When I was about 3 to about 5 years old there was a large group of neighborhood kids who played together in the field behind my house. I was one of the kids that was always there, with my two big sisters and my older brother.
One of the songs we sang was The Worms Crawl in, The Worms Crawl Out.
We would all hold hands to make a long chain. The person at one end would put their free arm stretched out against a tree. The person at the other end of the chain would arc around and go under the “tree” person’s arm and the whole chain would follow. We would sing, “The worms crawl in, the worms crawl out” while we were doing this.
I’ve been trying to remember the rest of the lyrics we sang, so I could post it as a Halloween song. It seems so fitting! But, try as I might, I couldn’t quite get it all.
Finally, I spoke to my “big” sister Dawn. She’s one of the experts I consult about the songs I sang in my childhood. She recalls them better, since I was so young during that time period (she’s five years older then me). Here’s what she remembers…
The Worms Crawl In, The Worms Crawl Out
The Worms Crawl In,
The Worms Crawl Out,
Into your stomach,
And out your mouth.They eat your intestines,
They scramble your heart.
Now you feel like
You’re all apart.This is how
It is to die
You end up looking
Like apple pie!
I’ve since found out that this song is often called The Hearse Song.
Here’s how we sang The Hearse Song (MP3).
There seem to be many other versions. Here’s a link for alternate versions to The Hearse Song.
It seems like this song has been around at least since 1923. Here’s some info on publication of The Hearse Song for anyone who’s interested.
I’d be happy if anyone would like to send me their version of The Hearse Song to post, please write me. I also welcome alternate recordings or midis of the tune!
-Lisa
UPDATE: Here you’ll find other versions of The Hearse Song. Feel free to add the version you know in the comments.
Also, Come read about The Origin of The Worms Crawl in the Worms Crawl Out a.k.a. The Hearse Song.
This artilce was posted on Wednesday, October 26th, 2005 at 8:37 pm and is filed under American Kids Songs, Children's Songs, Countries & Cultures, English, Halloween, Halloween Songs, Holiday Songs, Holidays Around the World, Languages, MP3's, Mama Lisa, Podcasts, Recordings of Songs, Songs by Theme, The Hearse Song, The Worms Crawl In, The Worms Crawl Out, USA. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
October 27th, 2005 at 9:44 am
My brother wrote me this…
“Ah memories of childhood. I don’t remember the tree but I do remember our “older” sisters orchestrating a show, in our house on Fir Grove, for the family on Sunday evenings. And I think we changed the words to ‘…they eat your intestines and scramble your heart now I feel like I’m gonna fart.’”
October 27th, 2005 at 5:00 pm
All I can remember from my own childhood is:
The worms crawl in,
The worms crawl out,
They turn your blood
To sauerkraut…
-Jason
January 25th, 2006 at 4:46 pm
The way I was taught the song:
Do you ever dream, when a hearse goes by
…that you might be that lucky guy?
They wrap you up in a big black sheet
And drop you down about six feet
The worms crawl in, the worms crawl out
The ants play pinochle on your scalp
Your stomach turns a slimy green
And pus comes out like thick whipped cream
March 9th, 2006 at 1:06 pm
The way I heard this song goes:
Did you ever think when a hearse goes by,
…that you too soon might die?
They wrap you up in a bloody black sheet,
And throw you down a thousand feet.
The worms crawl in, the worms crawl out,
The ants play pinochle in your snout.
The big black bug with big red eyes,
Crawls through your innards and out your sides.
You smush him up and put him on bread,
And that’s what you eat when you are dead.
March 16th, 2006 at 2:37 am
This is kinda long, and much more grim than most versions, but it’s what I learned.
Did you ever see a hearse go by,
And think you could be next to die?
They put you in a little box,
Cover you up with dirt and rocks
They take you to the family plot
And there you stay, to stink and rot
For you they make a flower wreath
And chuck you in a hole so deep
I-ho
I-ho
Bum bum bum…
I-ho
I-ho
Bum bum bum…
But maybe you’re not really gone
You can hear the mourning song
You scratch and fight and yell and beg
But they assume you’re really dead
They shove you down into the earth
And now your lungs begin to hurt
You yank the rope to ring the bell
You call for god and you curse hell
I-ho
I-ho
Bum bum bum…
I-ho
I-ho
Bum bum bum…
The worms crawl in the worms crawl out
They eat your guts then spit them out
There is a worm that isn’t shy
In one in ear and out one eye
And when your bones begin to rot
The worms are there but you are not
Your toes fall off, your teeth decay
A rotten way to end the day
I-ho
I-ho
Bum bum bum…
I-ho
I-ho
Bum bum bum…
[spoken] Oh darn. And me without a spoon…
May 18th, 2006 at 9:12 am
I recall it starting with:
The worms crawl in
The worms crawl out
the worms play pinnacle
on your snout
but that’s the only verse I ever heard (or at least remember).
May 21st, 2006 at 10:25 pm
Kris and Brenda Keith sent me this version…
Don’t you ever dare laugh when a hearse goes by,
For you will be the next to die.
You won’t know where and you won’t know when,
But you will never see the light again.
Then a caretaker tall and thin,
Digs a hole and puts you in,
All goes well for about a week,
Then your coffin starts to leak.
And the worms crawl in and the worms crawl out,
The worms play pinicole on your snout.
They eat your eyes and they eat you nose,
They eat the jelly between you toes,
The worms crawl in and your stomach turns green,
And puss poors out likewhipping cream,
You spread it on a peice of bread,
And thats what you eat when your dead.
Thanks for chiming in!
-Lisa
August 30th, 2006 at 1:55 pm
I learned it as:
Don’t ever laugh as a hearse goes by
or you may be the next to die
they wrap you up in a big black sheet
and send you down about 6 feet
all goes well for about a week and the 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 from in your toes
a big green worm with rolling eyes
goes in your stomach and out your eyes
your stomach turns a slimy green
and puss comes out like whipping cream
they spread it out on a piece of bread
and thats whta you eat when you are dead
September 9th, 2006 at 10:23 pm
This song was in a movie, I think, Zsa Zsa Gabor was in, but I don’t remember the name of it. All I remember was there was a doll and a little kid in it. If anyone remembers it I would love to know.
Thanks
October 14th, 2006 at 6:10 pm
this is how my friend and i learned it:
the worms crawl in, the worms crawl out
the worms play pinochle on your mouth
the worms crawl in, the worms crawl out
play pinochle on your mouth
don’t laugh next time a hearse drives by
for you may be the next to die
they wrap you up in bloody sheets
and bury you six feet deep
they eat your eyes and then they eat your nose
they like to eat the jelly between your toes
October 16th, 2006 at 2:07 pm
My father (who was a mortician) taught us kids this version on his guitar …
Don’t ever laugh when a hearse goes by
or you may be the next to die.
They wrap you up in fancy dress,
only to end up a great big mess.
They put you in a great big box,
and cover you up with dirt and rocks.
They take you to the family plot,
and there you stay, decay and rot.
For you, they make a flower wreath,
and bury you under ’bout six feet deep.
But maybe then your soul’s not free,
‘cause you can hear Psalm 23.
You scream and fight and bang your head,
but they assume you’re really dead.
They shove you down into the earth,
and now your lungs begin to hurt.
You yank the rope to ring the bell,
you call for God and you’re cursing Hell.
Then all goes well for about a week
and then the coffin it begins to leak …
And … 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.
There’s one little worm that’s not so shy …
crawls in your ear and out your eye;
Your guts turn a gassy green
and snot comes out like thick whipped cream.
And when your bones they begin to rot,
The worms are there but you are not;
Your ears fall off,
your teeth decay,
A rotten way to end the day
(HMPH! and me without my spoon!)
October 29th, 2006 at 7:16 pm
Well i was readin’ scary stories #1 and this is how they got it done.
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.
October 31st, 2006 at 1:45 am
I have been searching for ages to find the movie! I remember bits and pieces of the movie, but can not find the title, or remember for sure who was in it. The song The worms crawl in is in it. And it is about a little girl, and the family being killed, and she goes to live with an Aunt or something, who is actually the one responsible, wanting the family money. The diamond necklace is in the little girls doll. I hope someone can help.
November 16th, 2006 at 11:32 pm
Susan wrote me…
I just found your blog and remember the ‘The Worms Crawl in, The Worms Crawl out, their in your stomache and out your mouth’ song from a movie like 30+ yrs ago. The Father wound up starting the house on fire with the mother in it (at the end) and he and the daughter walked away singing that song together. It was a pretty scary ending for 10 or so yrs old and to this day have been trying to find out what the heck movie it was. I have never found out. When I saw your blog I hoped I’d find the answer but didn’t seem to read anything. It was fun to find your blog though, thanks.
Susan
That gave me the clue I needed to find out that the name of the movie was Picture Mommy Dead from 1966.
January 22nd, 2007 at 10:13 am
A friend’s father taught me “The Worms” version of “The Hearse Song” when I was a kid, and I was shocked and delighted years later when I heard it in “Picture Mommy Dead.” Unlike “Skin and Bones” (which I’ve heard many times over they years) I wasn’t aware, until seeing that film, that the “Worms” song wasn’t something my friend’s dad made up. Thanks for your research on it, Mama Lisa — now I finally know the real name of the song!
February 20th, 2007 at 11:29 pm
I remeber some small variations to those posted above; goes like this…
Did you ever see a hearse go by,
and wonder when its your turn to die,
they put you in a little box,
and cover you over with dirt and rocks
ooooh
aaah
A happy we will be
A happy we will be
The worms crawl in,
the worms crawl out
They crawl in thin
and crawl out stout
oooh
aaah
A happy we will be
a happy we will be…
The rest escapes me, but I’m sure it could be made up from the other passages
May 31st, 2007 at 10:41 pm
the movie is called picture mommy dead
June 29th, 2007 at 10:54 am
My dad used to recite a poem when he was drinking. It went like this:
Did you ever think,
as the hearse goes by,
That someday you and I,
Will go riding by in that big black hack,
Never thinking of coming back!
Your chest caves in,
Your ears all off,
the green slime drips
From your lidless eyes,
And the worms crawl in and out!
June 29th, 2007 at 2:47 pm
It’s amazing to me how such a gruesome song/poem brings back such fond memories to so many of us!
-Lisa
August 1st, 2007 at 4:37 pm
Thank you so much!! I remembered only 2 lines of this song from a movie I saw as a child. Never could find out the name of the movie. Love ya for this one!
September 13th, 2007 at 2:54 pm
I just heard someone sing this last night here is the version i heard:
The worms crawl in
The worms crawl out
In your stomache and out your snout
they use your bones as a telephone
do me a favor…Drop dead
September 15th, 2007 at 8:08 am
What we sang was “The worms crawl in,the worms crawl out,they crawl all over your chin and your mouth.They`ll invite their friends and their friends friends too,and you`ll look like hell when they`re through with you.” Also the first line was “Don`t laugh when you see a hearse go by,for you may be the next to die.”
October 3rd, 2007 at 2:07 am
The version I sang from childhood went thus:
Did you ever think when a hearse rolled by
That you may be the next to die?
They drain your blood, they drain your blood,
They bury you six feet under the mud.
The worms crawl in. The worms crawl out.
The worms play pinocle on your snout.
A very shy worm, but not very shy,
Crawls in your ear and out your eye.
So do me a favor. Drop dead!
October 6th, 2007 at 12:08 am
The Hearse Song is featured in the child’s scary story book Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark by Alvin Schwartz. The book, as well as the song was a HUGE favorite of mine as a kid. Still an awesomely scary book, our children are sure to LOVE! ;)
Oh, and this version of The Hearse Song is from Brooklyn in the 1940s.
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 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 on your snout.
They eat your eyes, they eat your nose,
The 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 piece of bread
And that’s what you eat when you are dead.
October 13th, 2007 at 5:49 pm
I can’t believe it that so many people remember it! My Mum sang it to me on the tube one day coming home from somewhere, and all the passengers were laughing. The version I remember was:
When you see a hearse go by,
Remember that you have to die – ooo, ooo, ooo, ooo ooo.
They wrap you up in a great white sheet,
Aan cover you over with dirt and peat – ooo, ooo, ooo, ooo, ooo.
The worms crawl in, and the worms crawl out,
They go in thin, and the come out stout, ooo, ooo, ooo, ooo, ooo.
That’s all I can remember – reading the lyrics, I’M GLAD! Lol!
October 29th, 2007 at 12:35 pm
The verse I remember:
The worms crawl in
The worms crawl out
The ones that crawl in are lean and thin
The ones that crawl out are fat and stout
October 31st, 2007 at 6:37 pm
The worms crawl in the worms crawl out, in your stomach and out our mouth and if you see the herse go by, then you know your gonna die
December 16th, 2007 at 9:47 pm
u can easily get this movie at ebay.com or amazon.com ,15 to 20 bucks .
February 12th, 2008 at 3:30 pm
Hmm, I remember this song. I first heard it when my cousin sang it to me. I remember it like this:
Never laugh when a hearse goes by
Or you may be the next to die
The worms crawl in, the worms crawl out
The worms play pinocle on your snout
And then there’s one that’s really shy
That crawls in your ear and out your eye
And then you turn an icky green
And your guts fall out like sour cream
February 24th, 2008 at 5:33 pm
The band “The Accüsed” made a “cover” of that song in 1988 in their album “Martha Splatterhead’s Maddest Stories Ever Told”. In that album there is also an amazing cover of “I’d Love to Change the World” by Ten Years After.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martha_Splatterhead%E2%80%99s_Maddest_Stories_Ever_Told
February 27th, 2008 at 4:59 pm
We used to sing it this way:
One day a hearse will pass you by
One day you know you’re gonna die
They put you in a wooden box
And cover you over with dirt and rocks
The worms crawl in, The worms crawl out
They crawl in your ears and come out of your mouth
There are other verses but I can’t remember.
This was the Brooklyn or Staten Island, New York version I guess.
March 17th, 2008 at 1:37 am
Wow that song and that movie. When I was in 4th or 5th grade my older girlfriends (one year) saw that movie and told me about it. They kept singing that eerie tune…The worms go in…The worms go out…crawl in your stomach and out your mouth….Picture Mommy Dead….never saw the movie but never forgot the tune or plot…..Still gives me the creeps about a zillion years later.
March 18th, 2008 at 9:09 pm
in Elementary school i learned:
The worms crawl in,
the worms crawl out,
the ants play pinochle in your mouth.
The worms crawl in,
the worms crawl out,
play pinochle in your mouth
Don’t laugh next time a herse goes by,
for you may be the next to die.
They wrap you up in bloody sheets,
and bury you six feet deep.
They eat, your eyes,
and then they eat your nose.
They like, to eat,
the jelly between your toes.
oohhh…..
March 22nd, 2008 at 10:10 pm
I remember my mother singing:
The worms crawl in, the worms crawl out;
In your stomach and out you mouth;
If you ever see a hearse go by,
don’t you laugh or you may die.
I also remember the part about the worms playing pinochle on your snout.
I’ve often wondered the rest of the words, so I’m so glad others have contributed theri memories.
April 1st, 2008 at 12:19 am
This is how i learned it:
Did you ever think when a hearse goes by
that you may be the next to die
they wrap you up in a dirty old sheet
and send you down about ninety five feet
it all goes well about a week
but then your coffin begins to leak
the worms crawl in the worms crawl out
the ants play pinochle on your snout
your stomach turns all slimy green
and puss comes out like whipping cream
you put it on some moldy bread
and thats what you eat when you’re dead
April 14th, 2008 at 11:54 pm
I am so grateful to have found your site!
I thought I was going crazy!!
I remember bits of the movie. I probably have not seen it since I was about 6.
I always remembered
“the worms crawl in
the worms crawl out
in your stomach and out your mouth
you told me that you wanted to die
so now I must kill you with my pocket knife”
there are some other parts I don’t remember. I love the versions I have read here and will DEFINITELY track down that movie. I remember the girl,the fire and something about a swing set.
May 5th, 2008 at 6:11 pm
Am glad to finally google this, find this site, and help me to remember the final lines. My mother remembered more than my older sister. Here’s my version (I think):
Did you ever see a hearse go by
And think that you were the next to die?
They wrap you in a bloody sheet
And throw you down about 6 feet deep
When all goes well for ‘bout a week
Until your casket springs a leak
The worms crawl in, the worms crawl out
The worms play pinochle on your snout
There is a worm that’s awfully shy
And goes in one ear and out your eye
Your liver turns a musty green
Your guts pour out like shaving cream
You put on some moldy bread
And that’s what you eat when you are dead!
PLEASE PASS THE GRAVY!
May 9th, 2008 at 5:16 am
I’ve recently found the A-Team on TV and have been enjoying them very much! In the episode “A Small and Deadly War” (Season 1), Murdock sings a couple of verses of the Hearse Song.
Naturally I couldn’t remember any of it after all these years (since not too long after A-Team went off the air), so thank G-d for the internet! Thanks for your research, and for all of the comments! It’s neat to see all of the different variations that exist now! I’m interested to discover in the future which version my kids might come home with. (In the mean time, I’d best decide on which version I want to teach them in case if their peers fail me!)
Cheers!
~ Mel
June 26th, 2008 at 2:37 pm
Sami sent me this version:
Don’t You Ever Laugh As A 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,
Cover You Up With Dirt And Rocks.
All Goes Well For About A Week,
Then 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 Your Dead.
June 28th, 2008 at 11:32 am
I never know there was so many versions! I found my old Guiding campfire song book and this song wasn’t in it but it is one i definitely remember singing. Googling it has helped me to piece together the version i was taught as a guid. Which was:
First they covers ya in a clean white shirt
Then they covers ya in piles of dirt
Yo-ho yo-ho yo-ho yo-ho
how happy will shall be
Your eyes fall in and your teeth fall out
You brains come tickkling out your snout
Yo-ho yo-ho yo-ho yo-ho
how happy will shall be
The worms crawl in and the worms crawl out
They go in thin and they come out stout
Yo-ho yo-ho yo-ho yo-ho
how happy will shall be
Your stomarch turns an slimy green
And pus pours out like whipping cream
Yo-ho yo-ho yo-ho yo-ho
how happy will shall be
July 13th, 2008 at 2:59 pm
Hey, my sis is a big fan of the old A team show and we were watching repeats of it and Howlin’ Mad Murdock sings
“did you ever see a hearse go by,
and think someday that you’ll surely die,
they bury you in a little box,
and cover you over withdirt and rocks.”
He then states there are two more verses, but he doesn’t sing them. I’d never heard it before and neither had my sis so i googled and found this site! Thanks for giving the lyrics, just thought I’d throw in this reference to the hearse song for fun. It’s in episode 5 season 1 , ‘A small and deadly war’.
July 23rd, 2008 at 8:47 pm
I remember these lyrics that my girlfriend and I used to sing as kids in Pittsburgh:
Don’t ever laugh when a hearse goes by
For you may be the next to die
They wrap you up in a big white sheet
And bury you underground six feet deep
Your eyes fall in, your hair falls out
Your fingernails grow long and stout
Your skin it turns a ghastly green
And has the texture of rotten whipped cream
One little worm who’s not too shy
Crawls in your stomach and out your eye
The worms crawl in, the worms crawl out
The worms play Pinochle on your snout
August 3rd, 2008 at 6:21 am
So I wasn’t sure if I’d find anything online about this song or not.
My mom sang it to me, I think. She didn’t know all the words, so all I knew went like:
The worms crawl in
The worms crawl out
In through your nose
and out your mouth
…and that was it haha
August 16th, 2008 at 5:46 am
I learnt the Hearse Song in primary school, Whyalla, South Australia! It’s a fair while ago (35/40-ish yrs), can’t remember the sequence, here goes:
When next you see a hearse go by
remember that we all must die
ooo-ooo-oooo
aaaa-aaa-aaaa
let’s all be merry and gay
They wrap you up in a hessian shirt
and pile you in with a ton of dirt
ooo…
The worms crawl in and the worms crawl out
they crawl in thin but they come out stout
ooo…
Your eyes fall in and your teeth fall out
your brains come trick-l-ing down your snout
ooo…
Hasten Jason bring the basin (sung fast)
too late flip flop, bring the mop (sung slow)
ooo…
Thanks for the memories, I wish to add a few verses and sing to my kids, interesting that some verses have remained fairly intact. Let’s keep the legendary epic going.
Cheers, Deb
August 20th, 2008 at 8:46 pm
Does anyone know what movie this song goes to?
September 5th, 2008 at 12:03 pm
Я так понимаю, в самом последнем абзаце как раз вся соль и изложена ;)
September 19th, 2008 at 11:57 am
Great blog. I found it searching for the source of a Pogues song I just heard. It is “Worms” on the reissue of “If I Should Fall From Grace with God” and is simply listed as “traditional”.
September 22nd, 2008 at 11:48 pm
Here’s a write-up and link to a version that was released in the 60s:
http://sparberfans.blogspot.com/2008/07/essential-ghouls-record-shelf-curse-of.html#comment-form
October 28th, 2008 at 11:58 pm
I’d forgotten most of the lyrics, so it’s great to see them hear, in all variations. However, does anyone remember lines that went:
“The doctor comes, pronounces you dead,
And lays a tombstone at your head”?
I think there were lines about being ill that preceded this.
Thanks!
December 1st, 2008 at 1:55 am
William Croysdill wrote:
when i was 8 years old my grand mother taught me her version of the hearse song she told me she was 6 when her brother taught her the song in 1918 so i know the song is older then you thaught but this is her version
did you ever see a hearse drive by you might just be the next to die! they drain your blood they drain your blood they bury you under 6 feet of mud! the worms crawl in the worms crawl out the worms play pinochle on your snout! your vains turn green very green looks like running shaving cream! your eyes pop out your teath decay and that is the end of my story today!
thats how she taught it to me back in 1985 my mother got mad when she taught it to me my mom said the song was gross but me being a boy i thought it was cool and told it to all my friends and i have taught my children the same song.
January 12th, 2009 at 9:55 pm
Wow, I’m amazed at the responses. I wish that I could remember the verses so well. Rick Heinrich asked about a movie, possibly starring Zsa Zsa Gabor. I do recall that as a kid I both watched the movie and read the book “Picture Mommy Dead.” I’m pretty sure this is the movie to which he was referring. Only a portion of the rhyme was featured, but it left an impression.
January 24th, 2009 at 4:55 pm
We used to sing this as a scary campfire song. All that I can remember of the lyrics as follows: The worms crawl in, the worms crawl out, the worms play pinochle on your snout. a great big worm with a glassy stare will chew on your eyeball and mess up your hair. the worms crawl in , the worms crawl out.
March 9th, 2009 at 10:04 am
Another version I was taught in the UK:
Do you ever see a hearse go by?
Do you ever think your doomed to die?
Hurrumph, hurrumph, hurrumph-hurrumph-hurrumph
They wrap you in a dirty shirt,
And cover you over with rocks and dirt.
Hurrumph, hurrumph, hurrumph-hurrumph-hurrumph
…
April 4th, 2009 at 12:45 am
meme sang it to me this way:
the right way:
the worms crawl in
the worms crawl out
in your tummy and
out your mouth
if you laugh
when a hearse goes by
you will be the next to die
theyll wrap you up
in a bloody sheet
nd throw you in
six feet deep
(from old betty davis movie in the 60’s)
April 8th, 2009 at 10:35 pm
My dad used to sing this to me when I was younger but the version he sang was different then I’ve heard from anyone else.
Did you ever think when a hearse goes by,
That someday you and someday I,
They put you in a long black box,
And weight you down with a couple of rocks.
The worms crawl in,
The worms crawl out.
Into your stomach and out your snout.
Your teeth fall in,
Your eyes pop out,
And your stomach caves in like…
EWWW! Sauerkraut!
April 13th, 2009 at 12:06 am
When this was originally done is an unknown, but it dates back more than a century is for certain. I’ve known this verse from several sources, starting during my schooling in Watford, England:
Did you ever think when a hearse goes by,
That someday you and I must die?
First you get sick, and then you die,
And all the while your family asks “Why?”
The doctor comes in – pronounces you dead,
And they lay a tombstone at your head.
They pull your innards, they drain your blood
Then they bury you in 6 feet of mud!
They’ll wrap you up in a bloody sheet
And throw you in ‘bout six feet deep.
They put you in a long black box,
And weight you down with a couple of rocks.
Your eyes fall in, your hair falls out;
Your fingernails grow so long and stout.
Your skin, it turns a ghastly green,
And has the texture of rotten whipped cream.
All goes well for about a week,
Then 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 eye.
The worms crawl in, The worms crawl out.
Into your stomach and out your snout.
Your teeth fall in, your eyes pop out,
And your stomach caves in like Sauerkraut!
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.
There is a worm that’s awfully shy
And goes in one ear and out your eye
Your liver turns a musty green
Your guts pour out like shaving cream.
Your skin will rog, your veins turn green,
Looks just like old sour cream!
Your eyes pop out, your teeth decay,
And that is the end of my story today!
April 17th, 2009 at 7:00 pm
Watch the movie “Picture Mommy Dead” 1966
That where I heard the song for the first time and I can only remember:
The worms crawl in
the worms crawl out
though your stomach
and out your mouth
April 29th, 2009 at 4:49 pm
1955 version
St. Callistus grammer school
Chicago Il.
Did you ever dream a hearse went by,
And you might be the next to die;
dum dum dadum,
dum dadum dadum dadum.
They dig a hole six feet deep,
And lower you down in a sheet;
dum dum dadum,
dum dadum dadum dadum.
The worms crawl in – the worms crawl out,
They turn your guts into sauerkraut;
dum dum dadum,
dum dadum dadum dadum.
they eat your tongue – they eat your nose
they eat the jelly from in your toes;
dum dum dadum,
dum dadum dadum dadum.
Your teeth fall in – your eyes pop out,
Your tonsils spill – out your mouth;
dum dum dadum,
dum dadum dadum dadum.
May 3rd, 2009 at 1:59 am
Sung by a Welshman inthe Club House after a game of rugby the version I recall is:-
Did you ever see a hearse go by and think that you may someday die.. Chorus oh,oh, oh where shall be in a hundred years from now?
They wrap you up in a long white shirt and cover you over with dollops of dirt. Chorus.
The worms crawl in and the worms crawl out they crawl in thin and they crawl out stout. Chorus
Your eyes fall in and teeth fall out, your brains come trickling down your snout. Chorus
The moral of this story related is not to be buried but be cremated. Chorus
Wow – so many ways to go!
May 6th, 2009 at 9:26 pm
As a child I have often sang,”The Worms Crawl In,” song, but version is different.
The worms crawl in, the worms crawl out,
they eat up your stomach and spit it out,
They grind your bones into ice cream cones,
Then you become a ghost.
The doctor comes in and feels your head
and tells everyone that you are dead
they wrap you up in a dirty sheet
and throw you down six feet deep.
I never new the title of this song. I dont remember where I first heard it.
May 19th, 2009 at 5:43 pm
Put on a skit of this version at a Bible Class Camp in 1958:-
As you watch the hearse go by
remember that you too must die
They wrap you up in a clean white sheet
and put you down about 15feet
All goes well for about a week
and then the coffin begins to leak
Worms crawl in and worms crawl out
They go in thin,and they come out stout
Your nose turns blue-your eyes turn green
Your brains ooze out like thick whipped cream
—another( forgotten) verse here—
NOW MY STORY I HAVE RELATED
DON”T YOU THINK YOU
OUGHT TO BE CREMATED
May 22nd, 2009 at 10:52 pm
Dont you ever laugh as a hearse goes by
For you may be the next to die,
They wrap you in a big white sheet
from you head down to you feet
they put you in a big black box
cover you up with dirt and rocks
all goes well for about a week
and then 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
goes in your stomach and out your eyes
your stomach turns into green slime
and puss pours out like whip cream
you spread it out on a piece of bread
and thats what you eat when your dead
I loved that when i was little and the story about the Big Toe from the Scary Stories books…..i guess i was a weird kid…this song popped in my head n i was singing it an my fiance thought i was making it up!!
June 3rd, 2009 at 12:47 am
If you see the hearse go by,
you will be the next to die,
They’ll wrap you up in a bloody sheet,
then they’ll bury you six feet deep,
all goes well for about a week,
then the coffin begins to leak,
the worms crawl in,
and the worms crawl out,
they play pinning hole in your snout,
a bug green worm with rolling eyes,
crawls in your stomach and out your eyes,
your stomach turns a sickly green,
and puss pours out like whipping cream,
you spread it on a piece of bread,
’cause that’s what you eat,
when you are DEAD!
July 8th, 2009 at 12:16 am
I was born in 1987 in atlanta ga- since most versions are regional/time based
heres what i grew up with:
Did you ever think as a hearse goes by
That you may be the next to die
They wrap you up in a big white sheet
From your head down to your feet
The worms crawl in
The worms crawl out
In your stomach and out your snout
Your eyes fall out
Your teeth decay
That’s the end of a perfect day
July 10th, 2009 at 6:57 am
My dad taught it as….
When you see the herse go by
You know that someday you must die
err err err err
Let’s all be merry and gay
they wrap you up in a big white sheet
and put you down about six feet
err err err err
Let’s all be merry and gay
the first few weeks it is alright
but then the coffin begins to ROT
err err err err
Let’s all be merry and gay
your skin it turns a billious green
your brains run out like thick whipped cream
err err err err
Let’s all be merry and gay
the maggots go in the maggots go out
the maggots play ping-pong on your snout
July 13th, 2009 at 10:22 pm
Here’s the version all us neighborhood kids sang back in the 1950’s in Auburn, Maine.
Did you ever think when a hearse goes by
That someday you are bound to die?
A -Wee, A -Woo
They wrap you up in a big white sheet
And bury you down about six feet.
A -Wee, A -Woo
All goes well for about a week,
Then your coffin begins to leak.
A-Wee, A-Woo
The worms crawl in, the worms crawl out
The ants play pinochle on your snout.
A -Wee, A -Woo
They eat your eyes, they eat your nose
They eat the jelly between your toes.
A-Wee, A-Woo
Your stomach turns a slimy green
And puss pours out like whipping cream.
A -Wee, A -Woo
They put your guts on a slice of bread
And that’s what you eat when you are dead.
A -Wee, A -Woo
July 23rd, 2009 at 10:58 pm
i love you’se guys.
this is how i sang it…
did you ever think when a hearse goes by that some fine day you’re gonna die?
they’ll wrap you up in a big white sheet and bury you under six feet deep.
three days go by and all is well, and then the coffin begins to smell.
the worms crawl in, the worms crawl out, in your belly and out your mouth.
your body turns a slimey green and pus comes out like whipping cream (got a spoon?)
July 24th, 2009 at 5:07 pm
this is how we sang it.
did you ever think when a hearse goes by that some fine day you’re gonna die?
they’ll wrap you up in a big white sheet and bury you under six feet deep.
three days go by and all is well, and then the coffin begins to smell.
the worms crawl in, the worms crawl out, in your belly and out your mouth.
your body turns a slimey green and pus comes out like whipping cream (got a spoon?)
August 17th, 2009 at 2:17 pm
This is the one that I learned.
Where will you be in a hundred years from now?
Down in the soil like a nail stuck in the ground
The worms crawls in, the worms crawl out
They go in skinny but they come out stout.
Where will you be in a hundred years from now?
September 21st, 2009 at 9:22 pm
My dad always sang. The worms crawl in. The worms crawl out. Into your stomache and out your mouth. They use your bones as telephones and call you up when no ones home! Always laughed so hard
October 17th, 2009 at 3:56 am
The real one goes a little something like this lol
have you ever thought as a hearse goes by you may be the nexst to die, they wrap you up in a big white sheet, from your head down to your feet. The worm crawl in, the worm crawl out, the worms play penuckle on your snout, your eyes fall out your teeth decay, thats the end of a perfect day
October 17th, 2009 at 10:34 am
My rememberance of the ditty was as follows:
Did you ever think as a hearse goes by
That some day you and I must die.
They put you in a wooden box
And cover you over with dirt and rocks.
The first six weeks, they ain’t so bad
But then the coffin springs a leak.
The worms crawl in, the worms crawl out
They crawl all over your dirty snout.
Your chest caves in, your eyes pop out
Then your bones turn to sauerkraut.
They invite their friends, and their friends too,
And they all come in for a friendly chew….
“ON YOU!”
October 19th, 2009 at 11:17 pm
Oh gosh, this is bringing back a flood of memories I didn’t know I had. It seems like everyone sung this one as a kid! I learned this in the early 1990’s in Santa Clara county, California. My sisters and I found it in a book of children’s Halloween songs. I can’t remember all of the lyrics off the top of my head, and the book has been gone for years, but here’s what I can recall:
Don’t ever laugh when the hearse goes by,
For you may be the next to die.
They’ll wrap you up in a big white sheet,
And drop you down- ’bout six feet deep.
They don’t realize that you aren’t dead,
So they put a tombstone over your head.
All goes well for about a week,
But then your coffin begins to leak.
And the worms crawl in, the worms crawl out,
The worms play pinocle on your snout,
They turn your guts to sauerkraut,
The worms crawl in, the worms crawl out.
Through your guts and out your eyes,
Taking bites of your insides.
Your stomach turns a sickly green,
And pus pours out your mouth like whipping cream.
October 28th, 2009 at 7:46 pm
Hi there:
Well yeah, My sister and I used to sing that song.
Now, here is what everyone was asking about.
The name of the movie which that song was in is called…
“Picture Mommy Dead.”
There you go, I hope that helps.
October 29th, 2009 at 10:12 pm
This is all I can remember…
70’s in N. Minn:
The worms crawl in the worms crawl out
The worms play pinochle in your snout.
And then you turn a sickly green
And your guts ooze out like sour cream
November 1st, 2009 at 5:05 pm
Learned this from my brothers and maybe in the school playground back in the fifties.. can’t remember the whole, but the bits I can remember go like this:
Whenever you see a hearse go by
Remember someday you too will die….
[]
The worms crawl in, the worms crawl out,
The worms play pinochle on your snout,
And one little fella who’s not too shy
Goes in your ear and out your eye…
January 1st, 2010 at 3:13 pm
I found a wonderful video on youtube, with the rendition I grew up with. It’s at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NNJ6bjLdeo
January 30th, 2010 at 9:30 pm
There used to be a show in the 90s was rated R. for some reason my parents let me watch this when I was really young between 5-7 yrs old. The theme song for it was another version that is very similar to some other versions on here. I only know this part:
“The worms crawl in the worms crawl out
the worms play pinochle up your snout
The slime turns green a slimy green
and puss comes out like whipping cream”
This show was very scary and needless to say I had some horrible nightmares from it. There was this one episode that had bugs, kinda like roaches, except not crawl under the skin…very similar to the mummy movie…I still have this recurring dream. absolutely horrible.
February 12th, 2010 at 2:45 pm
The worms crawl in the worms crawl out
the worms play pinnocle on your snout
They eat your eyes they eat your nose
they eat the goo between your toes
I don’t remember the rest of my mom’s version. There were bits and pieces of others from above I know.
February 16th, 2010 at 10:06 pm
If you dare laugh when a hearse goes by
You will be the next to die
They’ll wrap you in a bloody sheet
And drop you from about six feet!
[singing]
The worms crawl in, the worms crawl out
The worms play pinochle on your snout
Your stomach will turn a slimy green
And puss comes out like whipping cream
A big fat worm with a bloodshot eye
Crawls through your liver and out your eye -yai -yai -yai
March 1st, 2010 at 5:31 pm
The version I learned from my Grandfather was short and sweet (as sweet as a morose poem can be. haha):
The worms crawl in, the worms crawl out
In your stomach and out your mouth
If you ever see a hearse go by
You may be the next to die
March 3rd, 2010 at 11:36 pm
I am no end of impressed that this thread has been going for over four years. But I haven’t seen one that ends the way I learned one version, after all the worms and pinochle and such:
“Your coffin rots and you turn to dust
And that’s the end of your life of lust.”
March 3rd, 2010 at 11:38 pm
That’s cool!
March 3rd, 2010 at 11:51 pm
[...] just pointed out that The Worms Crawl In, The Worms Crawl Out post from over 4 years ago is still getting comments and now has 83 of them! People seem to love to [...]
March 6th, 2010 at 12:48 am
Don’t ever laugh when a hearse goes by
for you may be the next to die
They wrap you up in a bloody sheet
and bury you down six feet deep
The worms crawl in the worms out
The worms play pinochle in your snout
They eat your eyes
They eat your nose
They eat the jelly between your toes
A great big spider with GOOGLY eyes
Crawls up your nose and out your eyes
Wouldn’t you like to have a spoon
To eat with this afternoon?
May 6th, 2010 at 3:54 pm
Valerie wrote:
Hi
I just found your blog and was quite excited. I’ve not found that song anywhere or anyone that knew it. Here is the version that I know:
The worms crawl in
The worms crawl out
In your stomach and out your mouth
Did you ever see a hearse go by
and think that you were going to die
My memories may not be accurate from my childhood as this is quite similar to one on your blog.
I remember hearing it in a movie I watched as I kid, I belive the name was “Die Quickly, Dear Mother”. As the house was burning, with the mother in it, the dad and little girl were standing there watching and I think singing the song. However, I can’t find that movie either, so I could be wrong.
Valerie
May 11th, 2010 at 9:37 am
I received this version a while ago…
The kids in my neighborhood in Escondido California used to sing it this way in the late forties & early fifties. We had LOTS of fun with it. You’ll notice the version is slightly different than others submitted. Maybe Southern Californians gave it their own twist.
Don’t you laugh when the hearse goes by
for you may be the next to die.
They wrap you up in a big white sheet
and throw you down about six feet deep.
Your stomach falls in like a frozen bean
and your face, it turns to a moldy green
The worms crawl in and the worms crawl out
the worms play pinochle on your snout
They eat your eyes, they eat your toes, and
the eat the snot right out of your nose.
So don’t you laugh when the hearse goes by
for you may be the next to die.
May 14th, 2010 at 12:14 pm
I just knew this one:
The worms crawl in
The worms crawl out
The worms play pinochle on your snout
They put you in a little box
and cover you up with dirt and rocks
Eventually you will turn green
and your guts will come out like sour cream
May 14th, 2010 at 8:31 pm
Troy wrote:
I remember it this way ,,,, or sort of
The worms crawl in
the worms crawl out
the worms play pinnacle on your snout
they eat your eyes
they eat your nose
they at the jelly between your toes
this is what it is to die
hope you had a nice
good bye
and that is the end of your life
good night
May 20th, 2010 at 2:40 pm
Isn’t it wonderful when these things come back to haunt you? What I remember is snatches from the various versions, but I remember the bread and what you eat when you’re dead and puffing up like whipping cream after turning some sort of green (all that’s paraphrased); but the only words that stuck were:
“The next time you see a hearse go by, you may be the next to die…”
“they wrap you up in a clean white sheet and lower you down about six feet deep…”
“the worms go in, the worms go out, the worms play pinochle in your snout…”
and the final refrain: “That’s what you eat when you’re dead, dead, dead. That’s what you eat when you’re dead!” Which rhymed with the bread verse.
So of course I had to google it to find out the lyrics…
What a pleasant song to have stuck in your head fifty years later, huh?
May 20th, 2010 at 5:50 pm
Carlton wrote:
Here is how we sang it in grade school:
The big black hearse goes riding by
You never know who is the next to die
They wrap you in a big white sheet
And slap you down about six feet deep
Oh the worms crawl in and the worms crawl out
The worms play pinochle on your snout
Your stomach turns a sickening green
And pours out puss like a thick whipped cream
You eyes fall out and your teeth decay
And that’s the end of a perfect day!
Carlton C Potts
May 24th, 2010 at 3:48 pm
Chris wrote:
Hi Lisa….I came across your blog which included various versions of this “song” lol…. I wanted to contribute my version…the one I remember growing up with the other kids around the neighborhood…..
Whenever you see a hearse go by,
you will be the next to die,
they’ll wrap you up in a big white sheet,
bury you in the ground six feet deep,
the worms crawl in , the worms crawl out,
they play tiddlywinks on your snout,
pus will ooze out of your eyes, take some bread and wipe it off,
thats what dead people eat……
tada!!
lol….that’s the version I remember…. ;)
Thanks,
Chris
May 24th, 2010 at 3:50 pm
Mary Ann wrote:
I stumbled onto your site and was fascinated by the history of the song. I remember my father singing it when I was a kid and it was always “The bugs crawl in, the bugs crawl out, the bugs play pinocule in your snout.”
I found a recording of it that was played on Dr. Demento called “Curse of the Hearse” by Terry Teene. It is a rock version of the song in case you are not familiar with it.
Sincerely,
Mary Ann Cade
June 9th, 2010 at 7:37 pm
The worms crawl in
The worms crawl out
The worms play pinochle on your snout
Your liver turns
A limey green
The puss comes out like whipping cream
June 12th, 2010 at 11:47 am
Great reading all the responses, as I was wondering if there were more verses to a song I remembered as a kid:
The worms crawl in, the worms crawl out
The worms crawl in and out your snout!
Your eyes pop out, your teeth turn green
And pus comes out like shaving cream.
They use your bones for telephones
And call you when you’re not at home.
(Wish I could recall more of the verses we had for this song, some 50 years ago)
June 24th, 2010 at 12:26 pm
Do you ever think as a hearse go’s by
that you may be the next to die?
they wrap you up in a big white sheet,
they 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
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 THATS WHAT YOU EAT WHEN YOU ARE DEAD!
June 26th, 2010 at 9:05 pm
Many were first exposed to this song/rhyme in the 1966 movie “Picture Mommy Dead”, but it has been around forever.
June 26th, 2010 at 9:19 pm
This is the way I remember it…
If you see a hearse go by,
Then you know you’re next to die.
They wrap you up in a bloody sheet,
Then they put you six feet deep.
All goes well for ’bout a week,
Then your coffin begins to leak,
The worms crawl in,
The worms crawl out,
The worms play pinochle on your snout.
They eat your ears,
They eat your nose,
They eat the goulash between your toes.
And then you turn a slimy green,
Looks just like pure whipped cream.
You spread it on a peice of bread,
And that’s what you eat, when you’re dead!!
July 8th, 2010 at 1:04 am
Kenny’s version is more like the one i remember…
Except the first line was: “Don’t you ever laugh when a hearse go’s by, For you may be the next to die…etc.”
July 9th, 2010 at 3:01 pm
Good Lord. So many variations; so many faulty memories. In doing a bit of research I discovered the tune is called “Spooks on Parade”.
At this point there doesn’t seem to be a final authority on this song; at least not on the Web at this point. Fun tho….
July 29th, 2010 at 2:44 am
hah, man, i LOVE these poems. i’ve been womdering the rest of the words for a while now. thanks for remembering for me guys !
(:
- Mrs. Lisa Southall.
July 29th, 2010 at 10:08 pm
This is the one I remember from my childhood. A lot of it is the same, but a couple lines are there that I haven’t seen yet in other versions. Enjoy!
You better not laugh when a hearse goes by
or you may be the next to die
They wrap you up in a big white sheet
and bury you in the ground 6 feet deep
All goes well for about a week
And then your coffin begins to leak
The worms crawl in
The worms crawl out
The worms play pinochle
On your snout
They use your bones as telephones
And call you when you’re not at home.
They eat your eyes
They eat your nose
They eat the jelly
Between your toes
I hope you die before I do
Cuz then the worms will crawl in YOU!
August 14th, 2010 at 8:35 am
My father said he sang this song back in the 1940’s and he believes his father sang it as a kid in the early teens (he was born around 1907). That was in New York… Nassau county, Queens and Brooklyn.
September 15th, 2010 at 1:14 pm
Don’t you laugh when the hearse goes by
for you may be the next to die
they’ll wrap you up in a dirty old sheet
and throw you in the ground
six feet deep
The worms will crawl in
The worms will crawl out
In your mouth and out your snout
until you melt
like Borden’s ice creammmm…
This is how my grandma taught it to me :)
i think she made up the last part………..
September 16th, 2010 at 7:49 am
Never laugh when a hearse goes by
or you will be the next to die.
They’ll wrap you up in bloody sheets
and bury under about 6 feet deep.
For all goes well for about a week
then you coffin starts to leak.
The worms crawl in, the worm crawl out
They’ll play Pinochle on your snout.
They’ll eat your eyes, they’ll eat your nose,
They’ll eat the jelly between your toes.
Then your stomach turn ishy-green
and puss comes out like white whip cream.
You wipe it up with moldy bread
and that’s what you eat
When … You… Are … Dead….
October 6th, 2010 at 12:48 pm
My mom used to sing this to me when I was little, but I’ve forgotten most of her lyrics. But I do remember that there was one bit that went:
They Fill You Up
With Shaving Cream
and then there was something about a scream. And her worms bit went like this:
The Worms Go In
The Worms Go Out
In Your Stomach
And Out Your Mouth
This seems to be the only version in the world that the worms ‘Go’ instead of crawl. I’ll have to ask her if she remembers the words.
October 16th, 2010 at 12:51 am
The Hearse Song, sung in CA mid 60’s
If you do see a hearse go by
you’ll surely be the next to die
They wrap you up in a bloody sheet
and throw you down 3 feet deep
The worm crawl in, the worms crawl out
the ants play pinochle on your snout
A big black spider with big green eyes
Crawls through your stomach and out your sides
Your stomach turns a slimy green
and pus comes out like whipping cream
You spread this on a piece of bread
this is the food of the living dead.
October 23rd, 2010 at 11:32 pm
thank you, all for sharing this. My daughter and I sing this song and she thought it was great about eating the jelly between the toes part because we did not know that one. Also we start our song off “You should never laugh when a hearse goes by……”
October 25th, 2010 at 7:59 pm
This is a great thread! I learned this song from the sweetest little old lady. She was about 98 years old and had alzhiemers. But she told me that her older brother taught it to her when she was a little girl and that put it around 1900. The mention, in some versions, of a bell being pulled to alert people that you weren’t really dead dates this song back maybe another hundred years past that, as it was common in the 1700’s, due to the difficulty in being sure if pepole were really dead, to bury folks with a string that was attached to a bell hung by your headstone, in case you “woke up” from say a concusion or a coma that had been mistaken for death. You would pull the string and hopefully some one would hear your bell and dig you up.
October 25th, 2010 at 8:04 pm
That’s a gruesome thought – to wake up from a coma or concussion and find yourself in a coffin. Yikes!
November 4th, 2010 at 1:35 am
Oh my gosh. This song gets stuck in my head all the time and the movie I remember hearing it on is a little girl singing it and then people die. The mother realizes what is going on and has to teach her daughter not to do that or something to that effect. I have no idea what the name of it is, but it has been driving me and my mother crazy over the years. I am not sure if it is “Picture Mommy Dead” or not but I don’t think it is
November 11th, 2010 at 5:08 pm
the worms crawl in
the worms crawl out
the worms play pinochle in your mouth
one brave lil worm
who wasnt so shy
crawled into your stomache and out your eye
puss came out
like shaving cream
and turned your stomache a sickening green
you sop it up on a piece of bread
and thats what you eat when you are dead
please pass the gravey
November 17th, 2010 at 4:48 pm
WOW!! i never knew there were so many versions of this song! i heard this on the radio from some funny DJ’s when i was a kid and its stuck with me ever since. it was just a short little thing that i have since taught my two boys! LOL
The worms crawl in, the worms crawl out
the worms crawl in the dead man’s mouth
the dead man turns a ghastly green and puss pours out like whipping cream-
and i left my spoon at home.
November 22nd, 2010 at 11:11 pm
I haven’t seen one that ends the way my mother taught me.
At the very end, there’s no talk of bread or eating when you’re dead, but more of a statement or afterthought, like the ‘left my spoon at home’ part. The melody even changes from ‘Spooks on Parade’ to a different one, which I don’t know the name of but believe is a very commonly known ‘haunting’ one.
‘Pray for the dead and the dead will pray for you.’
December 8th, 2010 at 3:54 am
This is how I learned the chorus:
Never laugh when a funeral goes by,
Or you may be the next to die
The worms crawl in,
The worms crawl out,
The worms play pinochle on your snout,
The big black but with the shiny green eyes
Will eat out your liver and crawl out your thighs,
So never laugh when a funeral goes by
Or you may be the next to die.
It was one of those in the car songs my family sang
December 21st, 2010 at 7:13 pm
This is what I know.
The worms crawl in
The worms crawl out
They’ll eat your guts
then spit them out.
March 25th, 2011 at 10:24 pm
I learned this version 50 years ago.
Did you ever see the hearse go by,
And think that you’d be the next to die?
They wrap you up in silk and lace,
And throw the dirt right in your face.
The first two weeks are not so bad,
But then the casket starts to leak.
The worms crawl in the worms crawl out,
Your eyes fall in and your teeth fall out.
Your stomach turns a slimy green,
The puss comes out like whipping cream.
Please pass the gravy.
May 21st, 2011 at 3:20 pm
Maybe it isn’t the official version, but I learned this from my twisted dad as child like this….
Have you ever seen a hearse drive by,
and wondered if you were next to die?
first they wrap you up in a big white sheet,
then drop you down, six feet deep,
your OK for a little while, then you start to turn ripe,
usually about a day and a night,
the worms crawl in, the worms crawl out,
the big black beetle, with the big green eyes, crawls in your liver,
….and crawls out your eyes.
May 26th, 2011 at 11:44 pm
This is an amazing blog! So much info, so many versions…! wow!
Our Australian band ‘Brillig’ recorded a version recently, as a sort of dedication to our favourite Adelaide Roller Derby team, “The Wild Hearses” :)
Our take on the lyrics & the track can be found here for your perusal:
http://brillig.bandcamp.com/
We’d love to hear what you think.
May 28th, 2011 at 9:06 am
Great rendition of The Hearse Song! -Cheers! Mama Lisa
May 29th, 2011 at 11:55 pm
Many thanks :) Glad you like it! Wish we’d seen this blog before we recorded… we might have used alternate lyrics. Ah well. They’re all nice & creepy!
June 2nd, 2011 at 7:53 am
worms come in worms come out im ur tummy and out your mouth when u c the truck go by do you feel your going to die?
June 2nd, 2011 at 1:58 pm
My son & I were finding ants yesterday and I started singing this song…the only words I could remember were…
the ants go in
the ants go out
the ants play pinochle on your snout
they use your tongue as a diving board
and swim around in your vocal cords
My son was enthralled (he’s 4) and today asked me what the rest of the words were (I had told him there were more but I couldn’t remember). So here we are…I am in my 40’s & this brings back lots of memories of singing with my brothers!!! I don’t remember if we sang about worms or ants though. Either way it is creepy!!!
June 2nd, 2011 at 2:01 pm
I’ve never heard it with ants… but I like it!
It’s probably your family’s variation.
June 22nd, 2011 at 3:11 am
My dad use to sing it like this to me when i was little.
when ever you see a hearse go by
you never know if your next to die
they wrap you up in bloody sheets
and bury you more than six feet deep
the worms crawl in the worms crawl out
the worms play pinnacle on your snout
the snot comes out like wiped cream
and your with out a spoon.
June 27th, 2011 at 7:51 pm
I received this email recently:
As an altar boy, we sang this song on the way to the cemetary.
When you see a hearse go by
think of the day that you will die
the worms crawl in
the worms crowl out
they crawl in and out of
your nose and mouth
that’s all I remember.
Poisson
June 27th, 2011 at 7:55 pm
Margie wrote:
Never laugh when a Hearse goes by
For you will surely be next to die
They wrap you up in a big white sheet
and then they bury you six feet deep.
The worms crawl in..
The worms crawl out..
They crawl in your stomach and out your mouth
Your stomach turns a slimy green
and pus comes out like whipping cream
The worms crawl in..
The worms crawl out….
June 30th, 2011 at 12:08 pm
Janice wrote:
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.
You’re eyes all rot, your teeth decay.
Such an end to a horrid day.
Haha, my friends all taught this to me! Had to share it. :)
~Janice Kay~
July 11th, 2011 at 9:19 am
Ken Hara wrote:
“Our Long Island, N.Y. version of ‘The Worms Crawl In’ had no mention of a hearse…
The worms crawl in, the worms crawl out,
They eat ya guts and they spit ‘em out.
Ya stomach turns and then you scream
And the pus flows out like sour cream.
It was in the 1950s and 60s, we lived in the Lakeview area of West Hempstead, Nassau County. I probably learned the song at Eagle Avenue School (not from any of the teachers!) in Lakeview”
Thanks for sharing Ken!
July 29th, 2011 at 7:20 am
This is the version I learnt (and had in bits forgotten) in the noth of England back in the fifties.
Never laugh when a hearse goes by
For you never know when you’re going to die,
They wrap you up in a dirty sheet
And drop you down about thirty feet
Having put you in a big black box
They cover you with dirt and rocks.
All goes well for about a week
Then your coffin begins to leak
Worms crawl in and worms crawl out,
They go in thin and they come out stout
They eat your eyes and they eat your nose
They eat the jelly between your toes
Your stomach turns a slimy green
And pus comes out like whipping cream,
So never laugh when a hearse goes by
For you never know when you’re going to die……….
August 10th, 2011 at 10:37 am
I was thinking of that song last night and I wanted to sing it to my family. I knew it was in one of those scary storie books. I finnaly got a copy of it (thank you google!)and printed it out. It goes like this:
Do you ever think as a hearse goes by that 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 and then 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 goes in your stomach and out your eyes.
Your stomach turns a slimy green and puss pours out like whipping cream.
You spread it on some moldy bread and thats what you eat when you are dead!
September 26th, 2011 at 9:06 am
have you ever thought as the hearse goes by,
that you’ll be the next to die,
they wrap you up in a big white sheet,
from your head down to your feet,
Worms crawl in and worms crawl out,
in your stomach and out your snout,
your eyes fall out and your teeth decay,
and thats the end of a perfect day.
October 16th, 2011 at 1:16 am
I loved this song as a grade-schooler in the 70s! I’ve heard many of the versions; I liked learning new verses from different kids we met. The main difference I remember is “did you ever see (or have you ever seen) a hearse (sometimes hearsie) go by and wonder what it’s like to die?”
I can’t wait to ask my friends if they remember. I think we used to sing it on the bus and at scout campfires. We also sang ‘greasy grimey gopher guts”. Remember that one?
From Michigan
October 20th, 2011 at 3:18 pm
Did you ever see a hearse go by
And think that you were going to die?
They put you in a great big box
And cover you up with dirt and rocks
Your eyes sink in
Your teeth fall out
The ants play pinochole
On your snout
Your skin it turns
A ghastly green
And the pus oozes out
Like whipping cream
Unfortunately that is as much as I can remember. I believe there are two more stanza.
October 30th, 2011 at 12:14 pm
My dad taught me it this way but i think i remember it wrong…
Have you ever seen a hearse go by
and think that you are the next to die
they wrap you up in big white sheets
and throw you down about six feet
the bugs crawl in the bugs crawl out
the worms play penacle on your snout
and as you turn the [grassy green
comes out the puss like whipped cream]
you put the whipped cream on bread
and thats what you eat when you are dead!
*[] that part i dont really remember
February 2nd, 2012 at 1:30 am
I remember it this way;
When ever you see a hearse go by
you know that you’ll be the next to die,
They put you in a great big box,
and cover you over with dirt and rocks
the worms crawl in the worms crawl out
the maggots play pinochle on your snout,
you teeth cave in your eyes bulge out,
Your stomach explodes and your gut fly out.
April 26th, 2012 at 1:36 pm
Here’s a link to a great folk/punk cover of this song by the band Harley Poe.
http://harleypoe.bandcamp.com/track/the-hearse-song
April 26th, 2012 at 2:49 pm
This was used a skipping song in my school in New Brunswick, Canada around 1970.
Your friends would swing the rope and you would jump in and chant:
Did you ever see a hearse go by
Thinking you would be the next to die?
They wrap you up in a big white sheet
And bury you about six feet deep.
The worms crawl in and the worms crawl out
They turn your guts into sauerkraut.
Your eyes fall out and your teeth decay
And then you just fade…a…way…
and you would jump out.
May 11th, 2012 at 9:05 pm
Pat R. wrote:
Re. The Hearse Song
When I was 10 years old in 1952, I was in a children’s hospital in Lincoln Ne. We were 12 girls on this ward. Most had had Polio. I was having a hip surgery. This was the version I learned from one of my ward mates…
Never laugh when a hearse goes by,
for you may be the next to die.
They’ll wrap you in a bloody sheet,
and throw you down about 6 feet.
Now you’re alright for ’bout a week,
then your coffin springs a leak.
The worms crawl in.
the worms crawl out,
the worms play pinochle
in your snout.
The eat your hair,
they eat your nose,
they eat the jelly between your toes.
I always knew there was more to this song, but I never learned all of it. The nurses may have gotten tired of our song and told us to stop.
My teen-ager grandchildren were shocked that straight laced ole granny knew such a song.
Thanks for the other versions of this silly song.
June 21st, 2012 at 8:22 pm
Here is how we were taught it:
Have you ever seen a hearse go by,
it makes you wonder who’s next to die
that wrap you up in a bloody sheet
and then they bury you 6 feet deep.
The worms crawl in, the worse crawl out
they eat your guts like sauerkraut
Your stomach turns
and your teeth decay
and that’s the end of a busy day!
August 27th, 2012 at 11:10 am
When I was about 7, my mother taught me this song. And I find it to be a bit different from the ones I have read on here. Plus I add a lyric to make it loop. I will recite my mothers version the and mine in at the bottom
Never laugh when a hearse goes by,
Or else you’ll be the next to die.
They’ll wrap you in a big white sheet,
And toss you in a hole so deep.
Then the worms crawl in the worms crawl out,
They turn your guts into sauerkraut.
They eat your eyes,
They eat your nose,
They’ll eat the dirt in between your toes.
(my rendition) And so that is why.. (repeat song)
September 25th, 2012 at 6:20 pm
Miss Molly had a dolly who was sick, sick, sick.
So she called for the doctor to come quick, quick, quick.
The doctor came with his bag and his hat,
And he knocked on the door with a rat-a-tat-tat.
He looked at the dolly and he shook his head.
And he said, “Miss Molly, put her straight to bed.”
He wrote on the paper for a pill, pill, pill.
“I’ll be back in the morning with the bill, bill, bill.”
October 3rd, 2012 at 4:31 am
I had a nightmare about this song a few weeks ago.
October 11th, 2012 at 10:40 pm
Never laugh when a hearse goes by
for you may be the next to die
They wrap you up in bloody sheets
then they bury you six feet deep
The worms crawl in
the worms crawl out
in your stomach
and out your mouth
They eat your eyes
they eat your nose
they eat the stuff
that’s between your toes
So never laugh when a hearse goes by
for you may be the next to die
October 26th, 2012 at 8:08 pm
do you ever think when the hearse goes by,
you never know when you will die,
the worms crawl in and the worms crawl out,
and your brain comes tumbling down your snout,
ha ha ha
November 9th, 2012 at 1:51 am
I am amazed at how many people grew up with this song and how many variations there have been on the lyrics. Reading through them all, I see our version was slightly different and it was interesting to note that only a couple versions came close to the ending I learned. Odd how nostalgic a creepy song can make us feel. ;)
Our version goes like this:
When you see a hearse go by
Then you know it’s time to die
They wrap you in a great big sheet
and bury you down six feet deep
The worms crawl in
the worms crawl out
They even play pinochle in your snout
Your eyes turn grey
and roll away.
And that’s the end
of a beautiful day.
January 16th, 2013 at 1:46 pm
Diane wrote:
Here is how I learned it…I don’t have it all, though.
Have you ever seen a hearse go by
Then you know you’re the next to die.
They wrap you up in a bloody sheet
And send you down about six feet deep.
The worms crawl in, the worms crawl out.
The worms play pinnocle on your snout.
They use your tongue as a diving board
And dive right in to your vocal chords.
Your face it turns a sickening green
And puss pours out like whipping cream.