From the recording Reptiles and Monsters
This was the song that started this album, when I had an idea to make an entire album of Universal Horror songs. It ended up evolving to be only 4/10 of an ablum about universal horror movies, but that's okay.
The Mummy's Hand was one of the first reboot movies, when some people didn't like the Boris Karloff film because his portrayal wasn't "Mummy" enough. I think actually his peformance was great, but I am glad they made a trilogy of later films, including this one and "The Mummy's Curse" and "The Mummy's Tomb". They each had their own shared lore, which I used loosely in writing these lyrics.
this was also the first song I used my Arturia Keylab 49 midi controller on, to make the organ sounds. When I gave up my recording studio in my move a couple of years ago, I needed to find a way to make music in a smaller space, and so I decided I would incorporate some of the electronic sounds I loved in the 80s into my music. It has opened up new worlds for me of possilbities in creativity. Thanks to Arturia for making such an excellent and affordable product.
All vocals and instuments by Cool Nerd Mark
Lyrics and music composed by John Mark Orr copyright 2025
Lyrics
Mummy’s Hand
By Cool Nerd Mark (with notes)
In the ancient tomb where shadows dance,
A tale unfolds of a mystic plant.
Just nine drops of it’s tea, then just as Kharis planned
Awakens now the Mummy's Hand.
Watch out people , here comes the Mummy's Hand,
Rising from the grave, echoes through the ancient land.
With a grip from the past, he rises from the sand,
Don’t go in that tomb, beware the Mummy's Hand.
The Mummy seeks his lover , it’s a timeless quest,
And you can feel his mummy's heart beating in his chest.
With each unraveling bandage strand,
He reaches out, the Mummy's Hand.
Watch out people, here comes the Mummy's Hand,
Rising from the grave, echoes through the ancient land.
With a grip from the past, he rises from the sand,
Watch out for his grasp, beware the Mummy's Hand.
Underneath the moon's soft glow,
A maiden walks, her beauty shows
The mummy thinks she looks like his lover
But its seems she’s courted by another
The priest of Karnak wants to steal your secret power
To seduce your lover with the tana flower.
But thanks to our heroes things don't’ turn out as he planned
He’s just become the victim of the Mummy's Hand.
```
Watch out people, here comes the Mummy's Hand,
Rising from the grave, echoes through the ancient land.
With a grip from the past, he rises from the sand,
Don’t go in that tomb, beware the Mummy's Hand.
One finger two fingers The mummy’s hand.
Three fingers four fingers The mummy’s hand
Five and no more fingers The mummy’s hand
Beware Beware Mummy's hand!
notes:
In “The Mummy’s Hand”, a 1940 film by Universal pictures, the Mummy Kharis could be revived by drinking the juice of nine leaves from the Tana flower, and extinct rare plant from ancient Egypt
In the movie, the Mummy sees Marta, the daughter of one of the archeologist that discovers his tomb, and thinks she looks like Princess Anaka, who he was buried with, was in love with, and is sworn to guard for all eternity
A Priest of the ancient city of Karnack named Andoheb is the one who revived Kharis with the tana leaves, but now wants Marta to be his, and has captured her and wants her to drink the tana leaf tea along with him and become immortal. But the other archeologists, the heroes of the story, plan to stop him. Also the mummy isn’t very keen on Andoheb taking the reincarnation of his princess from him. Ah, old horror movies are the best!