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Hearse Song

from We Are The Compass Rose by Paul Devine

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about

On hearing "Worms" by The Pogues at the end of "If I Should Fall From Grace With God", I wondered. For years. And then I looked it up. It's a song about burial and human decomposition, of unknown origin. Popular in WWI and as an American and British children's song continuing to the present. So I made it a bit grimmer and roped in my other half to play 'Abigail', Marvin's young ward. Bunny and Ptarmigan are the origins of these characters' names in my novels.

lyrics

Don't ever laugh as a hearse goes by
For you may the next to die
They wrap you up in a winding sheet
From your stagnant head to your lifeless feet
They put you in a wooden box
And cover you up with dirt and rocks
And all goes well for about a week
And then your coffin begins to leak

The worms crawl out and the worms crawl in
The worms that crawl in are lean and thin
The ones that crawl out are fat and stout
The worms play Newmarket on your snout

Your tongue swells out, your gut swells up
Your shroud is ploughed with a load of muck
The soil and spoil and stench and shit
And that is only the start of it

The mould and mildew in the wood
They love your softening skin that’s good
They love your pretty eyes and hair
And make a happy home right there

The worms crawl in and the worms crawl out
The worms that crawl out are plump and stout
The ones that crawl in are slim and lean
The worms play backgammon with your spleen

A big black worm with blinded eyes
Crawls in your gizzard and out your thighs
Your stomach turns a slimy green
And pus comes out like whipping cream
Like whipping cream or rancid butter

Your eyes fall in
Your lips snarl-up
Your throat explodes
Your arse falls off
The soil and the mud and the moistness wins
And to think that this is how all of life begins

credits

from We Are The Compass Rose, released February 13, 2023

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about

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Paul Devine England, UK

1983: Sheffield, singing with Siiiii
1986: Leaves band
1989: South Wales
1993: DVO form
2005: Siiiii reform. Release Ancient
2006: Siiiii active live. Play New York
2008: Ein Verdammtes Versprechen released
2008: A Murder of Sandfleas released
2014: Modern. Paul leaves band again
2019: Diagnosed with ADHD, BPD and Tourette’s
2021 – 2022: Publishes four books
2023: The Compass Rose released ... more

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