fire

Whatcha gonna do when it all burns down

Liar, liar, the world's on fire

Whatcha gonna do when it all burns down

Yes, Dolly, it's time to break the spell in Heaven's name.

Our future loved ones are counting on us.

We are the ones we've been waiting for. Thank you for your life of empathy, kindness, grit, and courage.