Your new Halloween playlist: The top 25 underrated Halloween songs
Fall is a season that sparks memories of trick-or-treating, carving pumpkins, and most importantly, jamming out to groovy Halloween tunes. The only problem is that most Halloween parties seem to play only “Thriller” and “Monster Mash” on loop! In order to (pumpkin) spice up your Halloween playlist, here is a list of the top 25 spooky songs fit for Dracula himself.
- “No Vampires Remain in Romania” by King Luan
King Luan is great at creating funky songs that are near nonsensical, but just within the vague realm of sanity. This song, with its eccentric beat, should be enjoyed as an odd little addition to any playlist. This song has been featured in the TV show “What We Do in the Shadows,” which features vampires, just like the song.
Spooky Lyrics:
“This is not your sanctioned behaviour
I am not the disease or the cure
No vampires remain in Romania”
- “Scary Monsters” by David Bowie
“Scary Monsters” is a rock song that might just wake the dead. Its ‘80s flare and monstrous lyrics give the song some crazy personality.
Spooky Lyrics:
“Well, she could’ve been a killer
If she didn’t walk the way she do and she do
She opened strange doors
That we’d never close again”
- “Wizard Staff” by Wampire
The name of this band, Wampire, was inspired by the way the band members’ German acquaintance pronounced “vampire.” This song has a calm, indie rock feel due to its charming guitar music and slow beat, making it great for a chill day of apple picking.
Spooky Lyrics:
“But maybe, you were so hard to see, cuz you could hardly be
Just casting those shadows the way that you do
Or maybe, a lonely spark in the breeze is all this poor man needs”
- “Mr. Ghost Goes to Town” by The 5 Jones Boys
This song is an oldie, but a goodie. It tells the story of Mr. Ghost’s journey in a bouncy tone that certainly fits this song right in with other old Halloween classics. The song is acapella, which only adds to the charm of this old-timey tune.
Spooky Lyrics:
“Who’s there, who’s there?
Up there on the stairs
Beware, beware
I hear somebody coming”
- “The Horrors” by Ghost
On a dark and gloomy night, this is the last thing you’d want to hear. This song is genuinely unnerving and belongs in the soundtrack of a horror movie.
Spooky Lyrics:
“Feels like I’m tied to these tracks, no way out
Ship full of hypnotists
I slip, I won’t let you go”
- “Friend of the Devil” by Grateful Dead
This song stands out among most Halloween songs due to its folksy rock sound. It’s easy to imagine a group of ghosts singing this song around a fire on All Hallows Eve.
Spooky Lyrics:
“Ran into the Devil, babe
He loaned me twenty bills
I spent the night in Utah
In a cave up in the hills”
- “Evelyn Evelyn” by Evelyn Evelyn
The backstory of the fictional musical duo, Evelyn Evelyn, by Amanda Palmer and Jason Webley, is almost as creepy as the song itself. Evelyn and Evelyn Neville (aka Eva and Lyn) are conjoined twin sisters portrayed by Palmer and Webley. This song, along with the others from the album, create an eerie story around the characters of Evelyn and Evelyn.
Spooky Lyrics:
“This is our birthday, so why are we weeping?
At your side, I feel like a ghost
I wake up first, and I stare at you sleeping”
- “Little Red Riding Hood” by Laura Gibson
Gibson’s cover gives new haunting life to this creepy song. Her voice gives the listener a feeling of dread that grows throughout the song. As the title suggests, this song explains the story of Little Red Riding Hood, but from the perspective of the wolf, which only makes the tale more horrific.
Spooky Lyrics:
“You’re everything a big bad wolf could want
Little Red Riding Hood, I don’t think little big girls should
Go walking in these spooky old woods alone”
- “An Unhealthy Obsession” by Blake Robinson Synthetic Orchestra
If there’s one thing more unerving than ghosts and monsters, it’s a stalker. The lyrics of this song detail this real life horror through the stalker’s thoughts and actions. These creepy lyrics are sure to send a chill down your spine.
Spooky Lyrics:
“Some call it stalking, I say walking just extremely close behind
I’m sure if I sat down and asked you, well you really wouldn’t mind”
- “Rave in the Grave” by AronChupa, Little Sis Nora
If you’ve ever wondered what goes on in a graveyard at night, these lyrics might provide you with an answer. This song has peculiar lyrics and an upbeat tune that are so catchy that it might raise a skeleton army to join in on the party.
Spooky Lyrics:
“Don’t you worry ’bout the dead, life
You’ll be in the hands of death
And death is pretty damn nice
So won’t you take a breath?”
- “Maniac” by Dennis Matkosky and Michael Sembello
This song may not seem very Halloween-themed at first glance, but Matosky came up with the original idea for the song while watching a news report on a serial killer. He expanded on his macabre lyrics with Micheal Sembello after the two men stumbled upon the 1980 horror movie “Maniac.”
Spooky Lyrics:
“It can cut you like a knife
If the gift becomes a fire
On the wire between will and what will be”
- “Haunted House” by Jumpin’ Gene Simmons
A Halloween classic that is definitely underplayed in the modern era. Despite its age, this song still stands the test of time. “Haunted House” is a bright, peppy tune that might just get you jumpin’!
Spooky Lyrics:
“Nothin’ was a-gonna drive me away
When I seen somethin’ that give me the creep
Had one big eye and a-two big feet”
- “Murders” by Miracle Musical
“Murders” is certainty one of the creepiest songs on this list. It creates a haunting feeling through its mysterious lyrics that can be interpreted in a variety of different ways. If you’re ever looking for a track that feels like it would be in a horror movie, look no further!
Spooky Lyrics:
“Deeper in they crept
Oblivious of the bears and darker terrors
Or none were there
How did they dare”
- “Phantom of the Opera” by Andrew Lloyd Webber, Gerard Butler, and Emmy Rossum
Andrew Lloyd-Webber’s music combined with Emmy Rossum’s voice in “Phantom of the Opera” is nothing less than extraordinary. The eerie melody of the title song of the show leaves listeners with a thirst for more. After all, couldn’t everyone do with a bit more opera in their lives?
Spooky Lyrics:
“In sleep he sang to me, in dreams he came
That voice which calls to me and speaks my name”
- “Invisible Man” by Queen
Queen is one of the most popular bands of the 20th century, so it’s no wonder they were responsible for the creation of this fang-tastic song. It takes the concept of the invisible man and turns it into a song with a distinct beat that makes it one for the ages.
Spooky Lyrics:
“I’m your meanest thought
I’m your darkest fear
Put I’ll never get caught
You can’t shake me, shake me dear”
- “Pet Sematary” by The Ramones
This song is somewhat popular within the world of Halloween music, but still deserves far more recognition. This song was written for the credits of Stephen King’s 1989 movie adaptation of the book, “Pet Sematary.” This song became one of the band’s biggest hits on account of the song’s early 2000s rock feel and frightening lyrics.
Spooky Lyrics:
“This ain’t a dream, I can’t escape
Molars and fangs, the clicking of bones
Spirits moaning among the tombstones
And the night, when the moon is bright
Someone cries, something ain’t right”
- “Can’t Play Dead” by The Heavy
”Can’t Play Dead” is an upbeat rock song that will make you want to party with your skeleton friends. The consistent beat behind the ever-changing lyrics creates a really entertaining mix. This song comes from The Heavy’s album, “The Glorious Dead.”
Spooky Lyrics:
“Well, she walk like zombie
Talk too cold
Live in a graveyard
Like the one I call home”
- “Psycho Killer” by Talking Heads
“Psycho Killer” earns its name with its powerful, yet eerie beat and scream-worthy lyrics. Overall, this song is very reminiscent of the suspenseful nature of horror movies.
Spooky Lyrics:
“I’m tense and nervous and I can’t relax
I can’t sleep ’cause my bed’s on fire
Don’t touch me, I’m a real live wire”
- “My Girlfriend is a Witch” by October Country
Are you suspicious that someone you know may secretly be brewing up potions and casting spells? If so, then this song is for you! This song details all of the most magical parts of being a witch. Plus, its alternative sound is perfect for the fall season.
Spooky Lyrics:
“Spells fill the air
I think I hear footsteps on my stair
Coming near
Her thoughts are telling me that she’s here”
- “For the Departed” by Schafer James
This song opens with a creepy yet enchanting sequence of notes. The lyrics then go on to reference the gruesome tale of Edgar Allen Poe’s “Tell Tale Heart,” a classic horror story. Witches and warlocks alike could find something to love in this bone-chilling tune.
Spooky Lyrics:
“Your cries become the wind
A desperate plea best left unheard
Then my contrived goodbye”
- “Oogie Boogie’s Song” by Ed Ivory and Ken Page
Most people are all likely familiar with “This is Halloween” from “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” but “Oogie Boogie’s Song” serves as a reminder that there are several other fantastic songs in this stop motion movie. This song, through a jazzy melody, details what happens after Santa Claus was kidnapped and brought to Oogie Boogie. Other great halloween-themed songs from this movie include “Jack’s Lament” and “Kidnap the Sandy Claws.”
Spooky Lyrics:
“Well, if I’m feelin’ ansty
And I’ve nothin’ much to do
I might just cook a special batch
Of snake and spider stew”
- “Wicked Ones” by DOROTHY
An energetic rock song that will pump you up for a long day of trick-or-treating. It almost feels wrong not to get up and start dancing as you listen. The punchy beat makes this a powerful Halloween anthem. This song has appeared in “Pretty Little Liars” and “Descendants,” in addition to several other pieces of media.
Spooky Lyrics:
“This night ain’t for the faint of heart
For the faint of heart, for the faint of heart”
- “Skeleton Sam” by LVCRFT
LVCRFT is well known for their prominently horror-themed songs, and this song is certainly one of their best. This song has a beat that can only be described as Halloween with lyrics to match, and it was recently featured in Disney’s “Hocus Pocus.”
Spooky Lyrics:
“When the werewolves howl and the witches fly
That’s when you know Sam’s nearby
When you hear the sound of a million scream
They’re probably watching him on ghost TV”
- “Dead Man’s Party” by Oingo Boingo
This six-and-a-half minute long song is a perfect mix of spooky and upbeat. This song will make an excellent addition to any Halloween playlist with its alternative music style and fun lyrics.
Spooky Lyrics:
“I was struck by lighting, walkin’ down the street
I was hit by something last night in my sleep
It’s a dead man’s party, who could ask for more”
- “Ghosted” by DBone and the Remains
DBone and the Remains are a self described family-friendly Halloween music band, making it no surprise that they’ve taken the top spot on this list. This song has everything a person could want in a Halloween song: funny, yet mildly spooky lyrics, a joyful beat, and lots of personality. This band has other great Halloween songs such as “Jack O’Lantern” and “Happy Halloween.”
Spooky Lyrics:
“I got the chills when I met ya
The stars will align
Said you’d meet me under the moon
At half-past nine”
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