"The Hearse Song" by Harley Poe is a macabre and darkly humorous song that tells the story of what happens to the body after death. The lyrics depict a vivid and gory image of decomposition and the feeding of worms on the deceased body. The song begins with a warning not to laugh when a hearse goes by, as you may be the next one to die. It then describes the process of being wrapped in a white sheet and placed in a black coffin, and how everything goes well for about a week until the coffin starts to leak. The chorus introduces the worms, who crawl into the body and play pinochle on the deceased's snout. They eat the eyes, nose, and jelly between the toes. A big green worm crawls into the stomach and out through the eyes, turning the stomach slimy green and causing pus to pour out like whipping cream. The second verse mentions the different characteristics of the crawling worms – the ones that crawl in are lean and thin, while the ones that crawl out are described as fat and stout. The decay continues, with the eyes falling in, hair falling out, and the brain coming out of the snout. The worms continue to crawl all over the body, cavity, and chest, causing the eyes to pop out and the brain to turn into sauerkraut. The final lines of the song emphasize the relentless nature of decomposition, as the worms invite their friends to join in feeding on the body. The song concludes with a chilling reminder to the listeners that death is an inevitable reality, and it suggests that one should always consider the possibility of being the next to die. Overall, "The Hearse Song" is a darkly humorous and morbidly entertaining song that explores the gruesome details of decomposition in an imaginative and exaggerated manner.
