The Hearse Song

Album: not on an album (1910)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Also known as "The Worms Crawl In," this delightful ditty is thought to have originated from the First World War or earlier. Certainly fragments of the lyrics predate the 20th Century, and although our ancestors lacked the technology that makes possible gory horror films like ...Dream Warriors, they certainly did not lack lurid imaginations.

    Whether or not it is entirely or partly of American origin, it was popularized by the New England author Alvin Schwartz (1927-92), who included the lyrics of what might be called his version in Scary Stories To Tell In The Dark. This 1981 book was written for children, though many people - including those who run the American Library Association - did not consider it entirely suitable for young minds. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Alexander Baron - London, England

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Meshell Ndegeocello

Meshell NdegeocelloSongwriter Interviews

Meshell Ndegeocello talks about recording "Wild Night" with John Mellencamp, and explains why she shied away from the spotlight.

Elton John

Elton JohnFact or Fiction

Does he have beef with Gaga? Is he Sean Lennon's godfather? See if you can tell fact from fiction in the Elton John edition.

Joe Ely

Joe ElySongwriter Interviews

The renown Texas songwriter has been at it for 40 years, with tales to tell about The Flatlanders and The Clash - that's Joe's Tex-Mex on "Should I Stay or Should I Go?"

Laura Nyro

Laura NyroSongwriting Legends

Laura Nyro talks about her complex, emotionally rich songwriting and how she supports women's culture through her art.

Classic Metal

Classic MetalFact or Fiction

Ozzy, Guns N' Roses, Judas Priest and even Michael Bolton show up in this Classic Metal quiz.

Ian Astbury of The Cult

Ian Astbury of The CultSongwriter Interviews

The Cult frontman tells who the "Fire Woman" is, and talks about performing with the new version of The Doors.