A Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Keillor

Ecotherms and Endotherms lyrics
Saturday, February 10, 2007
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The Ectotherms and the Endotherms have eyes and feet and skin
The Ectotherms get heat from their surroundings
The Endotherms from within.

The Ectotherms depend on environment
They're like prisoners, they are trapped
The Endotherms maintain stable temperatures
Endotherms are able to adapt.

The Ectotherms' metabolic rates
Drop as the temperature falls
And when it's cold there's not much they can do
The Ectotherms freeze their tails.

Endotherms maintain temperatures
By wearing fur, or a hat
By thermogenesis, or shivering,
And the accumulation of fat.

Which one are you? Ecto- or endo-
It's a matter of defining terms.
But by and large the endos-
Are larger than the ectotherms.

Baby, you're just too small
Baby, you're too thin
Time you better be heading south
You've got no heat within.

Baby, you need to find a beach
To warm up your epidermis
I'm gonna stay here in the north
With my fellow Endotherms.

Endotherms
Endotherms
We are the mighty endotherms
Two four six eight
Maintain your metabolic rate
Put on a coat, wear a hat,
And don't forget to eat some fat.
Oh yes, you can't forget that
Very important to eat your fat.