The Ballad of Johnny Appleseed By John Riggio
The Ballad of Johnny Appleseed By John Riggio Music K-8 Vol. 9, No. 1 © 1998 Plank Road Publishing All Rights Reserved- used by permission Power. Point by Camille Page
John Chapman was a real man, and he lived long ago.
He came from Massachusetts, that’s how the story goes.
He wanted to make apples available indeed.
So people started calling him Johnny Appleseed.
Oh, Johnny Appleseed!
Plant your orchards, watch them grow!
Johnny Appleseed! Planting as you go!
Now Johnny was in Warren, a Pennsylvania town.
He knelt down by a river and planted seeds deep down.
He planted in Ohio, and in Kentucky, too.
He came to Indiana and planted seeds there, too.
Oh, Johnny Appleseed!
Plant your orchards, watch them grow!
Johnny Appleseed! Planting as you go!
America was new then, with settlers moving west.
So Johnny planted orchards, so they would have the best.
Those apples could make cider, or tasty apple pie,
Or even apple butter for everyone to buy.
Oh, Johnny Appleseed!
Plant your orchards, watch them grow!
Johnny Appleseed! Planting as you go!
Now John would walk barefooted across many a mile.
He helped the pioneers out, who thanked him with a smile.
Most everybody loved him, including Indians.
He gave them seeds and herbs which they used as medicines.
Oh, Johnny Appleseed!
Plant your orchards, watch them grow!
Johnny Appleseed! Planting as you go!
He had a strange appearance, or so the legend says.
His clothes were often baggy, a pot upon his head.
He did not carry weapons; he did not feel the need.
Instead he carried only a bag of apple seeds.
Oh, Johnny Appleseed!
Plant your orchards, watch them grow!
Johnny Appleseed! Planting as you go!
Well, Johnny never stayed long in any single place.
He traveled through the frontier in search of open space
Where he could plant his apples and roam the country free.
He rests in Indiana, but left his legacy.
Oh, Johnny Appleseed!
Plant your orchards, watch them grow!
Johnny Appleseed! Planting as you go!
Oh, Johnny Appleseed!
Plant your orchards, watch them grow!
Johnny Appleseed! Planting as you go!
That’s all!
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