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Songs about ghosts

GUEST,Jim McLean 07 Jul 25 - 02:38 AM
Jim Dixon 04 Jul 25 - 03:51 PM
Jim Dixon 04 Jul 25 - 11:45 AM
Jack Campin 04 Jul 25 - 05:29 AM
Jack Campin 04 Jul 25 - 03:10 AM
GUEST,Tom Patterson 03 Jul 25 - 01:59 PM
Jim Dixon 03 Jul 25 - 01:23 PM
GUEST,PMB 16 Jun 25 - 06:55 AM
Jim Dixon 14 Jun 25 - 06:11 PM
PHJim 25 Nov 14 - 02:03 AM
MGM·Lion 25 Nov 14 - 12:13 AM
Betsy 24 Nov 14 - 07:00 PM
Bert 24 Nov 14 - 02:55 AM
GUEST,Musicboy 23 Nov 14 - 05:50 PM
IamNoMan 23 Nov 14 - 04:26 PM
IamNoMan 23 Nov 14 - 04:16 PM
GUEST,Ged with no cookie 23 Nov 14 - 03:27 PM
Jim Dixon 23 Nov 14 - 12:38 PM
GUEST,murrbob 03 Nov 14 - 05:57 PM
Anne Lister 03 Nov 14 - 04:32 PM
GUEST 03 Nov 14 - 01:30 PM
MGM·Lion 03 Nov 14 - 01:27 PM
Genie 03 Nov 14 - 01:15 PM
Genie 03 Nov 14 - 01:05 PM
Genie 03 Nov 14 - 12:39 PM
Genie 03 Nov 14 - 12:29 PM
Genie 03 Nov 14 - 12:25 PM
GUEST,Pete 03 Nov 14 - 12:02 PM
GUEST 03 Nov 14 - 11:39 AM
GUEST,open mike 02 Nov 14 - 09:21 PM
GUEST 02 Nov 14 - 09:17 PM
GUEST,Bert 02 Nov 14 - 04:02 PM
Jim Dixon 02 Nov 14 - 03:12 PM
open mike 30 Oct 08 - 02:39 AM
VirginiaTam 29 Oct 08 - 05:24 PM
Roger in Baltimore 29 Oct 08 - 03:50 PM
greg stephens 29 Oct 08 - 02:01 PM
Barbara 29 Oct 08 - 01:40 PM
GUEST,Mo' Handy 29 Oct 08 - 01:00 PM
Roger in Baltimore 29 Oct 08 - 12:59 PM
Rapparee 29 Oct 08 - 12:45 PM
RTim 29 Oct 08 - 12:42 PM
Abby Sale 29 Oct 08 - 10:42 AM
greg stephens 29 Oct 08 - 09:04 AM
GUEST,Tom Bliss 29 Oct 08 - 09:02 AM
Nigel Parsons 29 Oct 08 - 08:20 AM
quokka 29 Oct 08 - 08:16 AM
quokka 29 Oct 08 - 07:25 AM
Deskjet 29 Oct 08 - 07:22 AM
Terry McDonald 29 Oct 08 - 07:12 AM
Susan of DT 29 Oct 08 - 07:08 AM
Jim Carroll 29 Oct 08 - 06:31 AM
GUEST,Black Hawk on works PC 29 Oct 08 - 05:58 AM
GUEST,Jim P 29 Oct 08 - 05:14 AM
Paul Burke 29 Oct 08 - 04:19 AM
Barry Finn 28 Oct 08 - 08:13 PM
GUEST,Bob Ryszkiewicz 28 Oct 08 - 08:08 PM
Azizi 28 Oct 08 - 07:49 PM
DebC 28 Oct 08 - 07:43 PM
Azizi 28 Oct 08 - 07:38 PM
DebC 28 Oct 08 - 07:35 PM
Azizi 28 Oct 08 - 07:34 PM
Jayto 28 Oct 08 - 07:16 PM
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Subject: RE: Songs about ghosts
From: GUEST,Jim McLean
Date: 07 Jul 25 - 02:38 AM

On being frightened of the dark.

Ghaists an bogles, baukies tae,       
Flit aboot when the lift is grey,         
Frichten weans wha fear the nicht
An gar them seek an ingle bricht.     

They  steek their heids ablow the sheets
When bedtime beckons time tae sleep.
Whit lurks in Ilka shadow, dark,             
Can only be Auld Clootie’s wark.           

An only speerits micht be seen             
Wi pairted fingers ower oor een.           
But Ah wis wee then, lang, lang syne
Afore yer haun an hert touched mine     

            …aiblins                                         

An when Ah hear a hoolet cry                   
Or eerie creak or ghaistly sigh
Ah listen fur anither noise
Ah listen hard…….is that your voice?

Could you be there, a speerit free?
Come back tae sing yer sang tae me?
Your ghaist wad be a welcome sicht.
Ah fearna dark……
PIT OOT THE LICHT!


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Subject: Lyr Add: THE GHOST OF THE UKULELE (Brockman, Smith
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 04 Jul 25 - 03:51 PM

Maybe this was inspired by the previous song: “The Ghost of the Violin.” There was also one called “The Ghost of the Saxophone” but I haven’t found any sheet music or a recording.

From the sheet music at Indiana University:


THE GHOST OF THE UKULELE
Words and music by James Brockman and Jack Smith, ©1916.

1. Last night in dreams, I could plainly see
The land of Honolulu far across the sea.
I was on the beach at Waikiki
When a million ukuleles started chasing me.
Bing, bing!—That’s the sound that’s haunting me.
Bing, bing!—The ukulele melody.

CHORUS: That’s the ghost, that’s the ghost, that’s the ghost of the ukulele,
Strumming gaily.
How they sway when they play on the gay little ukulele, playing daily!
First, it makes you sad,
Then it makes you glad.
Take it away, I say!
Take it away, I say!
Take it away, ’cause it’s driving me mad.
That’s the ghost, that’s the ghost, that’s the ghost of the ukulele.
Hear it daily; no matter where I go, it follows me.
(There it is, there it is, there it is!)
My dignity I’ve tried to keep,
But I did the hula-hula in my sleep,
From the ghost of the ukulele melody.

2. When I awoke, I was full of fright
From hearing ukulele music played all night.
I locked the door, turned out the light,
Crawled back into my bed, and hid right out of sight.
Bing, bing!—There’s that melody again,
Bing, bing!—That sneaky creepy funny strain.

- - -
YouTube has recordings by:
Peerless Quartet, Victor 18254, 1917.
M. Ryan Taylor.


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Subject: Lyr Add: THE GHOST OF THE VIOLIN (Kalmar,Snyder)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 04 Jul 25 - 11:45 AM

From the sheet music at Indiana University:


THE GHOST OF THE VIOLIN
Words by Bert Kalmar, music by Ted Snyder, ©1912.

1. In a quaint old antique store,
For a thousand years or more,
Laid a musty, laid a dusty violin.
Suddenly a ghost appeared,
Played upon it wild and weird,
And the ghost, and the ghost, owned a violin.
He made his violin moan
In a weepy, creepy tone!

CHORUS: The ghost (the ghost, the ghost) of the violin,
The ghost (the ghost, the ghost) played the violin.
His bony fingers are shivering.
Each moan just sets me a-quivering.
Don’t, don’t, don’t, don’t, make a sound,
Or he’ll know we’re around.
His eyes (his eyes, his eyes) have a mournful glare.
His cries (his cries, his cries) haunt me ev’rywhere.
He’s here! He’s there!
Beware! Take care!
Keep away from the ghost of the violin!

2. Pretty soon the tale went ’round
That a wierd old ghost was found
With a moaning, with a groaning violin.
Ev’ry night when twelve would chime,
People made it meeting time,
And they’d creep from their sleep to the violin.
They’d whisper soft and low
As the ghost would wield his bow: CHORUS.

- - -
The Internet Archive has the following recordings:
Arizona Jack, “Cinch” Record 5057, 1913.
Columbia Quartette, Columbia A1244, 1912.
H. Cove and T. Jackson, The Winner 2254.
Standard Band, United Record A1292.
YouTube has the following recordings:
Frank Weston, Homochord
Peerless Quartet, Columbia A-1244, 1912.
Prince’s Band, Columbia A-1292, 1913.
Walter J. Van Brunt and Maurice Burkhardt, Victor 17195-B, 1912.


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Subject: RE: Songs about ghosts
From: Jack Campin
Date: 04 Jul 25 - 05:29 AM

Wrong link. I meant this one.

McKinnon's Ghost

BTW "The Hills of Shiloh" doesn't feature a ghost. Great song though. BTW I just noticed the tune is very similar to the CoE hymn "To Be A Pilgrim" - where did Silverstein get it?


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Subject: RE: Songs about ghosts
From: Jack Campin
Date: 04 Jul 25 - 03:10 AM

Extraordinarily gruesome broadside from 19th century Edinburgh:

MacKinnon's Garland


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Subject: RE: Songs about ghosts
From: GUEST,Tom Patterson
Date: 03 Jul 25 - 01:59 PM

The Ballad of Old Seth Davey - verse 4. " Now some stormy nights etc


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Subject: Lyr Add: THE GHOST THAT NEVER WALKED
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 03 Jul 25 - 01:23 PM

From the sheet music at University of St. Francis:

THE GHOST THAT NEVER WALKED
Words by William Jerome, music by Jean Schwartz, ©1904.
From the play “Piff! Paff!! Pouf!!!—A Musical Cocktail,” book by Stanislaus Stange, produced by F. C. Whitney.

1. Don’t shake with fear as I draw near; I’m just a harmless creature.
Don’t think me wild; I’m weak and mild, for weakness is my feature.
Please have a little pity, and listen to my ditty.
I’m not the great Elijah who heals “heels” in Zion City.

CHORUS: I’m the ghost of a troupe that disbanded in Peoria.
I’m the ghost of a bunch that were only out for glory.
Glory, glory, hallelujah-lujah! Money never talked.
In me you see a novelty: I’m the ghost that never walked.

2. On sal’ry day, they used to pray that I’d make my appearance,
But railroad fares and empty chairs, they caused an interference.
Show days are not all sunny, and don’t think me too funny
When I tell you I couldn’t even pay them with stage money. CHORUS

- - -
YouTube has recordings by
Billy Murray, Victor 2849, 1904.
“Ragtime” Bob Roberts, Columbia 3035, 1904.
Arthur Collins, Zonophone 67, 1904.


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Subject: RE: Songs about ghosts
From: GUEST,PMB
Date: 16 Jun 25 - 06:55 AM

27 years down the page and no one's mentioned the Ghost that Haunted Bunty?


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Subject: Lyr Add: BALLAD OF WIDOW McSUBURB
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 14 Jun 25 - 06:11 PM

From The Worker (Wagga, NSW: Sat 2 May 1903), Page 3:

BALLAD OF WIDOW McSUBURB.

(During a Melbourne, Vic., Police Court trial recently, a fortune-teller and medium, prosecuted for plying her nefarious trade, stated in cross-examination that most women, particularly widows, had great faith and belief in mediums, clairvoyants, and other spiritual manifestations. She knew of one case where a widow committed suicide by poison because a medium had told her that she had communicated with her late husband, who strongly disapproved of his widow's intended second marriage, and desired her to join him in Paradise.)

The widow McSuburb lay restless in bed,
Her heart full of doubt and of trouble.
She couldn't decide 'twixt the Mac who was dead
And the love of the living McStubble.

Since William McSuburb—a church-going man—
Had died, we may just as well mention,
John Michael McStubble, of similar clan,
Was paying the widow attention.

The widow McSuburb had faith and belief
In spiritual manifestation.
She hied to a seance in search of relief
From her doubt and her sore tribulation.

"The spirit of William," she cried, "shall decide
The fate of myself and McStubble."
And the medium begged the Mac who had died
To drop in and settle the trouble.

The gas was turned down, and trembling with sheer
Excitement and keen expectation,
The widow sat breathless, with hand at her ear
Awaiting the weird consultation.

"McSuburb is here," then a ghostly voice sighs,
And begs his dear wifey in trouble
To join him at once up in Paradise
And turn a cold shoulder to Stubble.

The gaslight flared up, and the medium woke,
And the ghost of McSuburb had vanished;
The grave spell of doubt of the widow was broke,
And McStubble immediately banished.

Then the faithful poor widow took poison and cried:
"You've called, Mac—I come—I am dying!"
And ancient St. Peter heard something outside
His portal that sounded like crying.

"McSuburb?' asked Peter, in tones of surprise,
"He doesn't live here, my good woman,"
And the sorrowful tears in the good widow's eyes
Made the saint feel remarkably human.

"McSuburb," Pete stammered, "was unfit to dwell
With angels and saints here in heaven.
His rakish skulduggery has sent him where—well—
He's roasting on grate number seven."


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Subject: RE: Songs about ghosts
From: PHJim
Date: 25 Nov 14 - 02:03 AM

Here are two songs, one ancient and one relatively contemporary, both with the same title and both about ghosts:

Demon Lover    P.D.


Well met, well met, my own true love
Well met, well met, cried he
I've just returned from the salt, salt sea
And it's all for the sake of thee

I've come for the vows that you promised me
To be my partner in life
She said my vows you must forgive
For now I'm a wedded wife

Yes I have married a house carpenter
To him I've born two fine sons
For it's seven long years since you sailed to the west
And I took you for dead and gone

If I was to leave my husband dear
And my two babies also
Just what have you to take me to
If with you I should now go

I have seven ships out upon the sea
And the eighth one that brought me to land
With four and twenty bold mariners
And music on every hand

It was then she went to her two little babes
She kissed them on cheek and on chin
Saying fare thee well my sweet little ones
I'll never see you again

They had not sailed much more than a week
I know that it was not three
When altered grew his countenance
And a raging came over the sea

When they reached the shore again
On the far side of the sea
It was there she spied his cloven hoof
And wept most bitterly

Oh what is that mountain yon she cried
So dreary with ice and with snow
It is the mountain of hell he cried
Where you and I now will go


*****************************************

Demon Lover    Michael Smith


I knew a girl who came from Little Falls
Her name was Agnes Hines
She fell in love with a boy named Jimmy Harris
But he had a short life-line
A year after Jimmy was killed in a car crash
She married a man from Cornell
They had three little kids and a big house
In upper Montclair

The gypsy wind it says to me
Things are not what they seem to be
Beware


One day her husband's at work and the kids are at school
And who comes toolin' up the drive
Looks just like Jimmy Harris
And he says he's just got back from Paris
And he's lookin' very much alive
Ooh, Jimmy she cried
I thought you had died
He laughed and he said So did I cherie
And if it was not for your love
I would not be here


The gypsy wind it says to me
Things are not what they seem to be
Beware


The neighbors say that as they pulled away in his Chevrolet
His face began to change
And in the middle of that bright suburban morning
They disappeared in flames
Maybe you have a demon lover
Who might have been your husband or your wife
Watch out for people who belong in your past
Don't let 'em back in your life.


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Subject: RE: Songs about ghosts
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 25 Nov 14 - 12:13 AM

Above post reminds that Child contains several Ghost ballads which can be found by checking "Ghosts" & "Spirits" in his Index of Matters & Literature.

≈M≈


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Subject: RE: Songs about ghosts
From: Betsy
Date: 24 Nov 14 - 07:00 PM

This thing about Ghosts is not my dabble. However I highly commend ( noting that all the previous posts have not mentioned it ) the Lovers Ghost sang by Vin Garbutt . I believe that Vin "revived" this song in the 60's/70's . ( strange word in this context ) Extremely powerful delivery and rendition, of the Subject Matter and a very vivid portrayal of how things might have, or could have happened - in the song-writers mind - of course !!!!


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Subject: RE: Songs about ghosts
From: Bert
Date: 24 Nov 14 - 02:55 AM

Thanks, IamNoMan, I am pleased that you like it and wish to use it. I wrote it. The version that you see is on my website bertsolutions.com. Feel free to link to it.


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Subject: RE: Songs about ghosts
From: GUEST,Musicboy
Date: 23 Nov 14 - 05:50 PM

Can't think of any songs not mentioned but there is the shortest ghost story in the world. Usually gets agroan:

The last man in the world was set in his room. Somebody knocked at the door....


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Subject: RE: Songs about ghosts
From: IamNoMan
Date: 23 Nov 14 - 04:26 PM

Hey Bert, that's a good story. I'm going to put it in my repertoire. Do you have a reference so I can give credit where credit is due?

A Ghost Story

I pronounce it Wilksbear.


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Subject: RE: Songs about ghosts
From: IamNoMan
Date: 23 Nov 14 - 04:16 PM

Boy Reading this thread made me realize I sing a lot of Ghost Songs. Many of my favorites have been mentioned. Two that have not are:

"Molly Malone"
"Waltzing Matilda"


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Subject: RE: Songs about ghosts
From: GUEST,Ged with no cookie
Date: 23 Nov 14 - 03:27 PM

My Ladye's Coach


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Subject: Lyr Add: MR. GHOST GOES TO TOWN (Five Jones Boys)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 23 Nov 14 - 12:38 PM

MR. GHOST GOES TO TOWN
Words by Mitchell Parish and Irving Mills; music by Will Hudson, ©1936.
As sung by The Five Jones Boys on YouTube

Who's there? Who's there,
Up there on the stair?
Beware! Beware!
I hear somebody coming.
Upon his toes—
Oh, look! There he goes!
Why, Mister Ghost is going to town.

He takes his cane,
His gloves and his hat,
And like a cat,
He hurries down the alley.
The moon is bright,
And this is the night
When Mister Ghost is going to town.

He's feeling great,
And he can't be late.
He's got a date
To do a little stepping.
He'll shake his bones
To hot saxophones,
'Cause Mister Ghost is going to town.


The Five Jones Boys recorded this a cappella, with lots of "mouth music" imitating various instruments.

The Internet Archive has recordings by:
Hudson and De Lange Orchestra, Brunswick 7715, 1936.
Louis Prima and his New Orleans Gang, Vocalion 3388, 1936.
Midge Williams with Jerry Freeman and his Orchestra, Arc 7-02-08, 1936.
Mills Blue Rhythm Band, Columbia 3158-D, 1936.
Royal Navy Blue Mariners, Decca, 1936.
Woody Herman and his Orchestra, Decca 1079, 1936.
Tommy Dorsey and his Orchestra, Victor 25509, 1937.


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Subject: RE: Songs about ghosts
From: GUEST,murrbob
Date: 03 Nov 14 - 05:57 PM

Brown Mountain Light by KT and others

Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner by Warren Zevon (OK, maybe not a folk song)


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Subject: RE: Songs about ghosts
From: Anne Lister
Date: 03 Nov 14 - 04:32 PM

Jim Woodland had a cracking song about a ghost and the Falklands War ... and I have a song called "The Ghost" about a ghost in a women's prison.


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Subject: RE: Songs about ghosts
From: GUEST
Date: 03 Nov 14 - 01:30 PM

Joe Hill


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Subject: RE: Songs about ghosts
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 03 Nov 14 - 01:27 PM

Surprised no-one has mentioned that fine old cante-fable "An old woman sat alone {And all she wanted was good company}".

≈M≈


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Subject: Songs about ghosts -Ghost of Tom Joad
From: Genie
Date: 03 Nov 14 - 01:15 PM

"The Ghost Of Tom Joad" (Bruce Springsteen) is track #10 on the album High Hopes.

Men walkin' 'long the railroad tracks
Goin' someplace there's no goin' back,
Highway patrol choppers comin' up over the ridge,
Hot soup on a campfire under the bridge,
Shelter line stretchin' 'round the corner—
Welcome to the new world order—
Families sleepin' in their cars in the southwest,
No home, no job, no peace, no rest.

The highway is alive tonight
But nobody's kiddin' nobody about where it goes.
I'm sittin' down here in the campfire light
Searchin' for the ghost of Tom Joad.

He pulls a prayer book out of his sleeping bag,
Preacher lights up a butt and takes a drag
Waitin' for when the last shall be first and the first shall be last
In a cardboard box 'neath the underpass,
Got a one-way ticket to the promised land,
You got a hole in your belly and gun in your hand
Sleeping on a pillow of solid rock,
Bathin' in the city aqueduct.

The highway is alive tonight.
Where it's headed everybody knows.
I'm sittin' down here in the campfire light
Waitin' on the ghost of Tom Joad.

Now Tom said "Mom, wherever there's a cop beatin' a guy,
Wherever a hungry newborn baby cries,
Where there's a fight 'gainst the blood and hatred in the air,
Look for me, Mom, I'll be there.
Wherever there's somebody fightin' for a place to stand
Or decent job or a helpin' hand,
Wherever somebody's strugglin' to be free,
Look in their eyes, Mom, you'll see me."

Well, the highway is alive tonight
But nobody's kiddin' nobody about where it goes.
I'm sittin' down here in the campfire light
With the ghost of old Tom Joad.


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Subject: RE: Songs about ghosts
From: Genie
Date: 03 Nov 14 - 01:05 PM

From "Walking In Memphis" (Mark Cohn)

"Saw the ghost of Elvis
On Union Avenue
Followed him up to the gates of Graceland,
Then I watched him walk right through.

Now security they did not see him,
They just hovered 'round his tomb,
But there's a pretty little thing waiting for the king
Down in the Jungle Room. "


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Subject: RE: Songs about ghosts
From: Genie
Date: 03 Nov 14 - 12:39 PM

"Long Black Veil" is a song 'sung by a ghost' (i.e., the narrator of the story is telling the tale from his grave, after he has been hanged).


Scots children's song "The Happy Land" (recorded by Robin Hall and Jimmie MacGregor).

There is a happy land down in Duke Street jail
Where all the prisoners stand tied to a nail.
Ham and eggs they never see, and dirty water for their tea
And there they live in misery.
God save the queen!.

The Glasgow Corporation came wi' a brand noo plan.
They're building tenement hooses noo down in the happy land,
But there's 16 murderers buried there,
So watch yoursel' and dinna stare
or a ghost'll com oot and grab you by the hair!
God save the queen!


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Subject: RE: Songs about ghosts
From: Genie
Date: 03 Nov 14 - 12:29 PM

"If You Could Read My Mind, love,
What a tale my thoughts could tell
Just like an old-time movie
'Bout a ghost from a wishing well
In a castle dark or a fortress strong
With chains upon my feet
You know that ghost is me
And I will never be set free
As long as I'm a ghost that you can't see."
(Gordon Lightfoot)


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Subject: RE: Songs about ghosts
From: Genie
Date: 03 Nov 14 - 12:25 PM

"Caleb Meyer" - Gillian Welch and David Rawlings
Caleb Meyer


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Subject: RE: Songs about ghosts
From: GUEST,Pete
Date: 03 Nov 14 - 12:02 PM

The Yodeling Ghost by Patsy Montana.
There is actually an Austrian version (and video clip) of this country classic
yodeling ghost-Austrian version


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Subject: RE: Songs about ghosts
From: GUEST
Date: 03 Nov 14 - 11:39 AM

She moved through the fair


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Subject: RE: Songs about ghosts
From: GUEST,open mike
Date: 02 Nov 14 - 09:21 PM

Show is called Crosssroads


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Subject: RE: Songs about ghosts
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Nov 14 - 09:17 PM

I have 2 hours of songs ,
About ghosts and spirits ang graves and such on my latest radio show. You can listen and seevthebplaylist here...WWW.KROV.FM OPEN MIKE


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Subject: RE: Songs about ghosts
From: GUEST,Bert
Date: 02 Nov 14 - 04:02 PM

Tom pierce.

And here's a ghost story for ya Aghost story


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Subject: Lyr Add: THE GHOST OF BENJAMIN BINNS
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 02 Nov 14 - 03:12 PM

Dan W. Quinn made a cylinder recording of this song in 1903. You can hear it at the Internet Archive. His 2nd and 3rd verses differ from the lyrics shown below, but the sound quality makes it difficult to transcribe.

From the sheet music at The Levy Collection:


THE GHOST OF JOHN JAMES CHRISTOPHER BENJAMIN BINNS
Words and music by Harry Dacre
New York: S. T. Gordon & Son, ©1888.

1. Hear my song, gentle folks, and don't be afraid.
I'm only a ghost, a poor harmless shade.
I would not hurt anyone here if I could,
And you couldn't do me much harm if you would.
Knives will not stab me nor shots through me fly,
But oh! the experiment please do not try.
It's not for myself that I care, not at all.
I'm only afraid you might damage the wall.

CHORUS: I'm the ghost of John James Christopher Benjamin Binns.
I was cut down right in the midst of my sins,
For my home is down below.
I'm let out for an hour or so.
When the cock begins to crow,
Farewell, Benjamin Binns.

2. My wife she would say when I lived on this earth,
If I should die first, she'd never get wed.
Tonight I called on her; through keyholes I crept.
If ghosts could have tears, I am sure I'd have wept.
A man held my wife in his tender embrace.
She called him her hubby; he'd taken my place.
To make matters worse, and to crown all my woes,
The fellow was wearing my best Sunday clothes.

SPOKEN: The gas full on—she could not see me—but I was determined she should hear me. So I said, "Hold, mortal piece of flesh!" She shrieked and held the mantelpiece! Then I in sepulchral tones said—

CHORUS

3. On the day that I died, I left upon earth,
A family large and a boy of good birth,
Whom I taught to be honest and ever upright,
And hold on to money securely and tight,
But a short time thereafter, imagine my woe
When I heard that to Canada off he did go!
"And just like his father," the people now say.
"Good riddance, bad rubbish; he's out of the way!"

SPOKEN: But I managed to get even with the rascally lad, for each night when he lies in his restless sleep, I craw up from below and say—

CHORUS


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Subject: RE: Songs about ghosts
From: open mike
Date: 30 Oct 08 - 02:39 AM

dave carter and tracy grammer kate and the ghost of lost love
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLra7HZnvv8
http://www.tracygrammer.com/html/merch.html


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Subject: Lyr Add: LOWLANDS + IN THE HILLS OF SHILOH
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 29 Oct 08 - 05:24 PM

LOWLANDS

I dreamed a dream the other night
Lowlands, Lowlands, away, my John;
I dreamed a dream the other night
Lowlands, my lowlands, away

I dreamed I saw my own true love,
Lowlands, lowlands away, my John,
I dreamed I saw my own true love,
Lowlands, my lowlands, away.

And the salt sea weed it was in her hair,
Lowlands, lowlands away, my John,
And the salt sea weed it was all in her hair,
Lowlands, my lowlands away.

It was then I knew that my love was dead
Lowlands, lowlands away, my John,
It was then I knew that my love was dead
Lowlands, my lowlands away.

My love lies drowned in that lowland sea,
Lowlands, lowlands away, my John,
My love lies drowned in that lowland sea,
Lowlands, my lowlands away.

I dreamed a dream the other night
Lowlands, Lowlands, away, my John;
I dreamed a dream the other night
Lowlands, my Lowlands, away


and

IN THE HILLS OF SHILOH

Have you seen Amanda Blaine in the hills of Shiloh
Wandering through the morning rain through the hills of Shiloh
Have you seen her at her door, listening for the cannon's roar
And a man who's gone to war from the hills of Shiloh

Have you seen her haunted eyes in the hills of Shiloh
Have you heard her mournful cries in the hills of Shiloh
Have you seen her running down searching through the sleeping town
In her yellowed wedding gown in the hills of Shiloh

Have you seen her standing there in the hills of Shiloh
Wind a blowing through her hair in the hills of Shiloh
Listening for the sound of guns listening for the rolling drums
And a man who never comes to the hills of Shiloh

Have you heard Amanda sing in the hills of Shiloh
Whispering to her wedding ring in the hills of Shiloh
Hear her humming soft and low, poor Amanda doesn't know
'Twas ended forty years ago in the hills of Shiloh


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Subject: RE: Songs about ghosts
From: Roger in Baltimore
Date: 29 Oct 08 - 03:50 PM

And whether he was going to chase the protagonist all the way home.

Roger in Baltimore


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Subject: RE: Songs about ghosts
From: greg stephens
Date: 29 Oct 08 - 02:01 PM

I don't think Jesse FUller wrote Old Man Mose, but I can't recall who did. Great song, in any case. But was it a ghost? I think the song just speculates whether Old Man Mose was dead, or just lying still.


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Subject: RE: Songs about ghosts
From: Barbara
Date: 29 Oct 08 - 01:40 PM

the Ghostly Sailors
or the version in DT Ghostly Crew
Blessings,
Barbara


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Subject: RE: Songs about ghosts
From: GUEST,Mo' Handy
Date: 29 Oct 08 - 01:00 PM

Specializing in sea songs as I do, a couple of corkers come to mind, viz.:
    The Flying Dutchman (Roberts & Barand)
    Sir William Gower (Fairport Convention)
Re the second one, it would be interesting to know whether it's a legit folk song and whether there's any more of it. If anybody has any info on Sir William, I'd be beholden.


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Subject: RE: Songs about ghosts
From: Roger in Baltimore
Date: 29 Oct 08 - 12:59 PM

Jesse Fuller wrote a song entitled "Old Man Mose". The protagonist as a young man happens upon a neighbor who appears to be dead on the living room floor. He runs in terror. Wish I could remember the words today, but it ain't gonna happen.

Roger in Baltimore


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Subject: RE: Songs about ghosts
From: Rapparee
Date: 29 Oct 08 - 12:45 PM

Don't Go Down To The Quarry


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Subject: RE: Songs about ghosts
From: RTim
Date: 29 Oct 08 - 12:42 PM

I've just recorded a Hampshire version of The Dreadful Ghost (as from Deb Cowan above) - basically the same story with a different tune. The Collector George Gardiner said of the song ÒHereÕs an excellent plot for a tragedy or tragic opera?Ó My version is called - "I Am A Sailor". Tim Radford


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Subject: RE: Songs about ghosts
From: Abby Sale
Date: 29 Oct 08 - 10:42 AM

I sing on Halloween:

Tam Lin (#39) - no ghost but ghastly things and does mention Halloween.

Faithful Johnny – no ghost but does mention Halloween.

She Moved Through the Fair – whether she's actually dead is controversial but if Margaret Barry thought so then I prefer to think she is.

Unfortunate Miƒs Bailey – yep, great. I don't know if K3 sing the last, handwritten verse, "Next morn his man knocked at his door..." but it's certainly includable.


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Subject: RE: Songs about ghosts
From: greg stephens
Date: 29 Oct 08 - 09:04 AM

Unfortunate Miss Bailey (Kingston Trio and others) is a cracker.


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Subject: RE: Songs about ghosts
From: GUEST,Tom Bliss
Date: 29 Oct 08 - 09:02 AM

I know two stories about real ghosts which I've made into songs, Gill Field Sump and Pendle Hill (set on Halloween), and though Silverlode of Sark is an invention, it is sung by a ghost.


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Subject: RE: Songs about ghosts
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 29 Oct 08 - 08:20 AM

With her head tucked underneath her arm


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Subject: Lyr Add: YOUR GHOST (Kristin Hersh)
From: quokka
Date: 29 Oct 08 - 08:16 AM

YOUR GHOST
Written by Kristen Hersh
From the album 'Hips and Makers' 1994

If I walk down this hallway, tonight,
It's too quiet,
So I Pad through the dark
and call you on the phone
Push your old numbers
and let your house ring
til I wake your ghost.

Let him walk down your hallway
it's not this quiet
slide down your receiver
sprint across the wire
follow my number
slide into my hand.

It's the blaze across my nightgown
it's the phone's ring.

I think last night
you were driving circles around me.


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Subject: RE: Songs about ghosts
From: quokka
Date: 29 Oct 08 - 07:25 AM

Your Ghost - by Kristen Hersh...haunting, beautiful, gets inside your head and just WON'T go away...also, harmonies by Michael Stipe!

Your Ghost


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Subject: RE: Songs about ghosts
From: Deskjet
Date: 29 Oct 08 - 07:22 AM

The Bay Of Biscayo -

My William sails onboard a tender
And where he's bound I do not know......


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Subject: RE: Songs about ghosts
From: Terry McDonald
Date: 29 Oct 08 - 07:12 AM

Cruel Ship's Carpenter


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Subject: RE: Songs about ghosts
From: Susan of DT
Date: 29 Oct 08 - 07:08 AM

There are a number of ghosts in the Child ballads
   Child #47 Proud Lady Margaret
   Child #77 Sweet William's Ghost
   Child #78 Unquiet Grave, mentioned by Jim, above
   Child #79 Wife of Usher's Well
   Child #248 Grey Cock
   Child #255 Willie's Fatal Visit
   Child #265 Knight's Ghost
   Child #272 Suffolk Miracle
There are a number of others suitable for Halloween as well, with the devil, fairies/elves, witches (or whatever you call women who can conjure their lovers out of their graves), silkies, etc. I can give you a list, but try cruising the keyword "myth" in the DT - I have that on most of these.

Note that the titles of the versions in the DT are not necessarily as listed above - search for the Child # to get multiple versions of most of these. search for "Child #XX" to find them.

I have fun with doing all supernatural ballads in October and a few throughout the year. At our sing earlier this month, I sang Child #49 Rolling of the Stones (she conjures him from his grave), Child #78 Unquiet Grave, Child #255 Willie's Fatal Visit, and the Black Fox (modern, devil plays a fox).


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Subject: Lyr Add: THE DUNDEE GHOST (Matt McGinn)
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 29 Oct 08 - 06:31 AM

Long live Matt McGinn!


THE DUNDEE GHOST

Noo a deid man seldom walks; he very rarely talks. [dead]
It's no very often you'll find him runnin' aroond,
But I am a refugee frae a graveyard in Dundee,
And I've come tae haunt some hooses in Glesga Toon.
I've come tae haunt some hooses in Glesga Toon.

The reason I arose was to get masel' some clothes,
For it really gets helluva cold below the grund,
But I whispered tae masel', "Ach, I think I might as well
Hang aroond for a while and hae some fun,
Hang aroond for a while and hae some fun."

A man put oot his light on a cold and wintery night.
I showed him one o' ma eyes and slapped his heid.
He says "Oh", and I says "boo". He says, "Who the hell are you?"
I says, "Don't be feart; I'm only a man that's deid. [afraid]
Don't be feart; I'm only a man that's deid."

Noo the fella knelt and prayed, and this is what he said:
"Why, in the name o' God have you picked on me?"
So I pulled away his rug and I skelped him one on the lug. [ear]
"The reason," says I, "I'll very soon let you see".
"The reason," says I, "I'll very soon let you see".

When he brought the polis in, I belted him one on the chin. [police(man)]
The polis turned aroond and he blamed my friend.
He marched him tae the jile; he'll be in there quite a while, [off to gaol]
But I'll see naebody taks his single end. [House of one apartment, flat]
I'll see naebody taks his single end.

Noo the polis thoucht him daft, and a lot o' people laughed
When the fella said a ghost was in his hoose,
But whit the fella said was true, and I might be visitin' you,
So just remember, I'm still on the loose.
Just remember, I'm still on the loose.


Jim Carroll


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Subject: RE: Songs about ghosts
From: GUEST,Black Hawk on works PC
Date: 29 Oct 08 - 05:58 AM

Long Black Veil

Bringing Mary Home

Ghost Riders in the Sky

All modern songs on the theme that have stood the test of time.


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Subject: RE: Songs about ghosts
From: GUEST,Jim P
Date: 29 Oct 08 - 05:14 AM

Child #78 - The Unquiet Grave.

It was quite a while before I realized that this was the same tune as Star of the County Down (albeit slower than that is usually played). When I did, I had to stifle some very inapropriate laughter during a young woman's very touching performance.


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Subject: RE: Songs about ghosts
From: Paul Burke
Date: 29 Oct 08 - 04:19 AM

Ghost songs show that they have changed their behaviour considerably over the years. Back in the day, a murdering seducer had to beware of the poor girl's ghost tearing him in three, even on shipboard, thus giving the lie to the tale that ghosts can't cross water. Later ghosts were less strenuos, but appeared in dreams to reveal the location of the body, leaving vengeance to due legal process. And in America over the water, the ghost becomes the merely passive narrator who observes the veiled woman, without thoughts of even hiding the glasses of the real murderer who framed him (her?).


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Subject: RE: Songs about ghosts
From: Barry Finn
Date: 28 Oct 08 - 08:13 PM

My favorite is Walker of the Snow which I just posted to a new thread after seeing this one & not finding really anything about it.

Barry

Barry, the thread was deleted and the thread link amended to take folks to one of the many threads we have already had on this song. No need to start another one devoted to it. The thread linked to the song is one you contributed to back in 2002. If you type "Shadow Hunter" or "Walker of the Snow" into the search engine, you will get a number of discussions that have all ready occurred........ Muderator


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Subject: RE: Songs about ghosts
From: GUEST,Bob Ryszkiewicz
Date: 28 Oct 08 - 08:08 PM

The Ghost of Elvis...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRpHCVGi-yo

BR


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Subject: RE: Songs about ghosts
From: Azizi
Date: 28 Oct 08 - 07:49 PM

You have a very beautiful voice, Deb C.

**

Here is the link for that Casper The Friendly Ghost song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZGarpxTrMU&feature=related

It's interesting that I have a vivid memory of that song, and not the Hootenany type song whose video I also linked to. Yet, in my opinion, that Hootenany song is musically the better one.


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Subject: RE: Songs about ghosts
From: DebC
Date: 28 Oct 08 - 07:43 PM

Oops. Forgot that was a sample :-) Here's an MP3

Debra Cowan


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Subject: Lyr Add: CASPER THE FRIENDLY GHOST
From: Azizi
Date: 28 Oct 08 - 07:38 PM

Here's the lyrics to the first song I thought of:

CASPER THE FRIENDLY GHOST

Casper, the friendly ghost,
The friendliest ghost you know.
Though grown-ups might
Look at him with fright,
The children all love him so.

He always says hello (Hello),
and he's really glad to meetcha.
Wherever he may go,
He's kind to every living creature.

Grown-ups don't understand
Why children love him the most.
But kids all know
That he loves them so,
Casper the friendly ghost.

http://www.lyricsondemand.com/tvthemes/casperlyrics.html

There's no information on this page about who wrote this song. That's a shame.


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Subject: RE: Songs about ghosts
From: DebC
Date: 28 Oct 08 - 07:35 PM

Here's my version of Dreadful Ghost

Debra Cowan


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Subject: RE: Songs about ghosts
From: Azizi
Date: 28 Oct 08 - 07:34 PM

The first song that popped in my head was "Cssper the friendly ghost/friendliest ghost you know/grown-ups might look at him in fright/but children all love him so".

This song might be on YouTube, but the video clip that I thought would be that song turned out to be catchy square dance style song that introduced Casper, Witch Wendy, and other characters from that American cartoon show.

Here's the clip's summary statement:

"The New Casper Cartoon Show debuted on ABC in 1963, and stayed on Saturday mornings until 1969. Here's the opening title sequence, which was heavily influenced by the folk music show "Hootenanny"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5YYbsoiNGI


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Subject: Songs about ghosts
From: Jayto
Date: 28 Oct 08 - 07:16 PM

What is you favorite song about a ghost? It doesn't even have to be totally about a ghost it can just mention one. I love ghost songs. I will get back to you on mine but I would like to hear from ya'll first.
cya
JT


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