This is an old song that tells a story. Meredith/Covell/Brown (Folk Songs of Australia, Volume 2, pages 130-131) says that the tune for this song came from "The Evening Stars," a waltz by Joseph Franz Karl Lanner (1801-1843). The author is unknown. The earliest recording was in the early 1920s.

Teach the song by rote. You could divide the class into two groups to tell the two sides of the story. The traditional words have been adapted slightly to avoid the use of the words “smoked his cigar” in a song for elementary school. We substituted the words “ate chocolate bars”.

Use the song to teach or reinforce the 3/4 time signature. You could use this song to teach about simple meter. The term simple means that each of these beats can be broken into two notes. For example, 3/4 is classified as simple triple. The rhythms are reading material, but the melody should be taught by rote. Review how to read first and second endings.

If you transpose the song into the key of G, the song uses only three chords - D, A, and E - so it provides an excellent opportunity to accompany singing with guitars or ukuleles. The ukulele arrangement at MusicplayOnline is transposed to this key.

On the board write the word “Renaissance” and brainstorm with the students to find out what they know about the Renaissance period. Play the song “Come Follow” for the students. Tell them that it is an English song from the Renaissance. Ask them what they think the song was used for.

The original words were written by John Hilton and published in 1652 in his book, "Catch That Catch Can: A Choice Collection of Catches, Rounds, and Canons"

Come follow, follow, follow, follow, follow, follow me.
Whither shall I follow, follow, follow,
Whither shall I follow, follow thee?
To the gallow, to the gallow, to the gallow, gallows tree.

The gallows tree was the tree used to hang criminals. During the Renaissance, justice was harsh. A youth could be hung just for stealing a loaf of bread. This song may have been sung as people would go to the gallows to watch a hanging.

Teach the melody by rote. Students may be able to read most or all of the rhythms. It's a good song to use to teach the dotted 8th-16th note rhythm. When students know the song well try it as a two part round. Later when the students know it really well, try it as a three part round.

Learn about Cinco de Mayo

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Read about "Los Machetes"

This is a dance from Mexico, that we can learn for Cinco de Mayo!

Give each student a pair of rhythm sticks.

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Read and try the dance steps

Copy the movements on the video with the students.