Halloween Songs [2]

Subject: Halloween Songs
From: BeauDangles
Date: 25 Sep 00 - 07:03 PM

Ahh, it's that time again! The Wheel of the Year has turned nearly a full cycle, and it is nearly time for my favorite holiday. Halloween! Who doesn't thrill secretly at the stealthy approach of the Great Pumpkin? And as is usual for me at this time of year, I begin to muse on my list of all time favorite songs that I would feature at the bestest of all Halloween Parties. Over the years I have compiled what I think to be a very spooky menu of songs to stir the hairs at the back of the neck. I thought I would open it to public consumption and see what you 'Cats could add to it. Don't limit yourself to any one genre of music. Your songs can be vocal or instrumental, serious or comical, electric or acoustic. But they must all be scary. Here's what I have so far:

1. Anything and everything from Alice Cooper's Welcome to My Nightmare.
2. Of course, we must have all of Bobby "Boris" Pickett's Halloween songs, especially the Monster Mash.
3. Spooky (preferably the version by Atlanta Rhythm Section).
4. I Put a Spell on You, by CCR.
5. Witchy Woman, by The Eagles.
6. Black Magic Woman, by Santana.
7. Love Potion No. 9.
8. Don't Fear The Reaper, by Blue Oyster Cult.
9. Werewolves of London, by Warren Zevon (for that matter, Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner by Zevon)
10. Tales of Mystery & Imagination, by the Alan Parsons Project.
11. One-Eyed, One-Horned, Flying Purple People Eater, by Sheb Wooley.
12. Rare's Hill, Mary Black.
13. She Moved through the Fair, by...hmmm...Who would be the best?
14. Sympathy For the Devil, the Stones.
15. The soundtrack to Halloween, the movie. Also, Tubular Bells by Mike Oldfield, soundtrack to the Exorcist.
16. Sleepwalk (instrumental)
17.... That’s all I can remember. Now, it's your turn. Let's make this the Mother of All Party Compilation Tapes!

BeauDangles

[Many song titles in this thread have been converted to links by a Mudelf.]

Subject: Lyr Add: AN IRISHMAN'S SHANTY^^
From: rabbitrunning
Date: 25 Sep 00 - 07:16 PM

Oh, O'Leary is dead and O'Riley don't know it
O'Riley is dead and O'Leary don't know it
They're both of them dead and they're in the same bed
And neither one knows that the other one's dead.


Found it in a book when I was a kid. Have no idea what the right tune is. I sing it to a bit that got used a lot in old movies to indicate that someone was from Ireland.

Subject: RE: BS: Halloween Songs
From: Gary T
Date: 25 Sep 00 - 07:31 PM

There's "Haunted House"--I forget who did the original (even though I have it on 45), but the chart version was by Jumpin' Gene Simmons, now of Kiss.[*]

"Marie Laveau" recorded by Bobby Bare would qualify. There are also other songs about this voodoo queen, some perhaps with the same title.

[* Jumpin' Gene Simmons (actually Morris Eugene Simmons, born 1937) was not the same person as Gene Simmons (born Chaim Witz in 1949) of Kiss. The latter chose his stage name to honor the former. --A Mudelf]

Subject: RE: BS: Halloween Songs
From: BeauDangles
Date: 25 Sep 00 - 07:31 PM

Hey Rabbit!

I belive that little snippet is sung to the tune of the Irish Washerwoman.

BeauD

Subject: RE: BS: Halloween Songs
From: BeauDangles
Date: 25 Sep 00 - 07:34 PM

Whoops! I got the hiccups!

Of course, there is always Bad Moon Rising by CCR.

Subject: RE: BS: Halloween Songs
From: Mbo
Date: 25 Sep 00 - 07:46 PM

All the songs 7 music from Disney's "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" including The Rakes of Mallow...sung by Bing Crosby.

Subject: RE: BS: Halloween Songs
From: rabbitrunning
Date: 25 Sep 00 - 07:50 PM

Me too -- I should know better than to try to proofread after I've hit the submit button.

Ghost Riders in the Sky

Did anyone ever put James Whitcomb Riley's "Little Orphant Annie" to music? That's a great Halloween read.

Subject: RE: BS: Halloween Songs
From: Ely
Date: 25 Sep 00 - 08:52 PM

"Purple People Eater" (1958? around there) was written and recorded by Sheb Wooley (Pete Nolan on "Rawhide").

How about "Ghost of John [or Tom]" (long white bones with no skin on/oooo, ooooo/ wouldn't it be chilly with no skin on?). I loved that one when I learned it in kindergarten. I was always a bit of a morbid child.

Subject: RE: BS: Halloween Songs
From: Kara
Date: 25 Sep 00 - 09:29 PM

The Irish Ballad (Rickerty tickerty tin) by Tom Lehrer
Long Black Veil
Kara

Subject: RE: BS: Halloween Songs
From: Hotspur
Date: 25 Sep 00 - 10:36 PM

With 'er 'ead tucked underneath 'er arm
She waaaaaaaaaaaaalks the Bloody Tower
With 'er 'ead tucked underneath 'er arm
At the midnight 'our.
(That's from The Ballad of Anne Boleyn, of course.)

Subject: RE: BS: Halloween Songs
From: richlmo
Date: 25 Sep 00 - 10:38 PM

"PUMPKIN HEAD HARVEY"

Subject: RE: BS: Halloween Songs
From:
Date: 25 Sep 00 - 11:14 PM

Tam Lin, by Fairport Convention

Subject: RE: BS: Halloween Songs
From: Ely
Date: 25 Sep 00 - 11:41 PM

Isn't there one, it's sort of a chant, like those clapping games kids play, and I can't really remember the words, but it ends something like "and when the [?] began to crack, was like a penknife in my back, and when my back began to bleed, I was dead and dead, indeed."

[See A MAN OF WORDS AND NOT OF DEEDS. --Mudelf]

Subject: RE: BS: Halloween Songs
From: Mbo
Date: 25 Sep 00 - 11:52 PM

Yep Ely, we were just discussing that song back in the "Kid's Stuff" thread. It's actually in the DT, believe it or not, under "Sandy Toy."

--M

Subject: RE: BS: Halloween Songs
From: L R Mole
Date: 26 Sep 00 - 11:20 AM

Well, there's all the death-teen songs ("Teen Angel" by Mark Dinning, etc.) and a lot of Walter (Wendy) Carlos' score from Clockwork Orange.

Subject: RE: BS: Halloween Songs
From: Margaret V
Date: 26 Sep 00 - 12:08 PM

I refreshed a "Favorite Fall Songs" thread from last year that might be of interest. Margaret

Subject: RE: BS: Halloween Songs
From: Peg
Date: 26 Sep 00 - 12:13 PM

I think Loreena McKennitt's a cappella version of "She Moved Through the Faire," just for variety's sake...it is haunting as all get out (she does it with harp in concert for some reason)...

my additions to your wonderful compilation:
"Hammer Horror" by Kate Bush
"Raven in the Storm" by John Gorka
"The Witch's Promise" by Jethro Tull
"Season of the Witch" by Donovan
"I But a Little Girl" by Bob Franke
"You Will Burn" by Steeleye Span
"Twa Corbies" by Maddy Prior
"The Fabled Hare" by Maddy Prior

Subject: RE: BS: Halloween Songs
From: Grab
Date: 26 Sep 00 - 12:34 PM

A good one which probably no-one knows is "48 years", by Alastair Sanger (aka the Fat Man), written for the computer game "7th Guest". A lovely bit of piano in it, and _incredibly_ spooky - sends shivers down your back. I think there's an MP3 of it on http://www.fatman.com/listen.htm

Grab.

Subject: RE: BS: Halloween Songs
From: BeauDangles
Date: 26 Sep 00 - 12:37 PM

Ooh! Peg, nice choices there! Esp. Loreena McKennitt. Another one just occurred to me. I can't remember who did it, but I think it is called....

Hey there Li'l Red Riding Hood,
You sure are looking good,
You're everything that a big bad wolf could want,
etc.

Subject: RE: BS: Halloween Songs
From: rabbitrunning
Date: 27 Sep 00 - 01:36 AM

Oh, yeah! Loved Little Red Riding Hood when I was a kid.

When I was a kid I learned a little halloween song, but I don't remember all the words. Anyone get this one in school?

Hallowee-ee-een the witch is riding high
Have you see-ee-een her shadow in the sky
So beware, don't you dare
la la la, la la la
Or she will come and pull your hair!

CD

Subject: RE: BS: Halloween Songs
From: rabbitrunning
Date: 27 Sep 00 - 01:41 AM

Beau, try here for Little red riding hood.

Subject: RE: BS: Halloween Songs
From: GUEST,Russ
Date: 27 Sep 00 - 11:59 AM

Don't forget:
Lyke Wake Dirge (Pentangle)
Reynardine (Fairport Convention)
Hemlocks and Primroses (Justice & Hawker)

Subject: RE: BS: Halloween Songs
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 27 Sep 00 - 12:54 PM

Yeah, Gary T! "Haunted House" is a terrific tune...

"I bought this house now you know I'm bound
Ain't no haint gonna drive me out"

It also had another line, like "He drank the hot grease from the fryin' pan
He ate the raw meat right from my hand"
Is that the one you're talking about? If so, I'd love to have the rest of the words.

Subject: Lyr Add: MRS. RAVOON^^^
From: Naemanson
Date: 27 Sep 00 - 02:36 PM

Try this one. I learned it from a recording of a radio interview with Kendall a local folk show I think hosted by Anne Dodson. He performed it accompanied himself with guitar. Kendall, what are the chords?

MRS. RAVOON

I climbed the clock tower 'neath the noonday sun;
'Twas midday, at least, ere my journey was done.
But the clock never sounded the last stroke of noon,
For there from the clapper swung Mrs. Ravoon.

Mrs. Ravoon, Mrs. Ravoon,
You are too much with me, late and soon.

I stole through the dungeon whilst everyone slept
Till I came to the place where the monster was kept.
There in the arms of a giant baboon,
Rigid and smiling, lay Mrs. Ravoon.

I stood by the water, so green and thick,
And I stirred at the scum with my old, withered stick,
When there rose from the depths of the limpid lagoon
The luminous body of Mrs. Ravoon.

I pulled in my line and I took my first look
At the half-eaten horror that hung from my hook.
I had dragged from the depths of that limpid lagoon
The bloated cadaver of Mrs. Ravoon.

I went to an amateur butcher I know
For the gut of a cat for my violin bow,
But I never imagined I'd pay my next tune
On the shuddering entrails of Mrs. Ravoon.

I ran through the marsh 'midst the lightning and thunder,
When a terrible flash spit the darkness asunder.
Chewing a rat's tail and mumbling a rune,
Mad in the moat, squatted Mrs. Ravoon.
^^^

Old English rhyme set to music by Tom Mastin.

Subject: RE: BS: Halloween Songs
From: GUEST,kendall
Date: 27 Sep 00 - 02:50 PM

I play it with the capo at the 3rd fret. Positions are. Am Em Am Em Am. C Em Am G Am.chorus
C Em C G Am.
If you want a copy of theis, buy Biginners Luck!!

There is a song we used to sing at Halloween called Jack o Lantern

Jack O lantern burns his candle
Bright through the windy night
Witches on their broomsticks ride
By the Jack o lantern's light.

Owls upon the waving tree tops hoot through the windy night
Goblins dance on Halloween by the Jack o Lantern's light.

Subject: RE: BS: Halloween Songs
From: richlmo
Date: 27 Sep 00 - 10:09 PM

"Long Black Veil" -Trad.,
"Miss Ghost"- Don Henley
"Brown Mountain Light" -Tommy Faile,
"I Put a Spell on You" - John Fogarty - probably my favorite.
Does anyone listen to John Boy and Billy?
Pumpkin Head Harvey.
My kids loved it, we heard it almost every day going to school, before Halloween.

Subject: RE: BS: Halloween Songs
From: Margaret V
Date: 27 Sep 00 - 10:13 PM

How about "Miss Bailey's Ghost?" [=The Unfortunate Miss Bailey?] I sing the version done by Mick Hanly. Margaret

Subject: RE: BS: Halloween Songs
From: GUEST,BeauDangles
Date: 02 Oct 00 - 06:23 PM

Hmmm, I seem to have lost my cookie. Well, that's the way it crumbles I guess. I just remembered another cool Halloween Song. Moon over Bourbon Street, by Sting.

BeauD

Subject: RE: BS: Halloween Songs
From: bflat
Date: 02 Oct 00 - 06:44 PM

Singer/songwriter Richard Schindell has a contemporary breakup song for Halloween on his Sparrows Point CD i.e., "Are You Happy Now?" You can listen to a clip from his website www.richardschindell.com (I think that's it) if you want the flavor of the song. Art imitating life!

bflat

Subject: RE: BS: Halloween Songs
From: Susan of DT
Date: 02 Oct 00 - 08:35 PM

See @myth for a variety of ghosts, devils, mythical beasties, etc

Subject: RE: BS: Halloween Songs
From: Musicman
Date: 02 Oct 00 - 10:36 PM

Many years ago, I recieved a Halloween card from my mom.....

On the front were these words:

"Halloween is becoming a forgotten holiday. We dedicated followers of the Great Pumpkin must do something to rekindle the Halloween spirit. Let us not rest until the universe resounds with PUMPKIN CAROLS".

You may find the words to "The Peanuts Book of Pumpkin Carols" here (hope this works)

enjoy........

musicman

Subject: RE: BS: Halloween Songs
From: Bill D
Date: 02 Oct 00 - 10:53 PM

I learned Mrs. Ravoon from a Folk-Legacy recording of Harry Tufts many years ago....it has sort of become associated with me locally...*sigh*...I had to begin saying "ONLY at Halloween"

a REALLY weird little thing that fits at Halloween is "On the Amazon" by Don McLean

Subject: RE: BS: Halloween Songs
From: Thomas the Rhymer
Date: 02 Oct 00 - 11:02 PM

'Oh Death' is a charming little tune I associate with Dock Boggs... Macabre at its finest!

Subject: RE: BS: Halloween Songs
From: Bill D
Date: 02 Oct 00 - 11:08 PM

"Oh Death" was done on a record by Nimrod Workman, also...great song!..(he was in maybe his 80s when he recorded it...sent chills up my spine)

Subject: RE: BS: Halloween Songs
From: hesperis
Date: 02 Oct 00 - 11:19 PM

Little Hawk does some amazing werewolf songs.

Selina Kerr wrote a fantastic song called "In Death She Blooms" about her interpretation of Ophelia's death. I wrote the vocal part and arranged it, and it is really cool!

I love "Little Red Riding Hood" even though most people I know are sick of it.
There's some really cool stuff on this thread. (I'm a-gonna hafta check 'em all owt naow!)

Subject: RE: BS: Halloween Songs
From: GUEST,Michael in Swansea
Date: 03 Oct 00 - 04:02 AM

Would "Mister Fox" fall into this category? It makes me feel chilly. It's in the DT

Mike

Subject: Lyr Add: HAUNTED HOUSE (Jumpin' Gene Simmons)
From: GUEST
Date: 03 Oct 00 - 01:50 PM

HAUNTED HOUSE
As recorded by Jumpin' Gene Simmons, 1964.

I just moved in my new house today.
Movin' was hard but I got squared away.
Bells started ringin' and chains rattled loud.
I knew I'd moved in a haunted house.

Still, I made up in my mind to stay.
Nothin' was a-goin' to drive me away.
When I seen somethin' that give me the creeps,
Had one big eye and-a two big feet.

I stood right still and I did the freeze.
He did the stroll right up to me,
Made a noise with his feet that sound like a drum,
Say, "You'll be here when the mornin' come."

Say, "Yes, I'll be here when the mornin' comes.
I'll be right here and I ain't gonna run.
I bought this house; now, you know I'm boss.
Ain't no haint gonna run me off."

In my kitchen, my stove was a-blazin' hot
Coffee was a-boilin' in the pot.
The grease had melted in my pan.
I had a hunk o' meat in my hand.

From out of space there sat a man
On the hot stove with the pots and pans.
"Say, that's hot," I began to shout.
He drank the hot coffee right from the spout.

He ate the raw meat right from my hand,
Drank the hot grease from the fryin' pan.
He said to me, "Now, you better run,
And don't be here when the mornin' comes."

Say, "Yes, I'll be here when the mornin' comes.
I'll be right here and I ain't gonna run.
I bought this house; now you know I'm boss.
Ain't no haint gonna run me off."


WW

Subject: RE: BS: Halloween Songs
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 03 Oct 00 - 02:32 PM

Possibility: Call retirement homes and nursing homes--the biggest ones you can find first--and talk to the activities director. Offer a show, and ask if there is a budget for such. Some of them do pay. Not big money, but a dollar is a dollar most any old time.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: BS: Halloween Songs
From: SDShad
Date: 18 Oct 00 - 04:04 PM

As I turn to revising my Halloween mix for this year, I'll be walking away from this thread with some new ideas, and will throw in a few from my extant mix:

• Turkish Song of the Damned by the Pogues, a chilling shipwreck ghost story ("the dead have come to claim a debt from thee")
• Toccata and Fugue in Dm--Bach, preferably on pipe organ
• Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead by either XTC or Crash Test Dummies; I prefer the Dummies' version, even though it leaves out a verse
• Synchronicity II by the Police, with all its dark Scottish loch stuff
• Addams Family and Munsters themes, just to be creepy and kooky
• The Time Warp, from the Rocky Horror Picture Show
• Ride of the Valkyries by Wagner
• The Graveyard Symphony by ??
• Excitable Boy by Warren Zevon, to round out a creepy Zevon trilogy with the aforementioned "Werewolves of London" and "Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner"
• X-Files theme
• Danse Macabre by Saint-Saens
• The Sorcerer's Apprentice by Dukas
• Rattle My Bones by the Suburbs, a fabulous local Minneapolis new wave/punk band from the eighties that no one's ever heard of ("head bone's connected to the headphones, now dig the word of the Lord")
• Paint it Black by the Rolling Stones
• Magic Carpet Ride by Steppenwolf
• King of Pain by the Police, again
• Psycho theme
• Rock Lobster by the B-52s, which just has a kind of Halloweeny feel to it

I'm thinking of adding a number of those mentioned above (esp. "Skeletons In My Closet" (the actual title of "48 Years") which I never would've thought of, even though I once thought of learning it--thanks, Grab!, never thought I'd see it mentioned on the 'Cat!), plus Grieg's "In the Hall of the Mountain King."

Chris

Subject: RE: BS: Halloween Songs
From: radriano
Date: 18 Oct 00 - 06:45 PM

Here's a few I like:

Sir Aldingar
Mr. Fox
The Ghostly Crew
The Holland Handkerchief
Long Lankin
Robber Bridegroom
The Two Magicians

Subject: RE: BS: Halloween Songs
From: GUEST,BeauDangles
Date: 19 Oct 00 - 01:51 PM

Hey Chris,

Great list of spooky songs. I just remembered two more the other day: Season of the Witch (Donovan) & Clap for the Wolfman (The Guess Who).

Gosh, I love Halloween!

BeauD

Subject: RE: BS: Halloween Songs
From: sadie damascus
Date: 06 Jan 01 - 05:12 AM

Does anyone have more songs about Mr. Fox (Reynardine) or Foxy?

Subject: RE: BS: Halloween Songs
From: GUEST,Vampira
Date: 10 Sep 01 - 04:35 AM

I looked up this old thread for ideas for this Halloween, and I noticed no one had mentioned:

Dry Bones

Ding-Dong! The Witch is Dead!

Zombie Jamboree

He Had a Long Chain On

That Old Black Magic

There's also a ghost mentioned in "If You Could Read My Mind."

And how about "The Farmer's Curst Wife"?

any more?

Subject: RE: BS: Halloween Songs
From: The Walrus at work
Date: 10 Sep 01 - 08:30 AM

I've been beaten to "Zombie Jamboree". Would "The Devil and the Feathery Wife" count?

Walrus

Subject: RE: BS: Halloween Songs
From: ard mhacha
Date: 10 Sep 01 - 09:05 AM

Halloween, the Eve of All Saints is not celebrated in England, it is celebrated in Ireland and of course the US, in all my years working in England I never heard it mentioned. In England, Guy Fawkes Day on the 5th of November was celebrated in a similar fashion. The big question is why is it so big in the US, curious to know which ethnic group was responsible for introducing it. Slan Ard Mhacha.

Subject: RE: BS: Halloween Songs
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 10 Sep 01 - 09:14 AM

Halloween is a really big deal here, although we celebrated it in Scotland when I was a kid, but nothing like to the same extent as in the US.

It appears to be be kind of traditional here for men to dress up in women's clothing for Halloween parties, a custom with which I have reluctantly complied for the last couple of years.

This year, I plan to go as Dolly Parton. Songs to be performed will include will include "I Enjoy Being a Girl" from "South Pacific" and "W.O.M.A.N" by Peggy Lee.

Murray

Subject: RE: BS: Halloween Songs
From: LR Mole
Date: 10 Sep 01 - 09:40 AM

Roy Buchanan (RIP) did a nice almost-rockabilly version of "Haunted House" on his first album. Todd Rundgren does one song called "Wolfman Jack", about the legendary DJ, on "Something/Anything", as well as a creepy one called "Black Maria". Ry Cooder's version of "One Meat Ball" on his first album gives me the willies (don't know why, really). And speaking of "Oh, Death", you could probably get a whole tape off the Harry Smith Anthology. I wouldn't stay at your house that night, though.

Subject: RE: BS: Halloween Songs
From: ard mhacha
Date: 10 Sep 01 - 10:56 AM

Murray, The tradition of men dressing up as women in Ireland on Halloween was also part of the many rituals connected with the festival. Slan Ard Mhacha.

Subject: RE: BS: Halloween Songs
From: GUEST,California Ghoul
Date: 12 Sep 01 - 01:23 AM

Gotta re-mention "With 'Er 'Ead Tucked Underneath 'Er Arm (Anne Boleyn"), "Witchy Woman," "Monster Mash," "Dry Bones," and "Spooky."

How about "Thriller"?
also The Funeral March for A Marionette (is that the title?)

Then there's the old camp song,

Did you ever think when the hearse goes by
that you might be the next to die?
They wrap you up in a long, white sheet
and put [a tombstone?] at your feet.
The worms crawl in, the worms crawl out
and [something something] like sauerkraut.
Your stomach turns a glossy green
and puss flows out like whipping cream.
You sop it up with a piece of bread
And that's what you eat when you are dead,
So, when I die, don't bother to bury me at all,
Just pickle my bones in alcohol!

Subject: RE: BS: Halloween Songs
From: kendall
Date: 26 Sep 01 - 06:44 PM

Lost Jimmy Whalen/Whelan, sung by Joan Sprung on Folk Legacy records. She also sings a very spooky one called The Mistletoe Bough.