This spooky Halloween season, I got a chance to perform at Leu Gardens in Orlando, Florida, with the cast of "Haunting Tales," formerly called "Ghosts in the Garden." Last Friday, the morning was beautiful, but the afternoon brought torrential rains. Will people still come? The organizers talked about cancelling the show. Ninety minutes before the performance, the rain slowed and stopped. Ticket holders started coming in with their lawn chairs and picnic baskets of food, beer, and wine. In the middle of downtown Orlando, this 50-acre botanical gardens opens its gates for an evening show every Halloween season. The historic Leu House on the property is covered with spooky decorations, stage and sound system are brought in, and this year 500 ticket holders spread out over the lawn to see the show!
Mitchell O'Rear has produced this Halloween show at Leu Gardens for 29 years! He is a master performer of the scary story, but sometimes adds a little fun. (He will also be performing at the Florida Storytelling Festival in January 2023.) Mitchell opened our "Haunting Tales" event with this children's song from the early 20th century. The topic is heavy, the images funny, and he adds a different twist to the ending that had people jumping out of their seats. The exact origin of the song is unknown. A version of the song was popular among the British and American soldiers in WWI, and you can find it in many WWI song book collections.
Most people know that the hearse is the large vehicle that carries the coffin to the funeral. Strangely, this song carries the theme of death into a children's song. After hearing it once, the words got stuck in my head. Be careful! Listen at your own risk.
The Hearse Song
Don't ever laugh as a hearse goes byFor you may be the next to dieThey wrap you up in a big white sheetFrom your head down to your feet
They put you in a big black boxAnd cover you up with dirt and rocksAnd all goes well for about a weekAnd then your coffin begins to leak
And the worms crawl in, the worms crawl outThe worms play pinochle on your snoutThey eat your eyes, they eat your noseThey eat the jelly between your toes
A big green worm with rolling eyesCrawls in your stomach and out your eyesYour stomach turns a slimy greenAnd pus pours out like whipping creamYou spread it on a slice of breadAnd that's what you eat when you're dead
And the worms crawl out, the worms crawl inThe worms that crawl in are lean and thinThe ones that crawl out are fat and stoutYour eyes fall in and your hair falls outYour brain comes tumbling down your snout
And the worms crawl in, the worms crawl outThey crawl all over your dirty snoutYour chest caves in and your eyes pop outAnd your brain turns to sauerkraut
They invite their friends, and their friends tooThey all come down to chew on youAnd this is what it is to dieI hope you had a nice goodbye
Did you ever think as a hearse goes byThat you may be the next to die?And your eyes fall out and your teeth decayAnd that is the end of a perfect day