Jordan McMahon. Transcendentalism: A musical collage 

Introduction 

     Herein I present musics that share common themes of cultural realism, social progress, deep values, and transcendental ideals. These songs have been especially influential in guiding my life chioces thus far, therefore they are very important to me. Perhaps they can have an impact on you as well.

     Transcendentalists believe that society and its institutions—particularly organized religion and political parties—ultimately corrupt the purity of the individual. They have faith that people are at their best when truly "self-reliant" and independent. It is only from such real individuals that true community could be formed (wikipedia). Famous transcendentalists include Ralph Waldo Emmerson, Henry David Thoreau, Walt Whitman, John Muir, and many more. 

     The Trancendentalism movement largly began in the early 1800's with an essay by Ralph Waldo Emmerson "Nature", and his concept of the "over soul". After Emmerson came John Muir, Henry David Thoreau, Emily Dickenson, and many more in the following years including Walt Whitman. More information can be found here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nature_(essay)

http://transcendentalism-legacy.tamu.edu/authors/emerson/essays/oversoul.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transcendentalism

    It may seem like a stretch to say that this complex theoretical form can be exemplified by songs, but that is the beauty of music, poetry, and lyrics; sometimes they mean many things at once. Just as Whitman heard America singing all those years ago, I now hear my own personal America singing in a way that I want to hear, and I do not think that there is anything inherently wrong with that. 

    The songs to follow then naturally speak out against greed, establishment, institutions, and harken attention back to natural sources of peace and happiness such that we are born with, and find in nature; and that is my hearing of America. 

"Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul"- John Muir