Monarch Butterfly Song

This song, words and music or by John Lucas Miller. The monarch butterfly has a special place in the hearts of millions of Americans and is celebrated in numerous festivals year round.

The monarch butterfly is a marvel because it travels thousands of miles form Canada and northern America to Mexico and back every year.

The migration of the monarch butterfly is one of the most amazing sights in the world.

Monarch Butterfly Song

I used to be a caterpillar, just a little-bitty caterpillar
Just a-chewing on a milkweed stem
You know I couldn’t fly back then
But I began a metamorphosis
First I wrapped myself inside my chrysalis
I grew and I changed inside
Then I turned into a Monarch butterfly

Chorus:
Before it gets cold
And it starts to snow
I’m gonna go, I’m gonna go down to Mexico
Well, I’m gonna fly, fly, fly / Fly, fly, fly
I’m gonna fly, fly, fly down to Mexico

I turned into a butterfly
Late this summertime
I spent these nice, warm days
Way up in the north United States
Just a-sticking out my long, long tongue
Tasting flowers in the sun
But winter is on the way
It’s gonna get too cold to play

Chorus

So when you see this butterfly
You see this butterfly flutter by
Blow a little kiss and wave
Wish me luck along the way
Because I’ve got so far to go
All the way to the mountains of Mexico
Winters aren’t so cold down there
I’ll be back when spring is in the air!

Chorus

I’m gonna go, I’m gonna go, I’m gonna go, yeah I’m gonna go
I’m gonna go, go, go, go down to Mexico!

Monarch Butterfly

The monarch butterfly is being endangered because the food source for the monarch caterpillars is being destroyed.

Monarch caterpillars feed on milkweed, and milkweed is being killed at very efficient rates through the use of herbicides used to protect GMO crops like soybean and corn.

The crops are genetically engineered to be resistant to the herbicides they are heavily treated with. The herbicides not only kill milkweed in the immediately surrounding area, but water runoff affects neighboring soil, and the wind carries the pesticides far distances.

This has resulted in minimizing the feeding grounds for the monarch caterpillars and large areas of milkweed are needed because monarch caterpillars are voracious eaters.

The monarch number has been on the decline for the past 15 years in the U.S.