Žalioj Girelė Jau Geltonuoja (The Green Little Forest Is Turning Yellow) is a traditional Lithuanian folk song recorded by renowned Lithuanian scholar Jonas Basanavičius (1851-1927) during his extensive fieldwork documenting oral traditions in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. This particular song was collected from villagers in Gačiškiai village, representing an important element of Lithuania's rich folk heritage.

The song captures the autumn transformation of the forest, using the changing colours of leaves as a natural symbol that likely carries deeper metaphorical significance. In Lithuanian folk tradition, forest imagery frequently serves as a potent symbol connected to national identity, with Lithuania historically known as a land of forests and lakes. The juxtaposition of "green" and "yellow" in the title creates a vivid image of transition and change, potentially reflecting broader themes of life cycles, impermanence, and seasonal renewal.

Lithuanian folk songs, known as dainos, typically feature distinctive musical characteristics including modal scales, natural harmonies, and regional variations in performance style. The lyrical content often addresses themes of nature, agricultural life, love, family relationships, or historical events, creating a comprehensive cultural archive of rural experience and worldview.

Basanavičius's work in documenting such cultural expressions was crucial to the Lithuanian National Revival movement of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. As a physician, folklorist, and national activist, he recognised that preserving Lithuania's distinct cultural heritage was essential to maintaining national identity during a period of intense Russification policies that restricted Lithuanian language and cultural expression.

The archiving and preservation of this song by the Lithuanian Institute of Literature and Folklore ensures that this cultural expression remains accessible to current and future generations, maintaining connections to traditional ways of understanding and relating to the natural environment through artistic expression.