Songs for Halloween T-W 2019

The Hairy Scary castle

The happy pumpkin

The haunted house

The magic vine

The owl is abroad

The skeleton stomp

The witch

The witch and her cat

The witch has lost her broomstick

The witch has lost her cat

The witches are riding their brooms

There was an old witch

There’s a goblin in the dark

Three little pumpkins

Three little witches

Three scarecrows

To fool some folks on Hallowe’en

“Welcome!” said the spider

We’re witches of Halloween

Witch in the brambles

Witch, witch where do you fly?

Also see

Ten little pumpkins

Find more songs for Halloween at: Songs for Halloween A-M

 

Last updated: 10/18/2021 10:08 AM

The songs below are part ofAway we gocompiled, adapted and illustrated by Dany Rosevear

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To watch the author sing a song click on the title at:

 

© Dany Rosevear 2008 All rights reserved

You are free to copy, distribute, display and perform these works under the following conditions:

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Your fair use and other rights are no way affected by the above.


 

 

The Hairy Scary castle O

 

 


Open a squeaky door slowly in the Hairy Scary Castle and see what might be there. A cumulative song for Halloween and community singing with lots of opportunities for spooky noises; use vocal and body sounds or whatever objects come to hand – newspaper can be used to make all sorts of noises.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


In the Hairy Scary Castle,

In the Hairy Scary Castle,

In the Hairy Scary Castle,

Where the skeletons RATTLE,

And the ghosts go BOO!

 

In the Hairy Scary Castle… x3

Where the rats go SQUEAK,

And the bats go FLAP!

And the skeletons RATTLE,

And the ghosts go BOO!

 

In the Hairy Scary Castle… x3

Where the stairs go CREAK,

And the clock goes TOCK!

Where the rats go SQUEAK,

And the bats go FLAP!

Where the skeletons RATTLE,

And the ghosts go BOO!

 

In the Hairy Scary Castle… x3

Where the wind goes WHOOSH,

And the doors go BANG!

Where the stairs go CREAK,

And the clock goes TOCK!

Where the rats go SQUEAK,

And the bats go FLAP!

Where the skeletons RATTLE,

And the ghosts go BOO!


 

 

The happy pumpkin 🔊

 

 


Also called “Punky Punkin’” this Halloween song was written by Cy Coben in 1950. It was sung by Rosemary Clooney and Roy Rogers among others.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


I’ve got a friend who’s big and round,

And oh, so jolly, gee whizz,

Lend me your ear and you will hear,

Just who this fellow is.

He’s punky pumpkin, the happy pumpkin,

Happy all the day,

And his great big smile will scare your cares away.

Punky pumpkin, the happy pumpkin,

Never wears a frown,

You can see that he’s cut out to be a clown.

The candlelight inside him makes

His eyes light up and gleam,

They shine right through the window at you

For a hap, hap,happy Halloween.

Punky pumpkin’s a happy pumpkin,

And do you know why?

Cause he’s a Jack-o-lantern

Instead of being a pumpkin pie,

Cause he’s a Jack-o-lantern

Instead of being a pumpkin pie!


 

 

The haunted house  🔊

 

 


A simple action song, sing slowly and creepily getting louder each time. The words are by Derek Pearson and can be found in OUP’s ‘Up, up and away’ published in1987.

 

Dramatise freely but here are some suggestions: 1. Tiptoe softly about the room, stop at an imaginary door and put hands to face. Run away. 2. As before, knock, look scares and run. 3. As before, open door, look around, put hands on hips and laugh.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Tiptoe, tiptoe,

Tiptoe, tiptoe,

Up to the door,

Up to the door.

Oh, I do not like it,

Oh, I do not like it.

Run, run, run!

Run, run, run!

 

Tiptoe, tiptoe,

Tiptoe, tiptoe,

Knock on the door,

Knock on the door.

Here come big hobgoblins,

Here come big hobgoblins.

Run, run, run!

Run, run, run!

 

Tiptoe, tiptoe,

Tiptoe, tiptoe,

Open the door,

Open the door.

Look, the house is empty,

Look, the house is empty.

Ha, ha, ha!

Ha, ha, ha!


 

 

The magic vine 🔊

 

 


A pumpkin from seed to pie for Thanksgiving.

This rhyme was written at the begining of the last century and can be found in  The Agricultural College Extension bulletin volume iii November 1907 number 3 with no attribution.. The tune is adapted from a New Englan folk tune which many will recognise the ‘The boney king of nowhere’ from the Bugpuss series.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1. Plant seed in hand. 2. Put hand and arm through palm of the other hand.

3. Make tulip shape with hands. 4. Put hands to eyes.

5. Make round pumpikin with arms in front of tummy. 6. Rub tummy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


A fairy seed I planted,

So dry and white and old;

There sprang a vine enchanted

With magic flowers of gold.

I watched it, I tended it,

And truly, by and by

It bore a Jack o’ Lantern,

And a great Thanksgiving pie.


 

 

 

 

The owl is abroad 🔊

 

 


‘Witches’ Song’ 1609 by Ben Jonson 1572 - 1637, entitled ‘Third Charm’ from The Masque of Queens. You can find out more about this poet and dramatist at: https://www.poets.org/poetsorg/poem/third-charm-masque-queens

The music is by Gladys Pitcher from ‘This is music’ 4 published 1968.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


The owl is abroad, the bat, and the toad,

And so is the cat-a-mountain,

The ant and the mole sit both in a hole,

And the frog peeps out o’ the fountain;

The dogs they do bay, and the timbrels play,

The spindle is now a-turning;

The moon it is red, and the stars are fled,

But all the sky is a-burning:


 

 

 

 

The skeletons stomp O

 

 


A cumulative rhyming song; add your own rhyming verses with a Halloween theme. Words and music by Sue Stevens.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


All in the middle of the night! (Clap, clap!)

All in the middle of the night! (Clap, clap!)

Squeaks and groans and rattling bones,

All in the middle of the night! (Clap, clap!)

Come to the skeletons’ party,

Come to the skeletons’ romp:

See that ghoul playing the fool,

Doing the skeleton stomp. (Clap, clap!)

 

All in the middle of the night…

See that cat in a pink top hat,

See that ghoul playing the fool,

Doing the skeleton stomp. (Clap, clap!)

 

See that frog jiggle and jog…

See that toad from down the road…

See that ghost munching toast…

See that spider full of cider…

See that snake shimmy and shake…

See that witch climbing out of a ditch…

 


 

 

The witch

 

 


A hand play rhyme for Halloween by Wendy Bird.

 

1. Place forefingers together 2. Make a pot with right hand 3. Point to pot with left forefinger 4. Stir pot with left forefinger 5. With open fingers and thumb down stretch out arm 6. Raise thumb to make a witch and fly broomstick through the air.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here's the witch in her pointed hat,

And here's her cauldron, round and black.

Here's the witch's magic spell:

Stir it round and mix it well.

Here's her broomstick, long and

Away she flies or she'll be late.


 

 

The witch and her cat 🔊

 

 


A hand play for Halloween. For a more lively activity this could be dramatized in a circle. Music by Dany Rosevear.

 

Verse 1: Raise thumb of right hand; zoom and dip. Hold arms and shiver.Wink, thumbs and forefingers make a moon shape. Verse 2: Make a pointed hat with fingers. Makea wavy rippling motion with fingers. Make one hand into a claw and the other into a fist with thumb up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


A witch once went for a ride on her broom,

Up through the frosty sky;

She zoomed and zoomed, she dipped and zipped,

And she winked at the moon as she passed by,

At the moon in the frosty sky.

 

She wore a hat that was pointed tall,

And a cape that was flowing wide

And a fierce black cat with a stand up tail,

Rode merrily by her side, her side,

Rode merrily by her side.


 

 

 

The witch has lost her broomstick O

 

 


A song for Halloween by Barbara Ireson and Christopher Rowe from their delightful book ‘Over and over again’ – Poems and songs for the very young.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


The witch has lost her broomstick and can’t fly in the sky,

The witch has lost her broomstick and only I know why,

The witch has lost her broomstick and someone else will fly,

And I know who that someone is – it’s I, I, I!


 

 

The witch has lost her cat 🔊

 

 


Even witches have memory problems.

Words and music Dany Rosevear.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


The witch has lost her cat,

The witch has lost her hat

No cat! No hat!

What sort of witch is that!

 

But the cat is on her bed,

And the hat is on her head,

“Feedle, deedle, deedle!”

The old witch said.

 

Feedle deedle zoom,

The witch has whizzed off to the moon.

She’s sat up there without a care,

Singing a silv’ry tune.


 

 

The witches are riding their brooms 🔊

 

 


This traditional rhyme comes from ‘Ten galloping horses’ published 1979.

The music is by Moya Smith.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


The witches are riding their brooms tonight,

They’re riding their broomsticks tonight,

Yoo hoo, yoo hoo, yoo hoo, yoo hoo,

They’re riding their broomsticks tonight.

 

The witches are stirring their cauldrons tonight,

They’re stirring their cauldrons tonight,

Yoo hoo, yoo hoo, yoo hoo, yoo hoo,

They’re stirring their cauldrons tonight.

 

The witches are casting their spells tonight,

They’re casting their spells tonight,

Yoo hoo, yoo hoo, yoo hoo, yoo hoo,

They’re casting their spells tonight.

 


 

 

 

There was an old witch O

 

A song for Hallowe’en with an extra verse.

This song will be spookily enhanced by adding a variety of percussion instruments.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


There was an old witch,

Believe it if you can.

She tapped at the window

And she ran, ran, ran.

She ran helter-skelter,

With her toes in the air,

Cornstalks flying,

From the old witch’s hair.

 

Chorus

‘Swish,’ goes the broomstick,

‘Miaow,’ goes the cat,

‘Plop,’ goes the hop-toad

Sitting on her hat.

‘Wee,’ chuckled I,

‘What fun, fun, fun!’

Hallowe’en night when the witches run.

 

There was an old witch,

Believe me, it is true.

She knocked at my door

Then she flew, flew, flew.

She flew round the chimney,

With a cackle and a croak,

Sparks all a-flying,

From her smoky black cloak.

Chorus

...‘Wee,’ chuckled she,

‘I’m off, goodbye!’

For Hallowe’en fun in the dark night sky.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 


There’s a goblin in the dark 🔊

 

 


A Halloween version of the traditional circle game“The farmer’s in his den / the dell”. Encourage those in the circle to dramatize their role.

Music, words and game adapted and arranged by Dany Rosevear.

 

The circle walks to the left. The ‘goblin’ walks to the right. On the second verse a partner is chosen and they walk, holding hands, round the circle in the same direction. Eventually seven are chosen walking round the circle with hands joined. Once the pumpkin has been chosen the children in the centre VERY GENTLY turn the pumkin round. Everyone else turns on the spot and jumps up clapping hands with a loud “Boo!”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


There’s a goblin in the dark,

A goblin in the dark,

Hi, ho, it’s Halloween

There’s a goblin in the dark.

 

The goblin takes the witch,

The goblin takes the witch,

Hi, ho, it’s Halloween

The goblin takes the witch,

 

The witch takes the cat…

The cat takes the bat…

The bat takes the skeleton…

The skeleton takes the ghost…

The ghost picks a pumpkin…

 

We all roll the pumpkin,

We all roll the pumpkin,

Hi, ho, it’s Halloween,

Then the pumpkin shouts out "Boo!"


 

 

Three little pumpkins 🔊

 

 


Words and music by Ruthelma Hemstead from ‘Singing fun’ pub 1962. Adapted by Dany Rosevear.

 

Verse 1. Put up three fingers, ‘sit’ on hand. Make pointed hat on head, move hand through the air. Laugh wickedly and put up one finger. Arms make a round pumpkin. Repeat with appropriate number of fingers for verse 2 & 3. Verse 4. Shake head at ‘fence’ Witch as before make eyes with thumb and forefinger. Rub tummy and make pie with arms.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Three little pumpkins sitting on a fence,

A witch came riding by,

Ha, Ha, Ha! I’ll take just one,

To make a pumpkin pie. Ha ! Ha !

 

Two little pumpkins sitting on a fence,

A witch came riding by,

Ha, Ha, Ha! I’ll take just one,

To make a pumpkin pie. Ha ! Ha !

 

One little pumpkin sitting on a fence,

A witch came riding by,

Ha, Ha, Ha! I’ll take just one,

To make a pumpkin pie. Ha ! Ha !

 

No little pumpkins sitting on a fence,

Just a witch with green, green eyes,

Oh dear me my tummy’s so full,

From eating pumpkin pie. Ha ! Ha !

 


 

 

Three little witches 🔊

 

 


Based on a poem by Marjorie Barrows; it was adapted and set to a tune by Hoagy Carmichael and can be found in his ‘Songs for children a a big golden book’ published 1957  by Ruthelma Hemstead from ‘Singing fun’ pub 1962.

Adapted and arranged here by Dany Rosevear.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Three little witches pranced in the garden,

Three little witches scratched at the moon,

One held a polecat, one held a pussy cat,

One with a snag tooth whistled a tune.

 

Out flew an owl who glared at the kitten,

Out flew an owl who stared at the rest,

Dancing, with haughty nose, each on the other's toes,

Down past the pumpkin rows under his nest.

 

Three little witches blew on their broomsticks,

Three little witches flew to their queen,

I’ll bet a pumpkin, any old pumpkin,

They’ll be back next Hallowe'en.


 

 

Three scarecrows 🔊

 

 


An action song; is it possible to stamp on the ground without making a sound?

Can be sung as a round.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Three scarecrows, three scarecrows,

Ready for some fun, ready for some fun,

On Halloween night they all dance around,

They flip and they flop and they stomp on the ground,

They scare all the birds without making a sound,

They’re three scarecrows, three scarecrows.


 

 

 

To fool some folk at Hallowe’en 🔊

 

 


A fun Halloween song for the very young.

Music by Dany Rosevear.

 

This needs a large Jack o’ lantern to hide behind finish with jumping out and shouting BOO! Loudly.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


To fool some folks on Halloween

I’ll tell you what I’ll do:

I’ll hide behind this pumpkin head,

And then I’ll shout out, “Boo.” BOO!!!


 

 

 

Welcome said the spider 🔊

 

 


A lovely creepy song and tune for Halloween. Written by M. Ryan Taylor from Utah, find more of his songs at: https://mryantaylor.bandcamp.com/ .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Welcome," said the spider, "Come right in."

"I’m so glad to have you, I feel mighty thin."

"Rest your weary bones, put down your pack;

The time has now come to have a snack!"

 


 

 

We're witches of Halloween 🔊

 

 


Though originally composed by Cynthia Raza and published 1975 in her book ‘The lollipop man’, it was much more well known from BBCTV’s ‘Words and pictures’ which was repeated about five times at Halloween from 1975 onwards with Frank Barrow as the presenter. It became a popular song for subsequent Halloween revels with variants on the words We'll hide on the stair And chase you everywhere’.

 

Make scary witchy faces. Line 3. Hold broomstick and pretend to fly. 8. Make pointed hat above head. 9. Fingers brush cheeks outwardslike cat whiskers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


We're witches of Halloween Woo-oo,

The ugliest you’ve ever seen Woo-oo,

We fly around at night

And give you such a fright!

We’re witches of Halloween. Woo-oo.

 

We’re witches of Halloween Woo-oo,

Our faces are crooked and green Woo-oo,

We have black pointed hats

And wicked witches’ cats,

We’re witches of Halloween Woo-oo.


 

 

 

 

Witch in the brambles 🔊

 

 


This comes from Monica Shelton’s ‘Round about the Seasons’ pub 1984.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Witch in the brambles, witch in the tree

Gathering nuts and honey from the bee,

Fly with the feathers of the owl on your back,

Fly with your green-eyed cat!

 

Make me a spell with the crackle of your fire,

Make me a spell and the cauldron stir,

Dance with the feathers of the owl on your back,

Dance with your green-eyed cat!

 


 

 

 

Witch, witch, where do you fly?

 

 


A poem by Rose Fyleman.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Witch, witch, where do you fly?

Under the clouds and over the sky.

 

Witch, witch, what do you eat?

Little black apples from Hurricane Street.

 

Witch, witch, what do you drink?

Vinegar and good red ink.

 

Witch, witch, where do you sleep?

Up in the clouds where the pillows are cheap.

 

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