Do You Like Worms

[ShenzhenLost]

hey there,

funny thing is, i was looking through some old 'national geographic' magazines today and i came across a story about the first Europeans to arrive and settle in the states.  in that article it spoke about how those settlers brought over earthworms to help with the soil etc.  now, i know that both Brian and Van Dyke have said that they didn't write the title 'Do You Like Worms' on the tape box but it just made me think about the relevance OF that title...  is it possible that SOMEONE knew about that kind of thing or perhaps Van Dyke just FORGOT that he actually did come up with title? 
anyway, it just interested me enough to ask the question!

[hypehat]

i always thought it was something to do with the 'roll plymouth rock, roll over' aspect, cos as any adventurous youngster would know, flip a rock over and you find... worms! and that ties into the whole 'child is the father' thing as well. Although what you said sounds barmy-yet-logical enough to have come from Van Dyke too... That crazy fool 

Hell, if anyone on the whole Smile train knew about the Pilgrims shipping over worms to fertilize the soil, it'd be Van Dyke Parks

[The Shift]

"Unafraid of what a dude'll do in a town full of heroes & villains"
"Out in the farmyard the chickens do their number..."
"Rhode Island" mentioned on one of Frank Holmes' illustrations
"Plymouth Rock" is another breed of chicken...

Do You Like Worms? Chickens like worms.

Said it before, I think there's a sub-theme going on in SMILE that's all chicken related.

[sofonanm]

Do You Like Worms sounds like a title Brian would think of.

Brian: hurry up Mike, finish combing your beard, we have to lay vocals down on this new track.
Mike: oh yeah? what's it called?
Brian: Do You Like Worms!
Mike: ... did your dad hit you in the head with a dinner plate or something?

[Compost]

I read a similar article about worms inadvertently being transported to the New World in the soil of tobacco plants.  The worms thrived, changed the soil, consumed tree litter, and actually contributed to the deforestation of the land surrounding Jamestown in Virginia.  As this was the essential habitat of First Nations in the area they were driven back not only by military and agricultural encroachment, but by ecological disruption as well.

So 'Do You Like Worms?'  Not if you're a First Nation!  Perhaps a rhetorical question wholly fitting the song's sentiments.

[Fall Breaks]

When and why did "Do You Like Worms" become "Do You Dig Worms", or the other way around? Either way, it's one of my top 5 favorite BB song titles.

[juggler]

i always thought it was something to do with the 'roll plymouth rock, roll over' aspect, cos as any adventurous youngster would know, flip a rock over and you find... worms!

I've always thought the same thing.

Despite what Brian and Van Dyke might be saying now, I have to believe that DYL(or dig)W  was going to be the title in '66-'67.   If it wasn't, why the heck is it in the Smile booklet and on the back cover?  Capitol wasn't just making stuff up.

[Bean Bag]

I read a similar article about worms inadvertently being transported to the New World in the soil of tobacco plants.  The worms thrived, changed the soil, consumed tree litter, and actually contributed to the deforestation of the land surrounding Jamestown in Virginia.  As this was the essential habitat of First Nations in the area they were driven back not only by military and agricultural encroachment, but by ecological disruption as well.

So 'Do You Like Worms?'  Not if you're a First Nation!  Perhaps a rhetorical question wholly fitting the song's sentiments.

Wow.  Really? 

That's pretty crazy.  But introducing new species to new envrions, as we all know, can really fun things up.  A kind of metaphor for..."hey kid...you like drugs?"

[Chris Brown]

i always thought it was something to do with the 'roll plymouth rock, roll over' aspect, cos as any adventurous youngster would know, flip a rock over and you find... worms!

I've always thought the same thing.

Despite what Brian and Van Dyke might be saying now, I have to believe that DYL(or dig)W  was going to be the title in '66-'67.   If it wasn't, why the heck is it in the Smile booklet and on the back cover?  Capitol wasn't just making stuff up.

I agree.  I would think that if it was a working title, they would have come up with a "real" title before submitting a list to Capitol, even if it was just to get them off Brian's back.  It's not as if the song didn't have lyrics, so they could have changed the title at any time, but didn't. 

Like others have said, the title does connect with the song, and I think it's one of the coolest song titles ever.