Halloween Songs

Halloween isn't usually known for its songs, but my favorite part of any holiday is its music! Here, you'll find lots of songs (and two poems) to learn and enjoy. They might become the highlight of your Halloween, too!

Listen to Ms. Sylvia singing these songs at the bottom of the page!

Three Little Pumpkins

Ok, this one isn't a song, but it is a wonderful poem for Halloween!

Three little pumpkins, lying very still
In a pumpkin patch on a hill.
This one said, “I’m very green,
But I’ll be orange by Halloween.”
This one said, “I’m on my way
To be a jack o’ lantern some day.”
This one said, “Oh my, oh my,
Today I’ll be a pumpkin pie.”

Five Little Pumpkins

If you can count three little pumpkins, you're ready for five! This is a very popular rhyme. You may have heard it in school!

Five little pumpkins sitting on a gate.
The first one said, "Oh my it's getting late!"
The second one said, "There are witches in the air!"
The third one said, "Well, I don't care."
The fourth one said, "Let's run and run and run!"
The fifth one said, It's Halloween fun!"

Then whoosh went the wind
And out went the lights
And five little pumpkins
Rolled out of sight

Jack-o'-Lantern

This is a traditional song from England, celebrating the beautiful, glowing carved pumpkins so many of us know and love.

Jack-o'-lantern, Jack-o'-lantern
You are such a funny sight.
As you sit there, at the window
Glowing out at the night.

You were once a yellow pumpkin
Growing on a sturdy vine.
Now you are my jack-o'-lantern
Let your candle light shine.

Cinco Calabazas (Five Pumpkins)

This is not a traditional song, but it was written by Spanish teachers as a new classic for young children and for those learning Spanish. What emotions are the pumpkins feeling in this song?

Cinco calabazas sentadas en su casa,
una calabaza se siente muy cansada.

Cuatro calabazas sentadas en su casa,
una calabaza se siente asustada.

Tres calabazas sentadas en su casa,
una calabaza se siente enojada.

Dos calabazas sentadas en su casa,
una calabaza se siente muy frustrada.

Una calabaza sentada en su casa,
una calabaza se siente sorprendida.

Cinco calabazas duermen en su casa,
y cuando sale el sol se sienten muy felices.

There Was an Old Witch

Another traditional song from England, this song gets a little spooky! Act out each part as you sing it.

There was an old witch, believe it if you can!
She tapped on the window and she ran, ran, ran.
She flew helter-skelter with her toes in the air,
Corn husks flying from the witch's hair.

Whoosh went the broomstick, meow went the cat
Plop went the hop-toad sitting on her lap
"Wheeeeeee!" chuckled I, such funny, funny fun!
Halloween night when the witches run

Halloween night when the witches run

Tiptoe, Tiptoe

Have you ever been a little bit scared, when there was really nothing to be afraid of? It's a pretty common experience, especially near Halloween! Enjoy acting out this simple song that illustrates exactly that! (It might feel scary at first, especially for younger brothers and sisters and friends, but remind them that it all turns out ok in the end!)

Tiptoe tiptoe, Tiptoe tiptoe,
Up to the door
I do not like it
Run, run, run

Tiptoe tiptoe, Tiptoe tiptoe,
Knock on the door
Here come big hobgoblins
Run, run, run

Tiptoe tiptoe, Tiptoe tiptoe,
Open the door
Look the house is empty
Ha, ha, ha, ha

Six Ghosts Lurking

Here's another counting song. There are so many ways you can change it too keep your math skills sharp, but here's a great starting place!

Six ghosts lurking in the shadow of the door
Six ghosts lurking in the shadow of the door
But if one should jump out at us —Boo!—
Be absolutely sure
There would be [how many? Yes! 5!] five ghosts lurking in the shadow of the door

Five ghosts lurking in the shadow of the door
Five little ghosts in the shadow of the door
But if one should jump out at us —Boo!—
Be absolutely sure
There would be four ghosts lurking
In the shadow of the door

Four ghosts lurking in the shadow of the door
Four ghosts lurking in the shadow of the door
But if one should jump out at us —Boo!—
Be absolutely sure
There would be three ghosts lurking in the shadow of the door

Three ghosts lurking in the shadow of the door
Three ghosts lurking in the shadow of the door
But if one should jump out at us —Boo!—
Be absolutely sure
There would be two ghosts lurking in the shadow of the door

Two ghosts lurking in the shadow of the door
Two ghosts lurking in the shadow of the door
But if one should jump out at us —Boo!—
Be absolutely sure
There would be one ghost lurking in the shadow of the door

One ghost lurking in the shadow of the door
One ghost lurking in the shadow of the door
But if that one should jump out at us —Boo!—
Be absolutely sure
There would be no ghosts lurking in the shadow of the door!

Old Roger Is Dead

This is a traditional game from England and, though it might seem a little strange, I have always found it to be lots of fun! You can play in large groups (I've played with fifty-two thrid graders) and small groups. You'll need to assign roles, but remember, more than one person can do each. It is also fun to use beanbags for the apples.

In the first verse, "Old Roger" will lie in the center of the circle. Everyone around "Old Roger" can hold hands and walk in a clock-wise cirlce or can point to old Roger and sigh at "heigh-ho!".

In the second verse, assign some apple trees to grow. They'll throw down beanbags (dropping them away from "Old Roger, not on top of "Old Roger", as so many apple trees are tempted to do!) for apples in the third verse.

In the fourth verse, assign an "Old Woman" to come gather the apples

In the fifth verse, "Old Roger" jumps up and gently plays tag with the "Old Woman". If "Old Roger" catches the "Old Woman", she can take the place of someone in the circle, who "Old Roger" will also try to tag until the verse is over.

In the final verse, "Old Roger" lies back down. The "Old Woman" and any other players who were tagged will skip in a circle clockwise around "Old Roger". The rest of the cirlce with skip around them in the opposite direction.

Then, you can start again with new roles!

Old Roger is dead and he lies in his grave, Lies in his grave, lies in his grave. Old Roger is dead and he lies in his grave, Heigh-ho! Lies in his grave.

There grew an old apple tree over his head, Over his head, over his head There grew an old apple tree over his head, Heigh-ho! Over his head.

The apples grew ripe and were ready to fall, Ready to fall, ready to fall. The apples grew ripe and were ready to fall, Heigh-ho! Ready to fall.

There cam an old woman to gather them up, Gather them up, gather them up. There came an old woman to gather them up, Heigh-ho! Gather them up.

Old Roger jumped up and he gave her a whack, Gave her a whack, gave her a whack Old Roger jumped up and he gave her a whack, Heigh-ho! Gave her a whack!

Which made the old woman go hippity-hop Hippity-hop, hippity-hop. Which made the old woman go hippity-hop, Heigh-ho! Hippity-hop.

Have You Seen the Ghost of John?

You might know this song as "The Ghost of Tom". There are many variations, but it's very spooky and very popular! If you're in 2nd grade or younger, just learn the tune. If you're in 3rd grade or above, see if you can turn it into a round! Listen below to hear the song in two parts, then in three parts.

Have you seen the ghost of John?
Long white bones with the skin all gone!
Ooooooooooooooooooooooooh!
Wouldn't it be chilly with no skin on?

When I Grew Up in the Pumpkin Patch

A dear friend taught me this song, and though I don't know its origins, it is one of my favorites. I hope you'll enjoy it, too!

If you're in 2nd grade or younger, just learn the tune. If you're in 3rd grade or above, see if you can turn it into a round! Listen below to hear the song in two parts, then in three parts.

When I grew up in the pumpkin patch
I sat in the sun all day
I grew 'til I was gold and round
Then I heard a little sunbeam say:

"Roll around little pumpkin in the pumpkin patch
Oh tumble and turn and sway,
Roll around little pumpkin in the weeds and the thatch
Oh spin and roll and play!

But when the sun is sinking low
And shadows steal the light
Hurry back to your home in the garden row,
Curl up in your vines so tight."

It's Halloween!

This spooky round is another favorite of mine, though, again, I don't know where it's from. I learned it from a friend and would be so curious to learn who wrote it! If you know, please get in contact with me!

In the meantime, enjoy this simple, spooky tune. As with the other songs, just learning the tune is all you need to do if you are in 2nd grade or younger. If you are in 3rd grade and above, try singing it in a round one you're sure of the tune!

Out in the night there’s an eerie-weerie sound
Down from the darkness and rising from the ground
Witches and goblins are gathering around
For it’s Halloween!

Here is Ms. Sylvia singing all the songs covered above:

• music
• song
• Halloween
• student
• grades pre-k - 5