Come Follow Me to the Redwood Tree Lyrics

"Come Follow Me to the Redwood Tree" is a lovely tune with a clear and important message: helping kids connect with the natural world and learn to care for it. Unlike older rhymes, this song was created relatively recently to inspire outdoor exploration and teach children to "tread softly" in nature. Let's explore the history, meaning, and simple power of this song in encouraging a love and respect for the environment.

Come follow, follow, follow, follow, follow, follow me. Come follow, follow, follow, follow, follow, follow me. Come follow, follow, follow, follow, follow, follow me. To the redwood, to the redwood, to the redwood tree.

We'll sing and laugh and dance and play Beneath the shade of the redwood tree. We'll sing and laugh and dance and play Beneath the shade of the redwood tree.

Tread softly, softly, softly, softly, softly, softly here. Tread softly, softly, softly, softly, softly, softly here. Tread softly, softly, softly, softly, softly, softly here. 'Neath the redwood, 'neath the redwood, 'neath the redwood tree.

The Origins and Environmental Message of "Come Follow Me to the Redwood Tree"

"Come Follow Me to the Redwood Tree" is a folk song that emerged from the environmental education movement of the 1960s and 1970s. Also known as "The Redwood Tree Song," "Follow Me to the Redwood," or simply "The Redwood Song," this gentle tune has become a staple in nature-focused children's programs, especially in the western United States, where redwood forests are found.

The song's origin is often attributed to environmental educators working in California's state and national parks. These educators created songs to help children connect with the natural world. The redwood tree—one of the world's tallest and longest-living organisms—serves as a powerful symbol of nature's grandeur and the importance of conservation.

Unlike many traditional children's songs with complicated or obscure histories, "Come Follow Me to the Redwood Tree" has a clear purpose: to instill appreciation for ancient forests and promote respectful behaviour in natural settings. The instruction to "tread softly" directly encourages children to minimize their impact on fragile ecosystems, an early lesson in environmental stewardship.

What it teaches kids

Beyond its environmental message, this song serves multiple educational purposes:

• It introduces children to concepts of forest ecology and the significance of old-growth trees
• The repetitive structure helps develop language skills and memory
• The invitation to "follow" encourages group cohesion and safe hiking practices
• References to "singing," "laughing," "dancing," and "playing" promote a positive association with outdoor experiences

The song is particularly effective when used in outdoor education settings. Many nature programs and forest schools incorporate it into hikes, having children walk in line while singing the "follow" verses, then stopping in a grove for the "sing and laugh" section, and finally moving quietly during the "tread softly" verses as they approach a special destination.

Teachers often expand on the basic song by adding verses about other forest inhabitants or adapting it to local ecosystems (substituting "oak tree," "pine tree," or other regional species when redwoods aren't present). Some versions include additional verses about animals found in forest ecosystems:

Listen, listen, listen, listen, listen, listen now. Listen, listen, listen, listen, listen, listen now. Listen, listen, listen, listen, listen, listen now. To the forest, to the forest, to the forest sounds.

"Come Follow Me to the Redwood Tree" represents a perfect blend of educational content and musical enjoyment, showing how songs can effectively transmit environmental values to young children in a way that encourages both respect for nature and joyful outdoor exploration.

This article was crafted with the assistance of an AI language model. The final content was reviewed and edited by a human and reflects the editorial judgment and expertise of  Today's Parent.