The Hearse Song - The Worms Crawl in and the Worms Crawl Out - Four Versions of the Lyrics

Oct 19, 2026

Upload by Liam

Traditional British Isles children’s song known as “The Hearse Song,” also titled “The Worm Song,” and by its first line “The Worms Crawl in and the Worms Crawl Out.” The text explains its popular modern Halloween use and lists four distinct lyrical versions. Each version describes the worms crawling in and out, macabre bodily imagery, and a progression from playful rhymes to darker themes, including dying, burial, and a coffin that leaks.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLiterature

FormatPDF

Pages1

Reading Time2 min

AccessFree to download

The Hearse Song - Background

Versions of the Lyrics

Version 1

Version 2

Version 3

Version 4

Name: Date: Class: The Hearse Song The Worms Crawl in and the Worms Crawl Out "The Worm Song" in its different lyrical versions was originally a traditional children's song stemming from the British Isles. Also known as "The Hearse Song," or by its first line "The Worms Crawl in and the Worms Crawl Out," its most popular modern use is as a fun song to sing at Halloween. The song has been sung by children in films to create an eerie vibe, and was recorded by Irish-British musical group The Pogues as "Worms" in 1989 on the album "If I Should Fall from Grace with God." They certainly don't write kids' songs like this anymore! Four versions of the lyrics are written below. Version 1: The worms crawl in and the worms crawl out. The ones that go in are lean and thin. The ones that come out are fat and stout. Your eyes fall in and your teeth fall out. Your brains come tumbling down your snout. Be merry, my friends, be merry. Version 2: 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. Version 3: Don't ever laugh when a hearse goes by, Or you may be the next to die. They wrap you up in a bloody sheet, And bury you under about six feet. All goes well for a couple of weeks, But then your coffin begins to leak. The worms crawl in and the worms crawl out, The worms play pinochle on your snout. Your stomach turns a slimy green, And pus comes out of you like whipped cream. You lap it up with a piece of bread, And that's what you eat when you are dead. Version 4: The worms crawl in and the worms crawl out. The ones that go in are lean and thin. The ones that come out are fat and stout. Your eyes fall in and your teeth fall out. Your brains come tumbling down your snout. They eat your eyes and they eat your nose. They eat the jelly between your toes. Be merry, my friends, be merry. Free K-12 Worksheets and More [www.STUDENTHANDOUTS.com](www.STUDENTHANDOUTS.com)

FAQs

What is “The Hearse Song” also called?

It is also known as “The Worm Song,” “The Worms Crawl in and the Worms Crawl Out,” and by its first-line phrase.

What is the song’s most popular modern use?

It is commonly used as a fun song to sing at Halloween.

How many lyrical versions are provided in the text?

Four versions of the lyrics are written below.

Oct 19, 2026

Upload by Liam