# Deer are born in Dearborn, Michigan **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 25, 2002, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deer-are-born-in-dearborn-michigan/125498 "2002-08-25T17:02:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2002, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deer-are-born-in-dearborn-michigan/125498/1 "2002-08-25T17:02:13Z")
I have this dim memory of a song with this line in it. Something like: > [@](#): > > Deer are born in Dearborn, Michigan > Deer are born up in the hills > But no deer live in Dearborn, Michigan > And I doubt they ever will. Anybody? ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2002, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deer-are-born-in-dearborn-michigan/125498/2 "2002-08-25T17:11:32Z")
I have a vague recollection of that possibly being sung to the tune of “My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean”, but that’s all. Nothing on Google that I can find. ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2002, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deer-are-born-in-dearborn-michigan/125498/3 "2002-08-25T17:33:15Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Duck Duck Goose_: > > Nothing on Google that I can find. :packs bags in preparation for the end of the world: ---
**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2002, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deer-are-born-in-dearborn-michigan/125498/4 "2002-08-25T17:34:20Z")
I THINK it may have been one of those incredibly silly novelty songs that surfaced on AM radio in the 60’s. About the time of “Winchester Cathedral”, and like it, may have been done in a faux 20’s style. But I’m not certain of either of those statements. ---
**Author:** ![Heller\_Highwater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/278dde/32.png) [@Heller\_Highwater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heller_Highwater)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2002, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deer-are-born-in-dearborn-michigan/125498/5 "2002-08-25T19:02:33Z")
I’ll have to ask my mom for more information (she’s the sort of person who would know this stuff), but I can tell you this much: 1. There **was** such a song, although I always heard it “_No_ deer are born in…” 2. I’m fairly certain that it was not done to the tune of “My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean”. In fact, I’ve never heard any other song with the same melody. 3. **yabob** ’s answer makes sense, given the melody that I’m familiar with, but I can’t be sure. (I’m far too young.) ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2002, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deer-are-born-in-dearborn-michigan/125498/6 "2002-08-25T19:08:18Z")
Oh dear… 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Heller\_Highwater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/278dde/32.png) [@Heller\_Highwater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heller_Highwater)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2002, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deer-are-born-in-dearborn-michigan/125498/7 "2002-08-26T00:02:39Z")
Okay, I checked with my mother, and she said she remembered it from when she was in elementary school, which means sometime before 1967. She heard it on WJR, a Detroit radio station, where it was often featured during a particular segment. Beyond that she doesn’t remember much (although she did sing the first two lines for me – definitely not “Bonnie”), and recommended that I check with her mom for further information, which I shall do. ---
**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2002, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deer-are-born-in-dearborn-michigan/125498/8 "2002-08-26T00:46:38Z")
Ok, thanks. “NO deer” makes more sense, of course, but I’m not in the habit of analyzing my memories of novelty songs for logical consistency. At least I know now that I didn’t hallucinate the thing, though I couldn’t find any google references anymore than DDG could. ---
**Author:** ![telemark7449](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/54ee81/32.png) [@telemark7449](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/telemark7449)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2010, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deer-are-born-in-dearborn-michigan/125498/9 "2010-05-05T21:20:41Z")
I heard this song once on Dr. Demento years ago. I remember with some assurance 1 1/2 stanzas, but nothing else. The melody was not one I ever heard with other lyrics and seemed to be intentionally goofy to go with the lyrics. These are the lines I remember: \*Well, I was born in Dearborn, Michigan but I don’t live there still. I might move back to Dearborn, Michigan, but I kind of doubt if I will. No deer are born in Dearborn, Michigan. They’re born in the hills . . .\* I’ve wondered for years how the rest of that delightfully stupid song goes. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2010, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deer-are-born-in-dearborn-michigan/125498/10 "2010-05-05T21:44:19Z")
It sure _sounds like_ a phrase that would be at home in the last verse of [this song](http://www.erinmckeown.com/lyrics_sinners/rhodeisland.html) but alas no mention of Dearborn MI in there. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2010, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deer-are-born-in-dearborn-michigan/125498/11 "2010-05-05T22:03:46Z")
[Here’s](http://newsgroups.derkeiler.com/Archive/Alt/alt.fan.letterman/2009-02/msg01076.html) someone who claims to have a 45" by **Marty Cooper and the Big Town Kazoos** with that song. Lyrics from the poster’s memory: > [@](#): > > My dear lives in Dearborn, Michigan. > My dear lives in Dearborn still. > But I don’t live in Dearborn, Michigan, > And I don’t believe that I will. > > No deer are born in Dearborn, Michigan. > Deer are born up in the hills. > So no deer live in Dearborn, Michigan, > And I don’t believe that they will. Tragically, it seems kazoo bands have stayed a niche genre. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2010, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deer-are-born-in-dearborn-michigan/125498/12 "2010-05-05T22:10:40Z")
Jackpot! Hear the song in its glory [here](http://www.detroitradioflashbacks.net/flashbacks/michiganmemories/) - third one down. ---
**Author:** ![Queen\_Tonya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/4491bb/32.png) [@Queen\_Tonya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Queen_Tonya)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2010, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deer-are-born-in-dearborn-michigan/125498/13 "2010-05-05T23:33:56Z")
You rock, **TroutMan**! I can’t believe you found that, how awesome. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2010, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deer-are-born-in-dearborn-michigan/125498/14 "2010-05-06T13:45:32Z")
Good grief. Ask and ye shall receive, even 8 years later. Yeah, good work **TroutMan**. Actually, I found the answer myself much later, but didn’t revive an ancient thread. Still, good work. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2010, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deer-are-born-in-dearborn-michigan/125498/15 "2010-05-06T14:53:09Z")
Wherever they’re born, I have it on good authority that they vacation in Deer Lodge, MT. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2010, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deer-are-born-in-dearborn-michigan/125498/16 "2010-05-06T15:03:40Z")
There are no hills either. But there are deer in Dearborn Michigan, and coyotes too. ---
**Author:** ![ghostman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a3d4f5/32.png) [@ghostman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ghostman)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2010, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deer-are-born-in-dearborn-michigan/125498/17 "2010-05-06T15:13:22Z")
Craziness… Not only was this found, but it was found by a website run by a friend of mine. I’ll make sure to mention it to him this weekend… (: ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2010, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deer-are-born-in-dearborn-michigan/125498/18 "2010-05-06T15:18:48Z")
Loads of deer are born in the Detroit burbs; including Dearbourne. Almost hit a herd the other day. ☹ Wish they’d let’em bow hunt them around here; plenty of responsible hunters around here and they’d be easy pickings since most of them have no fear of humans. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2010, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deer-are-born-in-dearborn-michigan/125498/19 "2010-05-06T19:29:28Z")
> [@yabob](#): > > Good grief. Ask and ye shall receive, even 8 years later. > > Yeah, good work **TroutMan**. > > Actually, I found the answer myself much later, but didn’t revive an ancient thread. Still, good work. That is hilarious this was revived after so long. I didn’t notice the original date at first, so I was all impressed with myself, thinking, “what a great board - only here could someone ask about an obscure song and get a reply within…8 years??? WTF??” 😕 ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2010, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deer-are-born-in-dearborn-michigan/125498/20 "2010-05-06T19:38:59Z")
Are fish killed in Fishkill, New York? Are cats killed in the Catskill Mountains? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deer-are-born-in-dearborn-michigan/125498.md?page=2)