Bow Seat Ocean Awareness 2026
by Anastasia M. (10th G)
From the artist:
In Santa Cruz, the Pacific is my living classroom. Attending school near Natural Bridges State Beach, I have witnessed how the ocean sustains our community through the biodiversity of tide pools and the thousands of monarchs that find safety in our seaside groves. However, the ocean I love is changing. As part of the Monterey Bay coastline, our community is on the front lines of climate change. We see the impacts firsthand through rising sea levels, increased coastal erosion, and the intensifying storms that batter our arches and bluffs. These changes serve as a stark reminder that while the ocean protects us—acting as a buffer for heat and carbon—there is a limit to how much it can absorb before the balance shifts.
This realization led me to the concept of reciprocity–our relationship with the natural world should be a balanced, respectful exchange. As class senator, I organized a beach cleanup to give back to the waters that provide so much. We moved through the sand not as tourists, but as stewards, removing the debris that threatens our home.
To share this story, I chose pop music, a medium I have engaged with through choir and performance for years. Music and dance are a universal language; I believe it can mobilize my peers more effectively than a speech. I rewrote Adele’s “Send My Love,” replacing themes of personal heartbreak with the urgency of coastal conservation. The ocean is our “ancient muse,” inspiring us to find creative solutions to environmental threats. My story is one of many, but it is rooted in the belief that when we protect the ocean, we are ultimately protecting our own joys, hopes, and future.
Video link
(Verse 1)
You were the shield, protecting
You absorb carbon we are emitting, preventing global warming
You stopped the global crises
For the wildlife, for the people
You are our guard, everlasting, you and me, mmm
Took you for granted
(Pre-Chorus)
I’m waking up
I’ve realized
You’re dying
(Chorus)
Send my love to the deep water
Treat her better
We’ve gotta stop choking the seas with oil
We both know it ain’t ours to spoil
Send my love to the deep ocean blue
She gave it all for me and you
Stop the floor from losing color
We both know we can’t go back no more
(Verse 2)
You were too warm when we started
Can’t leave the sea broken hearted now (rising), mmm
We gotta help it out
You were the sink, you were helping
You couldn’t keep up, we are falling down (down), mmm
There’s no other way out
(Pre-Chorus)
I’m waking up
I’ve realized
You’re dying
(Chorus)
Send my love to the deep water
Treat her better
We’ve gotta stop choking the seas with oil
We both know it ain’t ours to spoil
Send my love to the deep ocean blue
She gave it all for me and you
Stop the floor from losing color
We both know we can’t go back no more
(Bridge)
If you’re ready, if you’re ready
If you’re ready, are you ready?
If you’re ready, if you’re ready
We both know there ain’t a place to hide
No, we can’t hide
(Pre-Chorus)
I’m waking up
I’ve realized
You’re dying
(Chorus / Outro)
Send my love to the deep water
Treat her better
To save the tide, to save their lives
We both know there ain’t a place to hide
Send my love to the deep water
Treat her better
To save the tide, to save their lives
We both know there ain’t a place to hide
If you’re dying, I’ll be crying (send my love to the deep water)
If you’re surving, we’ll be thriving (Treat her better)
To save the tide, to save their lives
We both know there ain’t a place to hide
If you’re dying, I’ll be crying (send my love to the deep water)
If you’re surving, we’ll be thriving (Treat her better)
To save the tide, to save their lives
We both know there ain’t a place to hide
