For Earth Day: "The Onceler" by Solving for X - The Lorax Music Soundtrack Song

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"The Once-ler" was written and performed by Solving for X, an Indianapolis based rock band. The song is based on the children's book written by Dr. Seuss and first published in 1971. This video was adapted from the animated musical television special first aired by CBS on February 14, 1972.

In the story, the Once-ler arrives with his mule and cart and takes in the sights; There are Bar-ba-Loots (resembling bears) that frolic about and eat fruit from the trees, Swomee Swans that fly through the air and sing as they go, and Humming Fish that go swimming about in the ponds and humming as they swim. But the Once-ler is only interested in the beauty of the Truffula Trees. Taking a few samples of the Truffula tree, he decides to set up shop on the spot.

Enamored by these gorgeous trees, the Once-ler chops one down and uses its foliage to knit a "Thneed", an odd-looking but versatile garment that he insists "everyone needs." A strange creature called the Lorax suddenly emerges from the stump and protests, saying that he "speaks for the trees, as the trees have no tongues," but the Once-ler ignores him and, spurred by greed and the success of his first sale, begins a huge Thneed-making business that brings in his whole family, much to the Lorax's distress.

As the Once-ler's small shop grows into a factory and new equipment is being made to keep up with the demand for more Thneeds, signs of damage to the Truffula Forest become evident to the Lorax. The Lorax first complains to the Once-ler that the Truffula trees, being chopped down, were also the food source of the Bar-ba-Loots, who are now facing a terrible food shortage and a disease called "the Crummies because of gas and no food in their tummies." To save them, the Lorax sends them off to find another food source. At first, the Once-ler only shows a little remorse, but still focuses on expanding his business.

Soon, the Once-ler's Thneed-making business has expanded tenfold and now uses delivery trucks to take out the shipments. The Lorax eventually comes back complaining to the Once-ler that the factories are belching out so much "smogulous smoke" that it is giving the Swomee Swans sore throats, leaving them unable to sing. After the Lorax sends them off, he also complains to the Once-ler about his machinery making a goo by-product called "Gluppity Glup" and "Shloppity Shlop," and how it's being dumped into the ponds where the Humming Fish live, leaving them unable to hum and forcing the Lorax to send them away too.

The Once-ler, however, still dismisses the Lorax's pleadings and goes so far as to berate the Lorax for chastising his business practices. The Lorax's complaints, however, unhappily prove to be true just as the last Truffula Tree gets chopped down. With all the trees gone, no more Thneeds can be made, so the Thneed factories close down and the Once-ler's family departs, leaving the Once-ler alone with the Lorax, who, looking back at the Once-ler sadly, picks himself up by the "seat of his pants" and floats away through a hole in the smog, leaving behind only a small pile of rocks with the word "UNLESS" inscribed into them.

The Once-ler alone remains, gazing upon the disintegrating ruins of his factories over the years and contemplating the meaning of this last message, perhaps with a sense of remorse. In the end, the Once-ler gives a boy the very last Truffula seed for him to plant and take care of, potentially regrowing the forest and resulting in the Lorax's return.

About 400 million metric tons of hazardous wastes are generated by the human race each year. The United States alone produces about 250 million metric tons.Americans constitute less than 5% of the world's population, but produce roughly 25% of the world's CO2 and generate approximately 30% of world's waste. In 2007, China has overtaken the United States as the world's biggest producer of CO2,while still far behind based on per capita pollution - ranked 78th among the world's nations.

• Category

  Film & Animation

[Brian Wheat]

You can find the song on iTunes and Amazon. See the links in the description...

[DarkClownJester]

this was a beautiful song, the moral is so true, I am happy to say this song will reach people and the video only makes it better as far as showing the power pollution has a hold on the planet. We have to fight pollution there is no way around UNLESS it is through the cause.

[Brian Wheat]

Thanks so much for the comment.

[InquieteNightshade]

This literally brought tears to my eyes thank you! There is so many things I want to say right now but I can't because I'm so chocked up and speechless...thank you.

[Brian Wheat]

Thanks for the comment.

[John Wolf]

I watched this with tears in my eyes.

It's so beautiful and moving!!!

Recycling=Love

Respect the Earth and all it's creatures for they were made from the love of God.

[Brian Wheat]

Thanks for this comment

[KAM111101]

@TheMarizzca so true..... its sad, actually

we get so wrapped up in our lives..

what about the animals?

"Unless someone like you cares an awful lot, nothing is going to get better.

It's not."

-Dr. Seuss

While we do what we wish, our world fades away

when its gone we'll remember

remember UNLESS

[MrsVegeta1]

i saw the movie today,it was great

[MinecraftMineturtle]

The lyrics left! :O Where are they? Just a glitch or Youtube being a jerk again? -.o

[twistedelf1]

the song is so true

UNLESS

[MinecraftMineturtle]

I LOVE this song so much! :D Thanks for making it, and I hope more people see what's really wrong with our world! :) And p.s., I love singing it! :D

[Alison WRight]

unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. Its not

Dr.seuss

thanks for caring

[TheHawkolf]

Brian, do you know if it would be possible for me to use this song in a music video? It's a beautiful song and I would love to use it.

[Jonathan S]

Brian, if your still responding to comments, please answer me this

wear in the world did you find this?

I would like to purchase this song or album, But I cant find it anywhere!

THANK YOU

[mrtnun7]

The Lorax himself doesn't care about pollution, though. He cares that all the resources being taken are used for useless things. Like Thneeds, they have no real purpose that we NEED.

[chris schroeder]

 polluters suck is what this says.

[Melissa Castro]

This realy makes me feel, back in the day? Warm hearted? I don't know, but its powerful.