The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #13706 Message #4230544
Posted By: GUEST,CJB666
23-Oct-25 - 11:25 AM
Thread Name: Origin: Soon May the Wellerman Come
Subject: RE: Origin: Soon May the Wellerman Come
No-one has yet remarked on the similarity of the Wellerman tune to the theme tune of the Brit kids t.v. programme Follyfoot.
Michael Brown writes "
After its TikTok fame, commentators pointed out that the chorus melody was strikingly like that of “The Lightning Tree”, written as the theme for 1971 UK children’s television series Follyfoot. The series had started screening in New Zealand in July 1971, almost a year prior to the Song of a Young Country anthology coming out.[viii] It was also released as a 7” single. This timing begged the question: had Colquhoun ‘borrowed’ the catchy chorus from “The Lightning Tree”?"
The Settlers, “The Lightning Tree” (1971). Theme song for the series Follyfoot (1971-74). YouTube.