- Album This song officially appears on the Post Card (UK version - Stereo) LP.
Related sessions
This song has been recorded during the following studio sessions
Early October 1968 to early December 1968
Recording "Kisses On The Bottom"
April - May 2011 ?
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Song facts
“The Inch Worm” (also named “Inchworm“) is a song written by Frank Loesser and originally performed by Danny Kaye in the 1952 film Hans Christian Andersen. Mary Hopkins covered it on her 1969 album “Post Card“, produced by Paul McCartney. And McCartney covered it on his 2012 album “Kisses On The Bottom“.
Over the years, the song has been recorded by many singers, including David Bowie – who said the song was the inspiration behind his 1980 hit “Ashes To Ashes“:
Ashes To Ashes wouldn’t have happened if it hadn’t have been for Inchworm. There’s a nursery rhyme element in it, and there’s something so sad and mournful and poignant about it. It kept bringing me back to the feelings of those pure thoughts of sadness that you have as a child, and how they’re so identifiable even when you’re an adult.
David Bowie
This is the oldie. I suppose it’s one of those songs you either love or you hate.
Mary Hopkin – From New Musical Express, February 22, 1969
Last updated on September 24, 2021
Lyrics
Inchworm, inchworm
Measuring the marigolds
You and your arithmetic
You'll probably go far
Inch worm, inch worm
Measuring the marigolds
Could it be, you'll stop and see
How beautiful they are
(Chorus:)
Two and two are four
Four and four are eight
Eight and eight are sixteen
Sixteen and sixteen are thirty-two
Inchworm, inchworm
Measuring the marigolds
You and your arithmetic
You'll probably go far
Solo
(Chorus:)
Two and two are four
Four and four are eight
Eight and eight are sixteen
Sixteen and sixteen are thirty-two
Inch worm, inch worm
Measuring the marigolds
Seems to me, you'll stop and see
How beautiful they are
Inchworm, inchworm
Measuring the marigolds
You and your arithmetic
You'll probably go far
(Chorus:)
Two and two are four
Four and four are eight
Eight and eight are sixteen
Sixteen and sixteen are thirty-two
Two and two are four
Four and four are eight
Eight and eight are sixteen
Sixteen and sixteen are thirty-two
Officially appears on
LP • Released in 1969
2:33 • Studio version • A1 • Mono
- Session Recording:
- Early October 1968 to early December 1968
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Abbey Road ; Trident Studios ; Morgan Studios, London, UK
Post Card (UK version - Stereo)
LP • Released in 1969
2:33 • Studio version • A • Stereo
- Session Recording:
- Early October 1968 to early December 1968
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Abbey Road ; Trident Studios ; Morgan Studios, London, UK
LP • Released in 1969
2:33 • Studio version • A • Stereo
- Session Recording:
- Early October 1968 to early December 1968
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Abbey Road ; Trident Studios ; Morgan Studios, London, UK
Official album • Released in 2010
2:33 • Studio version • A2010 • Stereo • 2010 remaster
- Paul McCartney :
- Producer
- Ken Scott :
- Engineering, Mixing engineer
- Mary Hopkin :
- Vocals
- Guy Massey :
- Remastering
- Steve Rooke :
- Remastering
- Alex Wharton :
- Remastering
- Allan Rouse :
- Project co-ordinator
- Session Recording:
- Early October 1968 to early December 1968
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Abbey Road ; Trident Studios ; Morgan Studios, London, UK
Official album • Released in 2012
3:43 • Studio version • B
- Paul McCartney :
- Acoustic guitar, Vocals
- Tommy LiPuma :
- Producer
- Diana Krall :
- Piano, Rhythm arrangement
- Karriem Riggins :
- Drums
- Robert Hurst :
- Bass
- John Pizzarelli :
- Acoustic guitar
- Eddie Karam :
- Orchestra conductor
- Assa Drori :
- Concertmaster
- Johnny Mandel :
- Orchestra arrangement
- Chloe Arzy :
- Children's choir
- Evyn Johnson :
- Children's choir
- Makiah Johnson :
- Children's choir
- Michael Johnson :
- Children's choir
- Delany Meyer :
- Children's choir
- Ilsey Moon :
- Children's choir
- Sabrina Walden :
- Children's choir
- Sasha Walden :
- Children's choir
- Scottie Haskell :
- Children's choir conductor
- Al Schmitt :
- Mixing engineer, Recording engineer
- Steve Genewick :
- Additional engineering
- Elliot Scheiner :
- Additional engineering
- Brian Montgomery :
- Additional engineering
- Session Recording:
- April - May 2011 ?
- Studio :
- Capitol Records Building, Los Angeles, USA
Kisses On the Bottom (Deluxe version)
Official album • Released in 2012
3:43 • Studio version • B
- Paul McCartney :
- Acoustic guitar, Vocals
- Tommy LiPuma :
- Producer
- Diana Krall :
- Piano, Rhythm arrangement
- Karriem Riggins :
- Drums
- Robert Hurst :
- Bass
- John Pizzarelli :
- Acoustic guitar
- Eddie Karam :
- Orchestra conductor
- Assa Drori :
- Concertmaster
- Johnny Mandel :
- Orchestra arrangement
- Chloe Arzy :
- Children's choir
- Evyn Johnson :
- Children's choir
- Makiah Johnson :
- Children's choir
- Michael Johnson :
- Children's choir
- Delany Meyer :
- Children's choir
- Ilsey Moon :
- Children's choir
- Sabrina Walden :
- Children's choir
- Sasha Walden :
- Children's choir
- Scottie Haskell :
- Children's choir conductor
- Al Schmitt :
- Mixing engineer, Recording engineer
- Steve Genewick :
- Additional engineering
- Elliot Scheiner :
- Additional engineering
- Brian Montgomery :
- Additional engineering
- Session Recording:
- April - May 2011 ?
- Studio :
- Capitol Records Building, Los Angeles, USA
Kisses On The Bottom - Complete Kisses
Official album • Released in 2012
3:43 • Studio version • B
- Paul McCartney :
- Acoustic guitar, Vocals
- Tommy LiPuma :
- Producer
- Diana Krall :
- Piano, Rhythm arrangement
- Karriem Riggins :
- Drums
- Robert Hurst :
- Bass
- John Pizzarelli :
- Acoustic guitar
- Eddie Karam :
- Orchestra conductor
- Assa Drori :
- Concertmaster
- Johnny Mandel :
- Orchestra arrangement
- Chloe Arzy :
- Children's choir
- Evyn Johnson :
- Children's choir
- Makiah Johnson :
- Children's choir
- Michael Johnson :
- Children's choir
- Delany Meyer :
- Children's choir
- Ilsey Moon :
- Children's choir
- Sabrina Walden :
- Children's choir
- Sasha Walden :
- Children's choir
- Scottie Haskell :
- Children's choir conductor
- Al Schmitt :
- Mixing engineer, Recording engineer
- Steve Genewick :
- Additional engineering
- Elliot Scheiner :
- Additional engineering
- Brian Montgomery :
- Additional engineering
- Session Recording:
- April - May 2011 ?
- Studio :
- Capitol Records Building, Los Angeles, USA
Bootlegs
Kisses on the bottom - Ultimate Archive Collection
Unofficial album • Released in 2015
3:42 • Studio version • B
- Paul McCartney :
- Acoustic guitar, Vocals
- Tommy LiPuma :
- Producer
- Diana Krall :
- Piano, Rhythm arrangement
- Karriem Riggins :
- Drums
- Robert Hurst :
- Bass
- John Pizzarelli :
- Acoustic guitar
- Eddie Karam :
- Orchestra conductor
- Assa Drori :
- Concertmaster
- Johnny Mandel :
- Orchestra arrangement
- Chloe Arzy :
- Children's choir
- Evyn Johnson :
- Children's choir
- Makiah Johnson :
- Children's choir
- Michael Johnson :
- Children's choir
- Delany Meyer :
- Children's choir
- Ilsey Moon :
- Children's choir
- Sabrina Walden :
- Children's choir
- Sasha Walden :
- Children's choir
- Scottie Haskell :
- Children's choir conductor
- Al Schmitt :
- Mixing engineer, Recording engineer
- Steve Genewick :
- Additional engineering
- Elliot Scheiner :
- Additional engineering
- Brian Montgomery :
- Additional engineering
- Session Recording:
- April - May 2011 ?
- Studio :
- Capitol Records Building, Los Angeles, USA
Live performances
Paul McCartney has never played this song in concert.
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