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Released in 2012

The Inch Worm

Written by Frank Loesser

Last updated on September 24, 2021

Album This song officially appears on the Post Card (UK version - Stereo) LP.

Timeline This song was officially released in 2012

Master album

Related sessions

This song was recorded during the following studio sessions:

“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

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

Variations

  • A Mary Hopkin cover - Stereo
  • A1 Mary Hopkin cover - Mono
  • A2010 Mary Hopkin cover - 2010 remaster
  • B Paul McCartney cover from "Kisses On The Bottom"

Officially appears on

Bootlegs

Videos

Album Post Card (UK version - Stereo)

Album Kisses On the Bottom

Live performances

Paul McCartney has never played this song in concert.

Going further

Paul McCartney writing

Talk more talk, chat more chat

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