There's things out in the forest
  That's worser an' 'n owl,
'At gets on naughty boys 'n girls
  'At allers wears a scowl.
There's things out in the forest '
  At's worser 'n a lion,
'At gets on wicked boys 'n girls
  'At's quarrelin' an' a-cryin'.
There's things out in the forest, mind,
  An' if you don't take care,
The woodticks—-the woodticks—-
  Will be crawlin' thro' yer hair.

An' they say as boys is naughty,
  An' their hearts is full o' sin,
They'll crawl out in the night time
  An' get underneath yer skin,
An' the doctor'll have to take a knife
  An' cut 'em off jes' so,
An' if a bit of 'em is left
  Another one'll grow.
An' mebbe you won't feel 'em, too,
  Er even know they're there,
But by and by they'll multiply
  And crawl up in yer hair.

The devil's darnin' needle too,
  'Ill come and sew yer ear.
An' make a nest inside like that,
  An' then you'll never hear;
An' the jigger bugs gets on you,
  An the thousand-legged worm
'Ill make you writhe, an' twist, and' groan,
  An' cry, an' yell, an' squirm;
But the worst things 'at'll git you
  If you lie, or steal, or swear,
Is the woodticks—-the woodticks—-
  A-crawlin' thro' yer hair.