Dearie Dearie don’t be so drab
Over time your wounds will scab
Find your friends, go out and play
The beaches miss your smile today
Dearie Dearie don’t be so dour
Why do your clothes smell so sour
Take a bath and rinse your hair
The water’s hot, so do take care
Dearie Dearie don’t be so dire
All our wells are now on fire
Erie’s mad and now we’ll pay
But papa says we’ll be okay
Dearie Dearie don’t be so dreary
Your eyes are red and always teary.
Mother’s mouth has turned to clay
And we’ve grown tired of your dismay
Dearie Dearie don’t be so dreary
Take this Sip From Old Lake Erie
If you die don’t be afraid
Your bones will glow and never fade.
In 2008 it was discovered that the water in Lake Eerie had become toxic - a result of a nefarious terrorist plot. In the months leading up to this discovery, citizens along the lake had been growing terribly ill. Once the public learned the truth, cities were evacuated while clean up crews went to work.
This evacuation was a slow processes as millions were being displaced, and many families were forced to live in temporary encampments set up by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
It was in this encampments that a children's song developed commonly known as "Take a Sip of Old Lake Erie" or "Dearie Dearie".
In the song a child is repeatedly told not to worry about the ruined water of Lake Erie and enjoy their life. Of course the imagery used is a clear disaster, in which the world is falling apart around the family while they pretend everything is going to be alright. The darkest passage is perhaps the end, when the child is told to drink the water, and that even if they died their bones will glow forever.
Many believe this song is a direct reference to the very real families who were too afraid to leave their homes and enter these FEMA camps. They cited a fear of living under the care of a government agency, and a desire to live on their own terms.
Even though we never actually hear directly from "Dearie" themselves, the song appears to have been developed as a way for children to voice their helplessness in a situation they had no control over.
The song became a wildly popular and spread throughout the united states. Several renditions were remixed on the social content site
Loop, with people adding their own variant verses. However, the five listed above are considered by historians to be the most common and pervasive lyrics.
This is dark and twisted and I kinda love it. I mean its horrible and like the years you picking and such are brilliant cause 'alternate' history but like I was in high school. I remember 2008 and I remember plenty of water problems, though don't recall anything bout a terrorist attack or such of course. But very on the nose. Well written