Lyr Req: Hats off when a hearse goes passing by

Subject: Lyr Add: HEARSE SONG (...worms crawl in...)
From: Brad Sondahl
Date: 12 Jan 00 - 07:07 AM

The gopher guts reminded me of a part-sung ditty from childhood: Hats off when a hearse goes rolling by, or you may be the next to die, They'll wrap you in a moldy sheet....

Can't remember more, until, is sung,
The worms crawl in the worms crawl out, the worms play pinochle on your snout...
Does anyone know the source?
Oh--I did a bit of searching the web and found this on a Halloween site--unattributed:

THE HEARSE SONG

Don't you ever laugh as the hearse goes by,
For you may be the next to die.

They wrap you up in a big white sheet
From your head down to your feet.

They put you in a big black box
And cover you up with dirt and rocks.

All goes well for about a week,
When your coffin begins to leak.

The worms crawl in, the worms crawl out,
The worms play pinochle on your snout.

They eat your eyes, they eat your nose,
They eat the jelly between your toes.

A big green worm with rolling eyes,
Crawls in your stomach and out your eyes.

Your stomach turns a slimy green,
And pus pours out like whipping cream.

You spread it on a slice of bread,
And that's what you eat when you are dead.

So next time you see the hearse go by,
Watch out!
You may be the next To Die!

Subject: RE: Hats off when a hearse goes rolling
From: Little Dorritt
Date: 12 Jan 00 - 07:40 AM

This is a spooky coincidence- have just read your thread looked up and blow me a hearse has just gone by-bound to happen I guess I overlook the crematorium. (very quiet neighbours!)

Subject: RE: Hats off when a hearse goes rolling
From: Mbo
Date: 12 Jan 00 - 10:21 AM

Ha ha! This is exactly the same version as found in the classic book "More Scary Stories To Tell In The Dark." My mother said that her father told her that Allied soldiers used to sing this song while marching in Europe during World War I.

--Mbo

Subject: RE: Hats off when a hearse goes rolling
From: Michael K.
Date: 12 Jan 00 - 10:33 AM

(a bit of thread creep here)

I am reminded of the story of the two men playing golf one hot summer day. They were about to hit their drives off the 4th tee, when a funeral procession appeared and all of the cars were driving slowly, with headlights on and police escort leading the queue, down the road running parallel to this tee, about 30 yards away.

The golfer who was on the tee, suddenly stopped his ball addressing, and stood straight up, and removed his hat, and held it over his heart, in a moment of observance.

His friend was very impressed, and complimented him on his humility and decency in deferring to the funeral procession.

As soon as the funeral passed, the guy on the tee, looked at his friend and thanked him for his words, and meekly said:

''It's the least I could do. We were married almost 39 years.''

Subject: Lyr Req: Hats off when a hearse goes passing by
From: GUEST,Brad Sondahl
Date: 27 Mar 08 - 10:59 AM

My library wants me to do a set of wormy squiggly songs, and I thought of a rhyme I learned as a kid, that turns into a song (here are the parts I remember):
Hats off when a hearse goes passing by,
or you may be the next to die
They'll wrap you in a moldy sheet...

The worms crawl in, the worms crawl out, the worms play pinochle on your snout...


Anyone remember the rest?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hats off when a hearse goes passing b
From: Charley Noble
Date: 27 Mar 08 - 11:07 AM

Brad-

You should be able to find several versions of this old song here in the threads of Mudcat. Do you know how to do a search? You might just try searching the forum for "hearse" or checking the Digital Tradition for "The Hearse Song."

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hats off when a hearse goes passing by
From: Snuffy
Date: 27 Mar 08 - 01:55 PM

Or better still, just type WORMS in the "Lyrics and Knowledge Search" box, and you'll get a list of a couple of dozen songs with worms in, as well as many more discussion threads which may contain worm songs.
Good hunting!

Subject: Lyr Add: THE WORMS CRAWL IN
From: Peace
Date: 28 Mar 08 - 01:31 PM

The Worms Crawl In

Did you ever think, as a hearse goes by,
That you might be the next to die?
They wrap you up in a big white sheet,
And bury you down about six feet deep

They put you in a big black box,
And cover you up with dirt and rocks,
And all goes well, for about a week,
And then the coffin begins to leak!

The worms crawl in, the worms crawl out,
The worms play pinochle on your snout.
They eat your eyes, they eat your nose,
They eat the jelly between your toes.

A great big worm with rolling eyes,
Crawls in your stomach and out your eyes,
Your stomach turns a slimy green,
And pus pours out like whipping cream.

You spread it on a slice of bread,
And that's what worms eat when you're dead.



Alternate / Additional Lines:

They wrap you up in a long white shirt
And cover you up with rocks and dirt

They put you in a long pine box
And cover you over with dirt and rocks

The worms that crawl in are lean and thin
The worms that crawl out are fat and stout

Your eyes fall in and your hair falls out
Your brains come pouring out your snout

They use your bones as telephones
and call you up but you're no longer at home

Your eyes pop out, your teeth decay
and that's the end of a peaceful day

You turn the color of sickening green
And pus comes out like butter and cream
You wipe it up with a piece of bread
And that's what you eat when you are dead

They eat your eyes, they eat your nose
They eat the jelly between your toes

Your stomach turns a mossy green
And pus comes out like fresh whipped cream
You wipe it up with a piece of bread
And that's what you eat when you are dead

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hats off when a hearse goes passing by
From: Peace
Date: 28 Mar 08 - 01:31 PM

The above is from

www.goblinville.com/pages/writings/lyrics/worms-crawl.htm

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hats off when a hearse goes passing by
From: Peace
Date: 28 Mar 08 - 01:32 PM

http://inky.50megs.com/idlechild/songs/theworms.htm

Additional stuff there.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hats off when a hearse goes passing by
From: GUEST,Steve Gardham
Date: 28 Mar 08 - 05:43 PM

Nobody likes me, everybody hates me,
I think I'll go and eat worms etc etc

Must be in the index somewhere.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hats off when a hearse goes passing b
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 28 Mar 08 - 05:50 PM

Then there's the Lambton Worm and all sorts of other wormy stuff here:

http://www.mudcat.org/@displaysong.cfm?SongID=6560