Not a dedicated Step It Up event, the Millers River Environmental Center's River Rat Climate Cantastorias and Puppets instead piggybacked on the annual Athol River Rat parade. Sandwiched between the raging chain saw of a local arborist and a block-long string of throbbing muscle cars, the Center's contingent of puppet animals, cantastorias, performers, and hybrids, greasecars, and biodiesels spread the Step It Up message to an often-astonished audience of more than a thousand people. Mr. Moneybags wanted more oil, while Mother Earth, sick with a fever, wasn't giving it up. An industrious Beaver, swimming atop a biodiesel double cab, bore the Step It Up banner. Bright and bold cantastoria banners proclaimed the virtues of the common clothes line, "Clean it Up, Pull the Plug, the Answer is Blowing in the Wind." The alternatively-powered vehicles ranged from a meager 42 mpg to a more respectable 64 mpg. And we adapted and sang the traditional song, Zootio.

Step It Up, Zootio, Zootio, Zootio
Step It Up, Zootio, all day long (repeat)

Verse 1
Well, I looked down the alley and what did I see?
I saw a big fat man from Tennessee.?[Mr. Moneybags].
Well, I bet you five dollars I can beat that man
Well, I bet you five dollars I can beat that man.?

Chorus
Step It? Up (front), Step It Down (back), Step It side side side
Step It? Up (front), Step It Down (back), Step It side side side
Step it Up, Up, Up!

Verse 2
Well, momma [Mother Earth] called the doctor and my momma said?
She said Ooh, Ah, I got a pain in my head
She said, Ooh, Ah, I got a pain in my side
She said, Ooh, Ah, I got a pain in my belly.

Chorus (repeat)

Verse 3
Well, the doctor looked at momma and her fevered head
Reduce your carbon's what the doctor said
An 80 percent reduction by Twen-ty Fifty
An 8o percent reduction by Twen-ty Fifty

Chorus

Step It? Up (front), Step It Down (back), Step It side side side
Step It? Up (front), Step It Down (back), Step It side side side
Step it Up, Up, Up!