Saturday, March 24, 2007

The Worm Song

The earth was wet with the dew of the dawn
As the worm scented air swept over the lawn
A big ol' worm came out of the ground
To see the world and to look around

And as he gazed at the azure sky
Another little worm came up nearby
Said he, with a wiggle, “You’re a cute little worm,
Let’s you and I go out for a squirm
I could easily fall in love with you
If you’ll condescend to a rendezvous.”

But the cute little worm just shook its head
And to the big ol' worm it said,
“No rendezvous between us two
Because I’m the other end of you.”

--By Prairie Home Companion



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12 comments:

Anonymous said...

I am looking for the music to this song....any ideas? jenockson@marykay.com

McCafferty Himself said...

To my knowledge there is no music because it is only a poem, not really a song. The author used poetic license when he or she called it a song. I found it many years ago in a Minnesota magazine. It was apparently written by one of the writers for public radio's "Prairie Home Companion."

Anonymous said...

there is music...we sing it at camp. I have a cd called 102 camp songs by the Twin Sisters...its on there.

McCafferty Himself said...

Well, that's news to me. You could try emailing the Prairie Home Companion Radio show. It's on public radio in Minnesota. They might be able to help you. Try to Google them because I don't know their web site.

Anonymous said...

My mom always sung this to me as a song...

McCafferty Himself said...

Well, I guess that is enough documentation to prove it started as a song.

Anonymous said...

I actually had sheet music for it when I was in high school, @#$% years ago (I'm now 69). Unfortunately, in a fit of "be kind to your music teacher and hope you'll get a good grade in mixed chorus", I gave him, Mr. Gil Smith, the music. Hard to tell what became of it in all those many years. I was under the impression it might have been a part of a stage production of some sort.
khinkle

McCafferty Himself said...

Well Kenhinkle, let's get a hold of Mr. Gil Smith, or his heirs, and see if he still has it. That is your homework assignment.

KenC said...

I know the music to this as my mom sang this song to me all the time when I was a kid. I begged her to sing me the last line over and over. But my music writing is sub par. So I wonder how to do that.

By the way, just looked this up today to see if there were any web references to the Worm Song and low and behold I found this. I'm 59 by the way.

McCafferty Himself said...

Well, ehukai,

If you ever find the music to it, please come back and let the rest of us know where it is. I, for one, would really like to hear the music.

Anonymous said...

I know this was a song as I had a 45 record when I was about 7 (i am 50 now) i have found the correct words also

The Worm Song
....... C ....................................... G7 ........... C
The earth it was damp with the dew of the dawn
............................... G7 ......................... C
And sweet-scented air spread over the lawn.
.... F ......................... C ................ G7 ................ C
A handsome young worm popped out from the ground.
.................. F ................ C ........ G7 ........... C
Squeezing up from his hole, he gazed all around.

Just then as he stared at the sun in the sky
Another little worm popped up quite nearby.
Said the first with a squiggle, “You’re a trim little worm.
Why not wriggle out here and we’ll go for a squirm.

“If you’d only agree to a brief rendezvous
I would love to surrender my heart just for you.
I would build you a home and I’d treat you with care
And happy we’d be as the birds in the air.”

Then the trim little worm gave a shake of its head
As it sadly replied, “I would love to be wed,
But I fear we can’t marry though I know you’d be true,
For you see, Mr Worm, I’m the other end of you!”

Chenz0 said...

Hi All, I was looking for the lyrics for this song as I learnt to play it as a kid (I'm 50+ now).
Then I came across a this blog.
So here goes my first attempt at writing tablature.


The Worm Song. (played in 3/4 time)

E|-----------2--2--------2---2--------0--0------2---2----
B|-----------3--3--------3---3--------2--2------3---3----
G|-----------2--2--------2---2--------0--0------2---2----
D|-----0-------------------------------------0-----------
A|------------------0-------------0----------------------
E|-------------------------------------------------------
D A7 D
The earth it was damp with the dew of the dawn

E|----------2--2-------2---2-----0--0------2---2--------
B|----------3--3-------3---3-----2--2------3---3--------
G|----------2--2-------2---2-----0--0------2---2--------
D|-----0---------------------------------0--------------
A|-------------------0----------0-----------------------
E|------------------------------------------------------
A7 D
And sweet-scented air spread over the lawn.

E|--------3---3---------2--2-------0---0-------2---2----
B|--------0---0---------3--3-------2---2-------3---3----
G|--------0---0---------2--2-------0---0-------2---2----
D|------------------0------------------------0----------
A|------------------------------0-----------------------
E|---3--------------------------------------------------
G D A7 D
A handsome young worm popped out from the ground.

E|---------3----3-----------2--2-----0--0------2---2----
B|---------0----0-----------3--3-----2--2------3---3----
G|---------0----0-----------2--2-----0--0------2---2----
D|-----------------------0------------------0-----------
A|---------------------------------0--------------------
E|---3--------------------------------------------------
G D A7 D
Squeezing up from his hole, he gazed all around.


Just then as he stared at the sun in the sky
Another little worm popped up quite nearby.
Said the first with a squiggle, You're a trim little worm.
Why not wriggle out here and we'll go for a squirm.

If you'd only agree to a brief rendezvous
I would love to surrender my heart just for you.
I would build you a home and I'd treat you with care
And happy we'd be as the birds in the air.

Then the trim little worm gave a shake of its head
As it sadly replied, I would love to be wed,
But I fear we can't marry though I know you'd be true,
For you see, Mr Worm, I'm the other end of you!


I hope this helps. Chenz0