Robin Colbourne wrote me…
Hello Mama Lisa,
Whilst trying to find ‘the worms went in and the worms went out’ for a Halloween party tomorrow, I came across your site. I was trying to find the lyrics of the song as we used to sing them at Scout Camp.
The Scout Camp was situated in a clearing, in a wood in Tilford, Surrey, England, behind the 1860’s village church and its churchyard (full of gravestones, of course). You can imagine the effect that this song had on the cubs and scouts there for their first camp, having to walk back to their tents in the dark…
Flying Pigs has the words more or less as I remember them:
A woman stood by the churchyard wall
Ooh__________ Ahh__________
The woman she was gaunt and tall
Ooh__________ Ahh__________
A corpse was being carried in
Ooh__________ Ahh__________
The corpse was very pale and thin
Ooh__________ Ahh__________
The worms crawled in and the worms crawled out
Ooh__________ Ahh__________
In at the nose and out of the snout
Ooh__________ Ahh__________
The woman to the corpse said:
Ooh__________ Ahh__________
“Shall I be like that when I am dead?”
Ooh__________ Ahh__________The corpse answered with a groan: SHRIEK!
(at which point all the scouts who know the song scream their lungs out…)Best wishes
Robin Colbourne
Thanks Robin. Enjoy your party!
– Lisa
Here you’ll find other versions of The Hearse Song. Feel free to add the version you know in the comments.
***
Come read about The Origin of The Worms Crawl in the Worms Crawl Out a.k.a. The Hearse Song.
This article was posted on Saturday, October 29th, 2005 at 8:03 pm and is filed under British Children's Songs, Children's Songs, English, Halloween, Halloween Songs, Holiday Songs, Holidays Around the World, The Hearse Song, The Worms Crawl In, The Worms Crawl Out, United Kingdom. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.
October 27th, 2006 at 12:59 pm
I was looking for more verses of the song.
the way i was taught it many years ago was
“When ever you see a hearse go by
you know some day you’re gonna die
they put you in a big black box
and cover you over with dirt and rocks”
If you have heard of this one feel free to shoot me an email
September 30th, 2007 at 8:45 pm
The Hearse Song
A variant as I recall it from California, c 1960.
Don’t ever laugh when the hearse goes by,
For you may be the next to die.
They warp you in a bloody sheet
and then they bury you six feet deep.
Everything’s fine for about a week
And then your coffin starts to leak.
The worms crawl in and the worms crawl out
the worms play pinochle in your snout.
they eat your eyes and they eat your nose
they eat the jelly between your toes.
(don’t recall anything past that, we would usually just repeat the part about the worms to gross people out).
January 10th, 2008 at 8:50 pm
The version I was taught goes something like this…
Whenever you see a herse go by
just remember the day you die
ooh a ooh a ooh a ooh (How happy we will be)
They wrap you up in a big white shirt
and bury you six feet under the dirt
ooh a ooh a ooh a ooh (How happy we will be)
Your eyes fall in your teeth fall out
your brain comes drizzling out you snout
ooh a ooh a ooh a ooh (How happy we will be)
The worms crawl in the worms crawl out
they gobble you up from the inside out
ooh a ooh a ooh a ooh (How happy we will be)
they eat your eyes and they eat your nose
they eat the jelly between your toes.
February 14th, 2008 at 1:04 am
i was taught in Scotland ten fifteen years ago:
this line is interesting:
the worms crawl in
the worms crawl out
they crawl in thin and they crawl out stout
May 22nd, 2008 at 2:41 pm
My Grandad (82) sings this to my kids
Whenever you see a hearse go by
do you ever think that you’re going to die
ooh a ooh
ooh a ooh
ooh a ooh a ooh a ohh
They cover you up in a long white shirt
Then they cover you up with dirt
ooh a ooh
ooh a ooh
ooh a ooh a ooh a ohh
The worms crawl in, the worms crawl out
They crawl in thin and they crawl out stout
ooh a ooh
ooh a ooh
ooh a ooh a ooh a ohh
And when your bones begin to rot
The worms are there but you are not!
July 13th, 2008 at 5:12 pm
As a scout, we learned a variation on the song.
I can remember the start but have forgotton the end
Whenever you see a hurse go by
Remember the day that you will die
With a ha ha har and a ha ha hee
How happy we will be.
They wrap you up in a big white sheet
And put a bottle of beer at your feet
With a ha ha har and a ha ha hee
How happy we will be.
I have lost the rest here.
Any one know it?
July 22nd, 2008 at 6:05 pm
my dad thought me a version that goes like this:
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 skin between your toes
but thats all he remembers
August 16th, 2008 at 7:08 am
My AUntie taught me this version:
If ever you see a Hearse go by,
do you ever think you’re going to die
ooh-ooh ooh-ooh ooh-ooh ooh-ooh
how happy we shall be
They wrap you up in a big white shirt
and cover you over with muck and dirt
ooh-ooh ooh-ooh ooh-ooh ooh-ooh
how happy we shall be
The worms crawl in the worms crawl out
They crawl in thin and they crawl out stout
ooh-ooh ooh-ooh ooh-ooh ooh-ooh
how happy we shall be
They bring their friends and their friends friends too
They make an awful mess of you
ooh-ooh ooh-ooh ooh-ooh ooh-ooh
how happy we shall be
And then they send you down below
To help old Nick his fires to blow
ooh-ooh ooh-ooh ooh-ooh ooh-ooh
how happy we shall be
September 30th, 2008 at 2:45 pm
I use to memorize this out of a book,
Don’t ever laugh when a hearse goes by,
For you maybe the next to die
The cover you with 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.
Alls 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
Crawls in your stomach
And out your eyes
Your stomach turns a slimy green
And puss pours out like whipping cream
Spread it on a slice of bread,
And that’s what you eat when you are dead
October 8th, 2008 at 11:00 pm
I’m sure the song ended
The moral of the story that’s been related
is not be buried but be cremated.
October 24th, 2008 at 1:26 am
I sung something like this as a kid. But becasue I didn’t know what a hearse was I heard the word ‘horse’ – when the ‘horse’ comes by.
When the ‘horse’ comes by
you know you’re gonna die
he’ll wrap you up in a white cotton sheet
and through you down one thousand feet
rat come in
rats come out
rats play ping-pong on your snout
when your snout turns slimy green
your nose puffs up like whip cream.
We (my friends and I) would use this song to decide who would be ‘it’ in a game of hide & seek, or whatever. If the finger landed on you – as in cream – you were the cream, you were it.
March 24th, 2009 at 3:35 pm
Growing up my dad sang this version:
Have you ever seen a hearse go bye
and wonder if you will ever die
they put you in a wooden box
cover you up with dirt and rocks
the worms crawl in
the worms crawl out
in your stomach and out your mouth
Your eyes turn a puss(ie) green
oh what wonderful whipping cream
He would just repeat it.
May 20th, 2009 at 4:38 pm
My version starts
When next you see a hearse go by
Don’t ever think that you’ll never die
(Yo Ho Yo Ho Yo Ho
How happy we shall be) CHORUS
They’ll wash your face, they’ll comb your locks
They’ll strap you down in a big black box
Chorus
They’ll put you in a hole in the ground
While all your relatives stand around
Chorus
They’ll throw in stones, they’ll throw in rocks
And they won’t give a damn if they break the box
Chorus
The worms will crawl in, the worms will crawl out
They’ll crawl in thin but they’ll crawl out stout
Chorus
August 10th, 2009 at 6:12 pm
i remember hearing the first part of the song but in a different way
If you laugh when a hearse goes by,
youll be the next in line to die,
They’ll wrap you up in a big white sheet,
and toss you down thirty feet.
thats all i remember
October 31st, 2009 at 2:14 am
Whenever you see a hearse ride by,
That means that you will be the next to die,
They wrap you up in a big white sheet,
And bury you down ’bout six feet deep,
The worms crawl in,
The worms crawl out,
They eat your guts,
And they spit them out,
One little fellow none too shy,
Climbs in your ear and out your eye,
Boom, boom ain’t it great to be crazy,
Boom, boom ain’t it great to be nuts, nuts, nuts,
Boom, boom ain’t it great to be crazy,
Just like us.
January 27th, 2010 at 9:06 am
whenever you see a hearse go by,
you stop and think when your goin to die,
ooohhhhhhhoohhhaaahhhaaahhhaaahaa how happy we shall be
they put you in a big black box
and cover you up with chains and locks ooohhhhhhoohhh ahhhaaaaahhhhaa how happy we shall be
they wrap you up in a big white sheet,
that covers you up from head to feet ooohhhhhhhoohhhaahhhhaaaahhaa how happy we shall be
the worms crawl in the worms crawl out
they crawl in thin and they crawl out stout ohhhhhohhhhahhhhaahhhaahhhahahh how happy we shall be
your ears fall in your eyes fall out
your brain comes trickiling down your stout
ohhhhhohhhhoohhhhoohhhahhaahhhaahaha how happy we shall be
(as each verse was sung we would get quieter and at the end would give a loud scream lol =)) thats the derriaghy scouts version
March 9th, 2010 at 9:28 am
If you’ve ever seen a hearse go by
You know that some day you’re going to die
They wrap you up in a big black sheet
And bury you under six feet deep
The worms crawl in the worms crawl out
The ants play pinochle on you snout
You stomach turns a horrible green and
puss pours out like yum yum whipped cream
They give it to you spread on bread
And that’s what you eat when you are dead
March 20th, 2010 at 2:09 pm
this is what i remember when i was a child in England
Don’t laugh next time you see a hearst go by ,
for you might be the next to die
they wrap you up in a big white sheet
and lower you down to a depth of four or five feet
the worm crawl in and the worms crawl out
the your brain goes slippering down your snout
and when your blood turns a sickly green ,the Worms call it Devonshire cream
April 8th, 2010 at 12:35 pm
Whenver you see a hearse go by
you will be the next to die.
They wrap you up in a big white sheet
and bury you under six feet deep.
Everything is fine for about a week
and then the coffin begins to leak.
The worms crawl in, the worms crawl out
the ants play pinocle on your snout.
They eat your eyes, they eat your nose
they eat the jelly between your toes
Your stomach turns a slimy green,
puss runs out like old whipped cream,
You sop it up with a piece of bread
and that’s what you eat when you are dead.
I learned this as a child in Kentucky 1960-70’s
May 26th, 2010 at 5:37 am
never laugh wen a hurce gose by coz maybe your the next to die
they rap u nin a big white sheet and drup u down about 40 feet
ohohoho were will we be in 100 years from nou?
the put u in a big lack box and cover u up with sand and rocks
ohohoho were will we be in 100 years from nou?
all in fine for about a week and then the coffin begins to leek
ohohoho were will we be in 100 years from nou?
the worms crawl in the worms crawl out they go in thin they come out stout
ohohoho were will we be in 100 years form nou?
ur eyes fall in ur teeth fall out ur brain come trickeling down ur snout
ohohoho were will we be in 100 years from nou?
ur skill will tern a sickly green and puss comes out like shaving creem
ohohoho were will we be in 100 year from nou?
DEAD!!! (this is skeemed by everyone)
thats all i can remember my mum used to sing it to us in the car!! im shor ther were some mor versis but she dusnt remember them eather!!
June 2nd, 2010 at 4:33 am
Whenever you see a hearse go by
you’ll surely be the next to die
they’ll wrap you up in a bloody sheet
and drop you down about six feet deep.
The worms crawl in, the worms crawl out,
the quants play pinochle on your snout,
and then a worm who’s not so shy
crawls in your ear and out your eye!
You spread some pus on some moldy toast
and that’s how you live, when you’re a ghost.
June 7th, 2010 at 7:09 pm
I can add one verse:
After “the worms crawl in, the worms crawl out
the worms play pinocle on your snout”…
ADD to all the other verses submitted:
“They use your bones for telephones,
and you never know what they’re talking about.”
June 29th, 2010 at 1:04 am
This is the version my dad taught me (though only when mom wasn’t around, lol….). It’s pretty much a mishmash of many other versions with a few new variations:
If you laugh when a hearse goes by
You will be the next to die
They cover you up in a big white sheet
And bury you in a hole six feet deep
All goes well for about a week
And then your coffin starts to creak
Bugs crawl in and bugs crawl out
Ants play pinochle on your snout
Little green bugs that look like flies
Crawl in your ears and out your eyes
The pus comes out like whipping cream
And you forgot your spoon!
July 31st, 2010 at 8:22 pm
Hi! This was my fave as a child….it starts way differently and has a slightly different cadence here in Australia… atleast as I was taught………
Have you ever thought as time goes by
That you might be the next to die
They wrap you in a big white sheet
and toss you down about 6 feet
All goes well for about a week
Until your coffin starts to leak
Worms crawl in, worms crawl out
Worms play ping pong on your snout
Your liver turns a ghastly green
And puss pours out like thick whipped cream!
August 1st, 2010 at 7:20 pm
well this is the version my mom taught me
If ever you see a hearse go by
don’t forget you’re gonna die
ahoo ra hoo
ahoo ra hee
How happy we shall be
Your eyes fall in, your ears fall out
Your brains come tumbling down your snout
ahoo ra hoo
ahoo ra hee
how happy we shall be
and she doesn’t know the rest
August 4th, 2010 at 4:45 pm
Hello- thank you all for the wonderful childhood memories……I have a question…….does anyone think that the Alfred Hitchcock’s theme music fits the “worms crawl in…the worms crawl out” song? It just hit me after all these years- I had never made that connection before. I wonder if Alfred Hitchcock was laughing about it. The version I heard in Virginia was-
“The worms crawl in- the worms crawl out-
The worms play pinocle on your snout!
They eat your eyes, they eat your nose-
They eat the jelly between your toes!”
My mother told me to never sing that awful song again…I didn’t sing it again, but never forgot the words! Any comments about the Alfred Hitchcock tune?
August 4th, 2010 at 7:12 pm
I can hear the similarity. -Lisa
August 31st, 2010 at 11:25 am
My version from kids at Grant school, Mission Hills, San Diego; first heard (I think) in about 1940.
Do you ever think when a hearse goes by
that you might be the next to die?
They wrap you in a big white sheet
and then they bury you six feet deep
They put you in a long pine box
and cover you over with dirt and rocks
What a horrible way to die!
All goes well for ’bout a week
and then your coffin begins to leak
The worms crawl in the worms crawl out
the worms play pinochle on your snout
And then you turn a sickly green
the puss runs out like thick whipped cream.
What a horrible way to die!
I seem to recall that the song went on from there and some of the versions are familiar but I don’t remember how they were incorporated in my version. The main difference is the injection “What a horrible way to die!” after each six lines.
Yes, Hitchcock’s theme does remind me of the tune.
October 18th, 2010 at 3:27 am
The way that I have always heard it was…
The worms crawl in the worms crawl out. the ants play pinocle in your mouth. the worms crawl in the worms crawl out the pinocle in your mouth..
dont laugh next time a hearse goes by for you may be the next to die. they wrap you up in body 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.
November 2nd, 2010 at 8:45 pm
So I’ve been scouring the internet for the lyrics to the version I remember singing as a kid and thus far, no luck. But I’m really enjoying reading all of the variations on this site so I thought I’d add the one I remember to the pile =)
“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 hearse goes by
For you may be the next to die
They’ll 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!”
I feel like I’m missing some of it but this is all I remember
December 19th, 2010 at 7:38 pm
My aunt used to sing this to us as children now i sing it to my son and his cousins…
Have u ever seen a hearse go by
and think u may be the next to die
they cover u up with a great white sheet
then they bury u six feet deep
the worms crawl in the worms crawl out
the worms play pinochle on ur snout
a certain worm who isnt so shy
crawls in ur ear and out ur eye
u start to turn a milky green
and then u explode like whipping cream
OOPS I FORGOT MY SPOON!
January 10th, 2011 at 10:37 am
It’s great how these things are passed on and the naughty fascination that boys in particular have with it. This is what I remember my dad teaching me and what I’ve taught my 7 year old!
Whenever you see a Hearse go by,
Remember that one day you’ve got to die
Ooh-ooh ooh-ooh ooh-ooh ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh ooh-ho-ho-ho-hoo.
They dress you up in a wooden shirt
And cover your body all over with dirt.
Ooh-ooh ooh-ooh ooh-ooh ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh ooh-ho-ho-ho-hoo.
They throw in stones, they throw in rocks
And don’t care less if they break the box.
Ooh-ooh ooh-ooh ooh-ooh ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh ooh-ho-ho-ho-hoo.
It all goes well for about a week
And then your coffin begins to leak.
Ooh-ooh ooh-ooh ooh-ooh ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh ooh-ho-ho-ho-hoo.
The worms crawl in and the worms crawl out,
They go in thin and they come out stout.
Ooh-ooh ooh-ooh ooh-ooh ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh ooh-ho-ho-ho-hoo.
They bring their friends and their friends too,
They make a terrible mess of you.
Ooh-ooh ooh-ooh ooh-ooh ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh ooh-ho-ho-ho-hoo.
Your eyes fall in and your teeth fall out,
Your brain comes trickling down your snout.
Ooh-ooh ooh-ooh ooh-ooh ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh ooh-ho-ho-ho-hoo.
They eat your eyes; they eat your nose,
They love the jelly between your toes.
Ooh-ooh ooh-ooh ooh-ooh ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh ooh-ho-ho-ho-hoo.
And when your bones begin to rot,
The worms are there but you are not.
Ooh-ooh ooh-ooh ooh-ooh ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh ooh-ho-ho-ho-hoo.
Your liver turns a ghastly green
And oozes out like Devonshire cream.
Ooh-ooh ooh-ooh ooh-ooh ooh-ooh
I wish I had my spoon.
So whenever you see a Hearse go by,
Remember that one day you’ve got to die.
Ooh-ooh ooh-ooh ooh-ooh ooh-ooh
What fun it’s going to be.
March 20th, 2011 at 11:57 pm
My mom tells me about when she was a little girl, her brother (who was a boyscout) would sing this to her in the back seat of the car. She would get sick, then her parents would spank her and didn’t believe her brother was the culprit! That was in the early 50’s. These are all the lyrics I remember her singing to me…
Did you ever see a hearse go by
And wonder if you were the next to die?
Oo – ooooh
Oo – ooooh
The worms go in, the worms go out;
The worms play pinochle in your snout.
Oo – ooooh
Oo – ooooh
Some of the other lyrics people have mentioned sound vaguely familiar as well.
The song my dad always sang to me that has multiple parts to it, but he could only remember some parts was: Hagalina Magalina Hootsteina-Wualapina Hogan Logan Mogan was her name…She had a funny name, but she weren’t to blame…Her pa gave it to her just the same same same… Does anybody recognize that song? It’s probably a bit older. I think he learned it in the early 40’s.
September 10th, 2011 at 2:23 am
When I was younger, every time we would pass a grave yard in the car we had to put one foot in the air, one arm in the air, stick your tongue out, and cross your eyes. Shortly after my mum would always sing;
Have you ever seen a hearse go by,
Thinking that you’ll be the next to die,
They put you in a wooden box,
Cover you up with dirt and rocks,
The worms crawl in, the worms crawl out,
In your nose and out your mouth,
They eat your guts like sourkrout.
We would usually repeat the song a few times.
October 13th, 2011 at 2:03 am
This is the variation my Dad always sang to me, which I imagine he learned growing up in the 40’s and 50’s in Maryville, Tennessee. It seems similar to versions I have heard here, but distinct and much shorter (and a little less gross at times :P )
Have you ever wondered when the 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!
The worms crawl in, the worms crawl out,
The worms play pinockle on your snout!
They turn your belly a peachy green
and puss comes out just like whipping cream!
I’ve heard bits of this in the variations above, though few seem to mention the “pinochle” part, which I think is a specific mark of the ‘age’ of the song… those variants with pinochle mentioned in it are more likely to be the older versions. I looked this song up specifically, as I knew that this is the kind of thing that, because of my Dad’s age, likely has been around a very long time and thought it would be nice to ‘preserve’ it, or at least his version of it.
October 24th, 2011 at 7:33 am
Here is the song I learned. Thought about it because it was so close to Halloween:
Whenever you see the hearse go by,you know that you’re the next to die, they put you in a wooden box and cover you up with dirt and rocks. The worms crawl in the worms crawl out the worms play pinchocle on your snout, and then you turn as slickly green and puss swarms out like whipping cream. You slap it on a piece of bread and that is what you eat when your dead!
It seems like there is more to the song, but through the years without ever reciting it, I have forgotten a lot of it! The music is from the Funeral March of the Marionette—
June 14th, 2012 at 6:38 pm
The version I remember from Teacher Training college in 1966 which we used for speech training was:
Do not laugh when your friends pass by;
You may be the next to die!
They wrap you up in a long white sheet
And put you down about sixteen feet.
All goes well for nearly a week,
The your coffin starts to leak.
Worms crawl in and worms crawl out,
Worms play ping-pong on your snout.
?????????
Your brain goes tumbling all about.
Last of all, your rotting bones
Are used by ants as xylophones.
So when you feel it’s time to rest,
Cox’s Boxes are the best.
October 5th, 2013 at 5:51 pm
We sang it at my grammar school and recorded it on a tape machine in the Physics lab. One extra suggestion that we had was a chorus to each verse :
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Where shall we be in a hundred years from now.
Even back then I wondered if the answer could be “Still alive and in an old folks home” which now seems increasingly likely!
October 7th, 2013 at 9:42 am
That’s cool John! Would you like to sing this song for us? :) Mama Lisa
March 13th, 2014 at 12:48 pm
Recently a friend of mine mentioned The Hearse Song, which I hadn’t thought about for years. It immediately sparked my interest again and I came across this site while looking into it. Here’s the version we used to sing as kids (not sure if this has been posted by someone already).
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 ’bout 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 noes,
They eat the jelly between your toes.
Then a big green worm with rolling eyes,
Crawls through 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 that’s what you eat when you’re dead.
October 14th, 2014 at 12:01 am
Have you ever seen a hearse go by,
Then you’ll know your the next to die.
They wrap you up in a bloody sheet,
Then bury you about six feet deep.
All goes well for about a week,
Until your coffin begins to leak.
The worms crawl in, the worms crawl out.
They eat your guts and they spit them out.
Your nose turns green. Your bones decay.
Isn’t that the end of a perfect day?
Do me a favor. Drop dead.
That’s how I was taught as a kid in the eighties.
October 28th, 2014 at 10:46 pm
as a young leader at Brownies many years ago we used to sing
Have you ever thought as the years go by
that sooner or later you’ll have to die
Ha ha ha hee hee hee How happy we shall be
They wrap you up in a dirty sheet
and chuck you down about thirty feet
Ha ha ha hee hee hee How happy we shall be
It’s alright for the first few weeks
but then your coffin begins to leak
Ha ha ha hee hee hee How happy we shall be
the worms crawl in and the worms crawl out
they crawl in thin and they crawl out stout
Ha ha ha hee hee hee How happy we shall be
your ears fall off and your teeth fall out
Your Brains come tumbling down your snout
Ha ha ha hee hee hee How happy we shall be
Can’t remember the rest of it though
January 10th, 2016 at 1:16 pm
In Britain I heard it this way
(something about a hearse)
They wrap you up in a clean white sheet
And tuck in the corners ever so neat.
Oh oh oh oh where will we be in a hundred years from nowowowow
The worms crawl in and the worms crawl out
They crawl in thin and they crawl out stout
Oh oh etc
Your eyes fall in and your teeth fall out
Your brain comes trickling down your snout
That’s all I can remember.
January 16th, 2016 at 9:54 pm
This is the version I’ve been taught (UK):-
Whenever you see a hearse go by, just think of the day you’re going to die
Wooo-Ooo, Ooo-Ooo, where shall we be in a hundred years from now?
They wrap you in a big white sheet, and tuck the corners in so neat
Wooo-Ooo, Ooo-Ooo, where shall we be in a hundred years from now?
They put you in a big black box, and cover you up with tons of rocks
Wooo-Ooo, Ooo-Ooo, where shall we be in a hundred years from now?
All goes well for a couple of weeks, then the coffin begins to leak
Wooo-Ooo, Ooo-Ooo, where shall we be in a hundred years from now?
The worms crawl in the worms crawl out, they go in thin they come out stout
Wooo-Ooo, Ooo-Ooo, where shall we be in a hundred years from now?
They bring their friends and their friends friends too, They make an awful mess of you
Wooo-Ooo, Ooo-Ooo, where shall we be in a hundred years from now?
Your cheeks fall in, your teeth fall out, your eyes come slithering down your snout
Wooo-Ooo Ooo-Ooo, where shall we be in a hundred years from now?
Your brain becomes a sickly green and comes out your ears like Devonshire cream
Wooo-Ooo Ooo-Ooo, where shall we be in a hundred years from now?
You spread some pus on mouldy toast, that’s how you live when you’re a ghost.
Wooo-Ooo, Ooo-Ooo, where shall we be in a hundred years from now?
DEAD!
January 17th, 2016 at 9:48 pm
My version Birmingham uk 1950s. 17/01/2016 9.15pm
Have you ever seem a hearse go by
Then you’ll know you’re next to die
They put you in a big black box
They cover you up with sticks and rocks
With a he he he and a ha ha ha how happy we will beeeee
It’s alright for the first few weeks
Then your coffin starts to leak
The worms crawl in the worms crawl out
Your brains come dribbling down your snout
With a he he he and a ha ha ha how happy we will beeeee.
July 21st, 2016 at 5:19 am
Australia – 1960/70s
If ever you see a corpse go by
remember one day you have to die
ooo ooo ooo ooo
ooo wee ooo wee
let’s all be merry and gay
The worms go in the worms come out
they go in thin they come out stout
ooo ooo ooo ooo
ooo wee ooo wee
let’s all be merry and gay
?? ?? ??
your brains come dribbling down your snout
ooo ooo ooo ooo
ooo wee ooo wee
let’s all be merry and gay
can’t remember more
October 9th, 2016 at 10:04 pm
What a brilliant blog!.. here is my mum’s version that she sang to me as a young child in Belfast, N.Ireland in the 1960/70s… it was terrifying and has stayed with me all my life!
The Hearse Song…
If ever you see a hearse go by, do ya ever think that you’re gonna die?
Aye aye, aye aye… Aye aye, aye aye… How happy we will be!
They dress you up in a nice white shirt, and then they cover you up with dirt…
Aye aye, aye aye… Aye aye, aye aye… How happy we will be!
The worms crawl in, the worms crawl out. They crawl in thin and they crawl out stout.
Aye aye, aye aye… Aye aye, aye aye… How happy we will be!
If ever you see a hearse go by, do ya ever think that you’re gonna die?
Aye aye, aye aye… Aye aye, aye aye… How happy we will be!
It never sounded too happy to me… but there you go!
So many interesting versions! And I can’t remember if I ever passed it on to my children… I hope I didn’t, but I may have!
May 30th, 2019 at 12:51 pm
I remember this rhyme from my primary school days
and that was nearly 75 years ago, but still clear in my head
When next you see a hearse go by
You know that soon you’re sure to die
They wrap you up in a big white sheet
Then lower you down to about six feet
All goes well for about a week
But then your grave begins to leak
The worms crawl in and the worms crawl out
They go in thin and they come out stout
Your face falls in and your eyes fall out
And your brains come trickling down your snout
June 7th, 2020 at 10:13 pm
My version from the north of England in the 1940/50s.
Whenever you see the hearse go by
You know that you are going to die
Ha, ha, ha, hah, hee, hee, hee, hee
A happy we will be
They put you in a nice white shirt
And cover you up with sticks and dirt
Ha, ha, ha, hah, hee, hee, hee, hee
A happy we will be
The put you in a big black box
And cover you up with stones and rocks
Ha, ha, ha, hah, hee, hee, hee hee
A happy we will be
The worms crawl in and the worms crawl out,
They crawl in thin and they crawl out stout
Ha, ha, ha, hah, hee, hee, hee hee
A happy we will be
The moral of this tale is related
That don’t be buried but be cremated
Ha, ha, ha, hah, hee, hee, hee hee
A happy we will be.
September 20th, 2022 at 7:13 pm
We used to sing it in Brownies (circa 1970s)
Did it ever occurs when a wisp goes by
there’s going to be a day when you’re going to die?
Awoo Awoo
They bury you deep in a great white sheet
and cover you with dirt all nice and neat
Awoo Awoo
The worms crawl in and the worms crawl out
and the bugs play ping pong upon your snout
Awoo Awoo
Your blood it turns to a sickly green
and your pus rolls out just like whipped cream
Awoo Awoo
YUMMY, I forgot my spoon!
Awoo Awoo