I don't know who originally sang it, but Bing Crosby recorded in in 1944. Written and composed by James Royce Shannon in 1913 for the musical play Shameen Dhu (Black-haired Jimmy), which was staged in New York in 1914. Words and music by James Royce Shannon (1881-1946) They don't give a dam if they break the box.Īnd your eyes drop out and your teeth fall inĪnd the worms crawl over your mouth and chin Īnd the worms crawl out and the worms crawl inĪnd your limbs drop off of you limb by limb.Īs sung by Carl Sandburg in Carl Sandburg Sings His American Songbag, Caedmon Records, 1967, recorded June 13, 1953.Īugust 11, 2005, 00:26 tinmanSticking with the theme mother (mither here). They shovel in dirt and they throw in rocks. They shovel you into that cold, wet ground.
They'll take you away but won't bring you back. They'll take you away in a big black hack, That some of these days you must surely die? They invite their friends and their friends' friends too,Īnd you’ll look like hell when they're - through - with you.ĭid you ever think as the hearse rolls by The worms crawl in and the worms crawl out, They'll throw in dirt and they'll throw in rocks,Īnd they won't give a dam-m-m if they break the box. While men with shovels stand all a-round They'll take you out and they'll lower you down, eyesĪnd you don't know whether to laugh or cry įor you know some day it will get you too,Īnd the hearse's next load may consist of - you. Written by Aubry Gass and Tex Ritter (early 1950s?)Īugust 03, 2005, 00:34 tinman ground. Now I went down to the bank this morning,Īs sung by Hank Williams in Live at the Grand Ole Opry Now I know a man that didn't try to get along, Now Jonah got along in the belly of the whale,