“The Hearse Song” as Sung in North Carolina
Vicki Winston sent me the following version of The Hearse Song. Although it’s a gruesome song, many people seem to have fond memories of singing it during childhood (including me!).
Vicki wrote:
Here’s the version we sang in North Carolina in the 50’s and 60’s:
Don’t ever laugh when a hearse goes by,
Or you may be the next to die.They wrap you up in a bloody sheet,
And bury you under about six feet.All goes well for a couple of weeks,
But then your coffin begins to leak.The worms crawl in, the worms crawl out, The worms play pinochle on your snout.
Your stomach turns a slimy green,
And puss comes out of you like whipped cream.You lap it up with a piece of bread,
And that’s what you eat when you are dead.
Thanks Vicki!
Here you’ll find other versions of The Hearse Song. Feel free to add the version you know in the comments.
Lisa
***
Come read about The Origin of The Worms Crawl in the Worms Crawl Out a.k.a. The Hearse Song.
October 1st, 2006 at 2:13 pm
This is the version that I was taught:
You better not laugh as the hearse goes by
or you may be the next to die
They wrap you up in a big white sheet
and bury you six or seven feet
The worms crawl in
The worms crawl out
They eat your eyes
They eat your nose
They eat the jelly between your toes
So you better not laugh when the hearse goes bye
or you may be the next to DIE
I suppose this is the simplest version.
October 16th, 2006 at 10:05 pm
Dont ever laugh as the hearse goes by
for you may be the next to die
Theyll wrap you in a linen sheet
And bury you about 6 feet deep
Youre okay for about a week
until the coffin begins to leak
The worms crawl in
the worms crawl out
the worms play pinochle on your snout
October 16th, 2006 at 10:10 pm
Dont you ever laugh as the hearse goes by
for you may be the next to die
Theyll wrap you in a big white sheet
From your head down to your feet
Theyll put you in a big black box
and cover you up with dirt and rocks
All goes well for about a week
until your coffin begins to leak
the worms crawl in
the worms crawl out
the worms play pinochle in your snout
a great big worm with rolling eyes
crawls in your stomach and out your eyes
your stomach turns a slimy green
and puss pours out like whipping cream
you spread it on a slice of bread
and thats what you eat when you are dead
May 5th, 2008 at 7:56 pm
the last version is the one that i learned
August 24th, 2008 at 4:52 pm
here’s the one i learned as a kid. funny how everyone in different places has such different versions of the same song.
Have you ever seen a hearse go by, and think of the day you’re gonna die?
They put you in a wooden box, and cover you up with dirt and rocks.
All is fine the first few weeks, then your coffin begins to leak.
The worms crawl in the worms crawl out, into your stomach and out your mouth.
Your guts turn into a slimy green, you scoop it up with a piece of bread and that’s what you eat when you are dead!
August 29th, 2009 at 5:37 pm
Do you know if this version is in the public domain? I can’t find any information on it.
September 25th, 2009 at 11:32 am
This is how I learned this song when I was in the Boy Scouts some time ago here in Missouri. This song has never left me for some reason, funny. Just sung it just the other day for a guy at work. Stumbled upon this site and decided to share. lol
Now dont you laugh when the hearse goes by
For you may be the next to die
They wrap you up in bloody sheets
And dig a hole six feet deep
They throw in dirt they throw in rocks
They dont give a damn if they break the box
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 gooey between your toes
So dont you laugh when the hearse goes by
For you may be (pause)
the next to die.
November 11th, 2009 at 9:12 pm
The version that i learned and can barely remember, i think my dad added a few lines to mix things up, its been about 15 years though so hard to remember it.
Now don’t you laugh when a hearse goes by
for you may be the next one to die.
They wrap you up in a white bloody sheet
then they bury you 6 feet deep.
the worms crawl in
the worms crawl out
the worms play pinochle on your snout.
They eat your eyes they eat your toes
they eat the boogers right out of your nose.
Your hair falls off, your teeth decay
your brain turns to marble and rolls awaaay.
(i think thats how he sung it)
November 11th, 2009 at 9:34 pm
Cool version!