Songs about ghosts

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.

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 !!!!

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≈

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.

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."

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?

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.

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

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

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?

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.

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.

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!