Tread Lightly

“This song was born from the wisdom of the Amazon, from the people who have taught me that true poverty is not emptiness, but freedom. I have seen how the thirst for wealth destroys forests, displaces families, and poisons the earth. But I have also seen another way—a way of balance, of taking only what is needed, of walking gently upon this world so that others may walk after us. The vow of poverty, for me, is not just a personal choice; it is a responsibility to protect what God has given us. It is an act of love, of humility, of care. This song is my prayer for our common home. May it remind us all to tread lightly, to live simply, and to cherish the beauty entrusted to us.” Padre Paulo, S. J.

The River’s Whisper: When Padre Paulo Wrote "Tread Lightly"

The Amazon had been Padre Paulo’s classroom long before he ever preached his first homily. The trees, older than empires, stood as silent witnesses to the world’s passing ages. The river, vast and winding, carried both life and stories. And the people—indigenous communities who had lived in harmony with this land for generations—taught him what no book ever could: that true wealth was found in balance, in taking only what was needed, and in giving back more than one took.

One evening, as he traveled down the river by canoe, the sky painted itself in brilliant streaks of orange and violet. He was returning from a village where he had spent the day with a small community struggling against illegal deforestation. The people had shared their fears—the trees disappearing, the rivers drying, the soil turning barren where once there had been abundance. An elder, João, had taken Padre Paulo’s hands in his own weathered ones and said, “Those who walk heavily upon the earth leave wounds behind. But those who tread lightly allow life to grow.”

Those words sat in his heart like a seed.

Later that night, as he sat outside his small mission house, the sounds of the jungle enveloped him. Crickets hummed, frogs croaked, and the river whispered as it moved through the darkness. He picked up his guitar and played a soft, steady rhythm—like footsteps on the earth, gentle and unhurried. The words came slowly at first, then all at once, flowing as naturally as the river itself:

“The river sings, the trees stand tall,

The earth was made to bless us all.

But hands take more, and hearts grow blind,

Forgetting all that’s left behind.”

He thought about the greed he had seen—companies bulldozing sacred land, rivers poisoned in the pursuit of profit. But he also thought of the people who resisted, who chose simplicity, who understood that living with less was not loss, but freedom. He wrote for them, for the earth, for the God who had created all of this beauty not for a privileged few, but for everyone.

As he finished the chorus, he felt something stir deep within him. This song was not just a reflection—it was a prayer, a call, a reminder. He would teach it to the children in the villages, to the farmers he worked with, to anyone willing to listen. And maybe, just maybe, it would help others see that poverty, when chosen as a way of life, was not deprivation but harmony.

He played the song one last time that night, letting the music blend with the rustling leaves and flowing waters. Somewhere in the darkness, a night bird called out, as if answering him. He smiled.

The forest had heard his song.

A Song of Sacred Responsibility: How the Community Embraces "Tread Lightly"

“Tread Lightly” by Padre Paulo is more than just a song—it is a call to awareness, a plea for reverence, and a melody woven with the wisdom of the earth. In Jesuit communities, among indigenous peoples, and in movements dedicated to environmental justice, this song has taken root as an anthem of stewardship and humility.

For those who live and work in the Amazon, Tread Lightly is not just poetic reflection; it is a lived reality. The Jesuits serving among indigenous communities can sing it alongside those who have long understood that the earth is not to be possessed but cared for. The song echoes their worldview—one that sees nature as a gift, not a resource to be exploited. When the refrain, “Tread lightly, live simply, take only what is given,” rises in song, it is more than just words; it is a philosophy of life.

Among Jesuits and laypeople involved in environmental advocacy, the song becomes a powerful symbol of their mission. It is ideal for singing at ecological retreats, in moments of prayer before reforestation efforts, or as part of Laudato Si’ gatherings, where faith communities commit to caring for our common home. The lyrics, “Be a guardian, not a master, for all is sacred,” resonate deeply with those fighting against deforestation, climate change, and the destruction of vulnerable communities.

For young Jesuits in formation, the song offers a different kind of challenge. It asks them to examine not only how they care for the environment, but how they live their vow of poverty in relation to the earth. The bridge—“The earth is not ours to own, but to love, a gift to share”—reminds them that poverty is not just about personal renunciation, but about living in a way that does not consume beyond necessity. In this way, Tread Lightly expands the understanding of the vow, showing that simplicity is not just about giving up wealth, but about living in harmony with creation.

Beyond Jesuit circles, the song is at home in communities that rely on the land for survival. Farmers, fishermen, and rural workers, many of whom have felt the devastating effects of environmental degradation, relate to its message on a personal level. For them, Tread Lightly is not just an invitation, but an urgent call to preserve what is already disappearing.

At gatherings where the song is sung, it is not uncommon for people to close their eyes, to listen, to let the melody sink in. Some sing it softly, almost as if whispering a prayer to the earth itself. Others sing it boldly, as a statement of resistance against those who exploit without care. However it is sung, the message remains the same: the earth is a gift, and how we walk upon it matters.

In a world that often measures progress by how much we take, Tread Lightly reminds us that true wisdom lies in how gently we walk. And as long as there are voices willing to sing it, there will be hearts willing to listen—and feet willing to follow its call.

A deeply spiritual and earthy song on the Jesuit vow of poverty, written from the perspective of an environmental missionary in the Amazon. The song has a warm, organic feel, blending acoustic guitar, native percussion, and nature sounds like flowing water and birdsong. The melody is gentle but resolute, evoking the sacred responsibility of caring for creation. The lyrics reflect simplicity as freedom, the beauty of living in harmony with nature, and the vow of poverty as a call to stewardship rather than consumption. The tone is both contemplative and hopeful, inviting listeners to walk lightly on the earth and cherish the gifts of God’s creation.

“Tread Lightly”
by Padre Paulo, S.J.

(Verse 1 – Soft, rhythmic, guitar and gentle percussion start like footsteps in the forest)

The river sings, the trees stand tall,

The earth was made to bless us all.

But hands take more, and hearts grow blind,

Forgetting all that’s left behind.

(Pre-Chorus – Building, melody rising like a call to awareness)

But the wind still whispers, the waters cry,

Take only what you need to survive.

(Chorus – Expansive, choral harmonies, a call to live with reverence)

Tread lightly, live simply, take only what is given.

Be caretakers, not owners, for all belongs to heaven.

Oh, we are dust, we are breath, we are part of this creation.

Tread lightly, live simply, and walk with reverence.

(Verse 2 – Stronger rhythm, voices joining like a communal prayer)

The land is rich, yet scars remain,

Greed turns forests into flame.

But those who walk with hands unchained,

Find joy in what they give away.

(Pre-Chorus – Echoing with urgency, yet peace in the words)

The wind still whispers, the waters cry,

Take only what you need to survive.

(Chorus – Full, soaring, the call resounding in every heart!)

Tread lightly, live simply, take only what is given.

Be caretakers, not owners, for all belongs to heaven.

Oh, we are dust, we are breath, we are part of this creation.

Tread lightly, live simply, and walk with reverence.

(Bridge – Quiet, contemplative, just voice and soft guitar strumming like a prayer)

The earth is not ours to rule, but ours to love,

A gift to share, from God above.

What we hold tight will fade away,

But what we give will always stay.

(Final Chorus – Like a sunrise, hopeful and strong, inviting all to join in the mission!)

Tread lightly, live simply, take only what is given.

Be caretakers, not owners, for all belongs to heaven.

Oh, we are dust, we are breath, we are part of this creation.

Tread lightly, live simply, and walk with reverence.

(Outro – Fading sounds of the forest, gentle footsteps walking away, as if leaving no trace...)

Pisa Leve (Tread Lightly)
por Padre Paulo, S.J.

[Verso 1]

O rio canta, as árvores estão de pé,

a terra é dádiva para quem tem fé.

Mas mãos gananciosas tomam sem ver,

esquecem o dom de simplesmente viver.

[Pré-Refrão]

Mas o vento sussurra, as águas aclamam,

toma apenas o que precisas para a jornada.

[Refrão]

Pisa leve, vive simples, toma apenas o que é dado.

Sê guardião, não senhor, pois tudo é sagrado.

Somos pó, somos vida, parte dessa criação.

Pisa leve, vive simples, caminha com gratidão.

[Verso 2]

A terra é rica, mas sangra em dor,

o fogo consome o que antes foi flor.

Mas quem caminha sem amarras,

encontra paz onde a vida se agarra.

[Pré-Refrão]

Mas o vento sussurra, as águas aclamam,

toma apenas o que precisas para a jornada.

[Refrão]

(Com mais força, vozes se elevando em harmonia)

Pisa leve, vive simples, toma apenas o que é dado.

Sê guardião, não senhor, pois tudo é sagrado.

Somos pó, somos vida, parte dessa criação.

Pisa leve, vive simples, caminha com gratidão.

[Ponte]

(Quase sussurrado, como uma oração)

A terra não é para dominar, mas para amar,

um dom sagrado para partilhar.

O que agarramos se desfaz,

o que doamos sempre fica para trás.

[Refrão Final]

(Melodia crescente, esperança e força na voz!)

Pisa leve, vive simples, toma apenas o que é dado.

Sê guardião, não senhor, pois tudo é sagrado.

Somos pó, somos vida, parte dessa criação.

Pisa leve, vive simples, caminha com gratidão.

[Outro]

(Som se esvaindo, passos leves na terra, como uma despedida...)