This week’s Listening Lyrics tries to do the nearly impossible: squeeze an entire busy week into one music format without needing a permit from the city of New York.

First, we celebrate Independence Day, with all the red-white-and-blue spirit, and the annual reminder that someone, somewhere, is about to overcook a hot dog. Then summer festivities kick fully into gear, bringing sunshine, long evenings, outdoor music, and that wonderful seasonal feeling of asking, “Is it hot enough for you?” even though everyone already knows the answer.

And finally, because this week apparently did not have enough going on, we climb all the way to the top of the Empire State Building for a proposal high above New York City. Romance, skyline, music, and maybe just a little fear of heights — what more could a show need?

Join us for a week of songs that celebrate summer, freedom, love, and the kind of big moments that deserve a soundtrack.

Today’s topics: blueberries, holey leaves, bamboo, cherry crop failure, four o’clocks, rats and squirrels.