<p>The present invention provides a metal pipe for laying underground which is hot-melt-coated with a composition comprising 5 - 30 wt. parts of e-thylene-vinyl acetate copolymer having vinyl acetate content of 15 - 40 wt.% and melt index of 1 - 1,000 g/10 min.; 2 - 20 wt. parts of low molecular weight oxidized polymer selected from polypropylene ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer and propylene-ethylene copolymer; 5 - 40 wt. parts of styrene-butadiene copolymer; 5 - 50 wt. parts of a tackifier and 10 - 80 wt. parts of asphalt. The present invention also provides a composition for use in forming said coating.</p>