Halloween Songs and Poems for Kids

Author:
Candace Bacon
Updated date:
Apr 9, 2016

Spooky, Scary, and Fun

These are some of the best Halloween songs and poems for kids. Included are some of the most popular spooky songs and poems and ones that are not as well known. Read below to find lyrics, poems, videos, and music links. Other Halloween activities and ideas are in this article as well.

Many of the songs have movements or dances that go along with them. Get your kids moving and grooving as you listen to these songs.

As you read these poems with your kids, dim the lights and play creepy sounds in the background. Read slowly and quietly to make it sound eerier. Use a creaky voice.

Whenever there is a part that is meant to be scary, like "boo!," say it loud and jump. It will add to the spooktacular effect.

Tonight Is The Night

by Harry Behn

(A fun activity to try with kids is to see how fast you can say this poem without getting tongue tied. You can also act out this poem.)

Tonight is the night

when dead leaves fly

like witches on switches

across the sky.

When elf and sprite flit

through the night on a moony sheen.

Tonight is the night

when leaves make a sound

like a gnome in his home under the ground.

When spooks and trolls

creep out of the holes,

all mossy and green.

Tonight is the night

Scroll to Continue

15-ways-to-relax-your-mind-and-body-from-anxiety

when pumpkins stare

through sheaves and leaves everywhere.

When ghoul and ghost and goblin

host dance round their Queen.

It's Halloween!

Halloween Music for Kids at Amazon

The Witches Spell by William Shakespeare

From Macbeth, Act 4, Scene 1

(This is one of the most popular witch scenes of all time. Three witches are stirring up a magic spell in this scene from Macbeth. You can make a witches' brew with your kids as you say this poem. See the bottom of the article for links about making Halloween punches and brews.)

Thrice the brinded cat hath mew'd.

Thrice and once the hedge-pig whined.

Harpier cries 'Tis time, 'tis time.

Round about the cauldron go;

In the poison'd entrails throw.

Toad, that under cold stone

Days and nights has thirty-one

Swelter'd venom sleeping got,

Boil thou first i' the charmed pot.

Double, double toil and trouble;

Fire burn, and cauldron bubble.

Fillet of a fenny snake,

In the cauldron boil and bake;

Eye of newt and toe of frog,

Wool of bat and tongue of dog,

Adder's fork and blind-worm's sting,

Lizard's leg and owlet's wing,

For a charm of powerful trouble,

Like a hell-broth boil and bubble.

Double, double toil and trouble;

Fire burn and cauldron bubble.

Scale of dragon, tooth of wolf,

Witches' mummy, maw and gulf

Of the ravin'd salt-sea shark,

Root of hemlock digg'd i' the dark,

Liver of blaspheming Jew,

Gall of goat, and slips of yew

Silver'd in the moon's eclipse,

Nose of Turk and Tartar's lips,

Finger of birth-strangled babe

Ditch-deliver'd by a drab,

Make the gruel thick and slab:

Add thereto a tiger's chaudron,

For the ingredients of our cauldron.

Double, double toil and trouble;

Fire burn and cauldron bubble.

Cool it with a baboon's blood,

Then the charm is firm and good.

Three Witches Sesame Street Skit

Three witches mixing a spell on Sesame Street. Kid friendly version of Macbeth's witches. The skit teaches about cooperation.

Grim Grinning Ghosts

When the crypt goes creak,

And the tombstones quake.

Spooks come out for a swinging wake.

Happy haunts materialize,

And begin to vocalize.

Grim grinning ghosts come out to socialize.

Now don't close your eyes,

And don't try to hide.

Or a silly spook may sit by your side.

Shrouded in a daft disguise,

They pretend to terrorize.

Grim grinning ghosts come out to socialize.

As the moon climbs high o'er the dead oak tree,

Spooks arrive for the midnight spree.

Creepy creeps with eerie eyes,

Start to shriek and harmonize.

Grim grinning ghosts come out to socialize.

When you hear the knell of a requiem bell,

Weird glows gleam where spirits dwell.

Restless bones etherialize,

Rise as spooks of every size.

If you would like to join our jamboree,

There's a simple rule that's compulsory.

Mortals pay a token fee.

Rest in peace, the haunting's free.

So hurry back, we would like your company.

Ghost of John

Have you seen the ghost of John?

Long white bones with the skin all gone,

Ooooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh

Wouldn't it be chilly with no skin on?

Skin and Bones

(Sing the song quietly until the last line. When it is time to say "Boo," scream really loud to scare your audience.)

There was an old woman all skin and bones Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh

She lived down by the old grave-yard Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh

One night she thought she'd take a walk. Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh

She walked down by the old grave-yard. Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh

She saw the bones all lying round. Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh

She went to the closet to get a broom. Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh

She opened the door and BOO!

The Skeleton Dance

Easy and fun song for kids that combines movement with science. Kids will learn about body parts and names.

Wee Sing for Halloween on Amazon - Kids' Favorite!

Wee Sing for Halloween is a great collection of kids music for Halloween. These songs become favorites that they will sing over and over. It is fun to listen to and not too scary.

Halloween Songs Poll

Magic Chant

by Samuel Exler

(Great poem for teaching rhymes. It is also a great example of how to deal with fear. Halloween can be a scary time for kids. This poem teaches kids what to do when they feel afraid.)

If in the dark you're frightened,

Here's all you have to do.

Say: Igga bigga,

Hunka bunka,

Dinka danka doo.

These words give you protection

From ghosts-and witches, too.

Say: Igga bigga,

Hunka bunka,

Dinka danka doo.

So if at night a monster

Should whisper, I'll get you,"

Yell: Igga bigga,

Hunka bunka,

Dinka danka doo.

Five Little Pumpkins - Easy counting rhyme about pumpkins sitting on a gate at Halloween.

Five little pumpkins sitting on a gate.

The first one said, "Oh, my it's getting late!"

The second one said, "We don't care!"

The third one said, "There are witches in the air!"

The fourth one said, "I'm ready for some fun!"

The fifth one said, "Let's run and run and run!"

Then Whoooooosh... went the wind,

And out went the light!

And the five little pumpkins rolled out of sight.

The Monster Mash

I was working in the lab late one night

When my eyes beheld an eerie sight

For my monster from his slab began to rise

And suddenly to my surprise

He did the mash

He did the monster mash

The monster mash

It was a graveyard smash

He did the mash

It caught on in a flash

He did the mash

He did the monster mash

From my laboratory in the castle east

To the master bedroom where the vampires feast

The ghouls all came from their humble abodes

To get a jolt from my electrodes

They did the mash

They did the monster mash

The monster mash

It was a graveyard smash

They did the mash

It caught on in a flash

They did the mash

They did the monster mash

The zombies were having fun

The party had just begun

The guests included Wolf Man

Dracula and his son

The scene was rockin', all were digging the sounds

Igor on chains, backed by his baying hounds

The coffin-bangers were about to arrive

With their vocal group, "The Crypt-Kicker Five"

They played the mash

They played the monster mash

The monster mash

It was a graveyard smash

They played the mash

It caught on in a flash

They played the mash

They played the monster mash

Out from his coffin, Drac's voice did ring

Seems he was troubled by just one thing

He opened the lid and shook his fist

And said, "Whatever happened to my Transylvania twist?"

It's now the mash

It's now the monster mash

The monster mash

And it's a graveyard smash

It's now the mash

It's caught on in a flash

It's now the mash

It's now the monster mash

Now everything's cool, Drac's a part of the band

And my monster mash is the hit of the land

For you, the living, this mash was meant too

When you get to my door, tell them Boris sent you

Then you can mash

Then you can monster mash

The monster mash

And do my graveyard smash

Then you can mash

You'll catch on in a flash

Then you can mash

Then you can monster mash

The Hearse Song (The Worms Crawl In)

(For younger kids, use just the part starting from "The worms crawl in..." It has funny rhymes that will be humorous to kids. The first part of the song may be too morbid for younger children. Make a worm cake to eat as you say the poem. See the links at the bottom for spooky food ideas.)

Don't you ever laugh as the hearse goes by,

For you may be the next to die.

They wrap you up in a big white sheet

From your head down to your feet.

They put you in a big black box

And cover you up with dirt and rocks.

All goes well for about a week,

Then your coffin begins to leak.

The worms crawl in, the worms crawl out,

The worms play pinochle on your snout.

They eat your eyes, they eat your nose,

They eat the jelly between your toes.

A big green worm with rolling eyes

Crawls in your stomach and out your eyes.

Your stomach turns a slimy green,

And pus pours out like whipping cream.

You spread it on a slice of bread,

And that's what you eat when you are dead.

The Nightmare Before Christmas - This Is Halloween

[SHADOW]

Boys and girls of every age

Wouldn't you like to see something strange?

[SIAMESE SHADOW]

Come with us and you will see

This, our town of Halloween

[PUMPKIN PATCH CHORUS]

This is Halloween, this is Halloween

Pumpkins scream in the dead of night

[GHOSTS]

This is Halloween, everybody make a scene

Trick or treat till the neighbors gonna die of fright

It's our town, everybody screm

In this town of Halloween

[CREATURE UNDER THE BED]

I am the one hiding under your bed

Teeth ground sharp and eyes glowing red

[MAN UNDER THE STAIRS]

I am the one hiding under yours stairs

Fingers like snakes and spiders in my hair

[CORPSE CHORUS]

This is Halloween, this is Halloween

[VAMPIRES]

Halloween! Halloween! Halloween! Halloween!

In this town we call home

Everyone hail to the pumpkin song

[MAYOR]

In this town, don't we love it now?

Everybody's waiting for the next surprise

[CORPSE CHORUS]

Round that corner, man hiding in the trash cam

Something's waiting no to pounce, and how you'll...

[HARLEQUIN DEMON, WEREWOLF & MELTING MAN]

Scream! This is Halloween

Red 'n' black, slimy green

[WEREWOLF]

Aren't you scared?

[WITCHES]

Well, that's just fine

Say it once, say it twice

Take a chance and roll the dice

Ride with the moon in the dead of night

[HANGING TREE]

Everybody scream, everbody scream

[HANGED MEN]

In our town of Halloween!

[CLOWN]

I am the clown with the tear-away face

Here in a flash and gone without a trace

[SECOND GHOUL]

I am the "who" when you call, "Who's there?"

I am the wind blowing through your hair

[OOGIE BOOGIE SHADOW]

I am the shadow on the moon at night

Filling your dreams to the brim with fright

[CORPSE CHORUS]

This is Halloween, this is Halloween

Halloween! Halloween! Halloween! Halloween!

Halloween! Halloween!

[CHILD CORPSE TRIO]

Tender lumplings everywhere

Life's no fun without a good scare

[PARENT CORPSES]

That's our job, but we're not mean

In our town of Halloween

[CORPSE CHORUS]

In this town

[MAYOR]

Don't we love it now?

[CORPSE CHORUS]

Skeleton Jack might catch you in the back

And scream like a banshee

Make you jump out of your skin

This is Halloween, everyone scream

Wont' ya please make way for a very special guy

Our man jack is King of the Pumpkin patch

Everyone hail to the Pumpkin King

[EVERYONE]

This is Halloween, this is Halloween

Halloween! Halloween! Halloween! Halloween!

[CORPSE CHILD TRIO]

In this town we call home

Everyone hail to the pumpkin song

[EVERYONE]

La la-la la, Halloween! Halloween! [Repeat]

Witches' Brew - By Hap Palmer

What will you put in your witches' brew? Hap Palmer mixes fun and learning in one of the best kids Halloween songs of all time.

Lyrics:

Dead leaves, seaweed, rotten eggs, too.

Stir them in my witches' brew.

I got magic!

Alakazamakazoo.

Spider web, moldy bread, mucky mud, too.

Stir them in my witches' brew.

I got magic!

Alakazamakazoo

ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh

My witches' brew

ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh

What's it gonna do to you?

Boo!

Floor wax, thumb tacks, purple paint, too.

Stir them in my witches' brew.

I got magic, Alakazamakazoo.

Finger nails, lunch pails, apple cores, too.

Stir them in my witches' brew.

I got magic, Alakazamakazoo.

ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh

My witches' brew

What's it gonna do to you?

Boo!

Wrinkled prunes, mushrooms, motor oil, too.

Stir them in my witches' brew.

I got magic, Alakazamakazoo.

School Kids Performing Witches' Brew

Use motions to go along with the song. Pretend like you are throwing all of the ingredients into a cauldron. When the song says "Stir them in my witches' brew," pretend to stir the pot. At the "I've got magic..." part, move your hands around and wiggle your fingers (spirit fingers) or spin like the kids in the video.

Ghostbusters

If there's something strange

in your neighborhood

Who you gonna call?

Ghostbusters!

If there's something weird

and it don't look good

Who you gonna call?

Ghostbusters!

I ain't afraid of no ghost

If you're seeing things

running through your head

Who can you call?

Ghostbusters!

An invisible man

sleeping in your bed

Oh, who you gonna call?

Ghostbusters!

I ain't afraid of no ghost

Who you gonna call?

Ghostbusters!

If you're all alone

pick up the phone

And call:

Ghostbusters!

I ain't afraid of no ghost

I hear it likes the girls

I ain't afraid of no ghost

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

Who you gonna call?

Ghostbusters!

Well, if you've had a dose of

a freaky ghost baby

You'd better call:

Ghostbusters! Ow!

Let me tell you something

Bustin' makes me feel good

I ain't afraid of no ghost

Don't get caught alone, oh no

Ghostbusters!

When it comes through your door

Unless you just want some more

I think you better call

Ghostbusters!

Ow!

Who you gonna call?

Ghostbusters!

Who you gonna call?

Ghostbusters!

More Halloween Poems

Want more spooky and chilling poems? This site is full of great poems for Halloween.

Things That Go Boo
Halloween poems, classic spooky poetry, and more!

Comments and Questions - Add your own ideas...

Bud chaser on November 07, 2020:

I love anything musical--and this lens is a wealth of Halloween music. It's so nice to have it all in one place. Thanks.

Caroline Paulison Andrew from Chicago, IL on October 25, 2014:

Great article! Some of the poems brought back great memories from when our kids were little. Fun!

Michelllle on September 03, 2013:

This is great. I even love the disgusting ones. Older kids and tweeners love this stuff. Fun fun fun.

Michelllle on September 03, 2013:

This is great. I even love the disgusting ones. Older kids and tweeners love this stuff. Fun fun fun.

Candace Bacon (author) from Mad Laboratories on October 13, 2012:

@anonymous: There are actually a lot of "kid" songs that have unpleasant meanings. Ring around the Rosies is about the Bubonic plague. Think about the meaning behind many nursery rhymes. Jack and Jill are about people falling down a hill and breaking their neck. Mother Hubbard is so poor she is starving. Humpty Dumpty is broken forever. Kids really don't understand the meaning behind most of these things. We teach them to kids because they have funny lyrics, rhyme, or have a fun beat.

anonymous on October 03, 2012:

Excuse me but how is "The Worms Crawl In" considered a kids song? The subject matter is way too disgusting and grim. I mean it's basically about your body being eaten by worms while you lie on your deathbed not being able to do anything about it.

anonymous on October 24, 2011:

I never knew there were so many Halloween songs or poems, great lens :)

Candace Bacon (author) from Mad Laboratories on October 18, 2011:

@anonymous: Cutesie Halloween stuff is the best way to go with kids. Thanks.

anonymous on October 18, 2011:

This is the cute side of Halloween, I like cute :)

Candace Bacon (author) from Mad Laboratories on October 17, 2011:

@lbrummer: Thank you! Isn't Halloween spooktacular?

Loraine Brummer from Hartington, Nebraska on October 17, 2011:

Great lens with lots of great Halloween songs.

Candace Bacon (author) from Mad Laboratories on October 15, 2011:

@Tonigr: It's amazing how many songs there are about one day out of the year. And what's even more amazing is that there are tons more that I didn't include. Thanks!

Toni Grundstrom from Minneapolis, MN on October 15, 2011:

I did not realize how many Halloween songs there were. I also like your dancing ghost.

Candace Bacon (author) from Mad Laboratories on September 09, 2011:

@anonymous: Hope you enjoy these songs as you celebrate Halloween. Thanks!

anonymous on September 09, 2011:

I love anything musical--and this lens is a wealth of Halloween music. It's so nice to have it all in one place. Thanks.

Candace Bacon (author) from Mad Laboratories on August 20, 2011:

@bolsen19: Thanks bolsen19! Hope you have a spooktacular Halloween.

bolsen19 on August 20, 2011:

This is a great resource. I'm definitely coming back here when Halloween comes closer.