“Witches, pumpkin heads, and black cats
Scary spooks and black bats!
Oh, it’s Halloween!”
“Halloween Night” – the song that I have been singing practically every October since the late 1960s when I learned it in the 5th grade. I remember the small music room at Charles Street school where I believe, Miss Pelletier, taught us the song. All these years, I could still picture the cover of the music book and the song’s page and the witch and bat graphics. For years, I have searched for the song without any success. This summer, I searched once again on the internet and found it via a blog! I was beside myself with glee (who says “glee” any more – Rudolph…LOL)! I was surprised to read that I was not the only one who remembered this song and was looking for it. Below is the link to the blog – check it out for more details.
http://dpfluent.blogspot.com/2009/10/witches-pumpkin-heads-and-black-cats.html
It was very interesting that the son of Daniel Hooley who wrote the words and music of Halloween Night posted on the blog. His dad had died young – at the age of 38, and he was glad that folks were still enjoying his dad’s music.
A Doug Sewell posted a mp3 file of the music! (Click link below.) It was great to listen to the music again!
http://dmshome.s3.amazonaws.com/Halloween_Night_Song.mp3
When I found the name of the book (ABC Music Series Book 5 Music For Young Americans) – I went to Amazon.com. They REALLY do have EVERYTHING. I found a used copy of the book – in great shape and reasonably priced ($7.99 plus s/h) and ordered it. It has been like Christmas finding not only the song but the book too! Moral of the story – never stop looking! I have been looking for decades and finally hit pay dirt!
So check out the song – listen to the music and perhaps …SING along!
“Halloween Night is the time when
fearful things are seen. Look out”
Look out! It’s Halloween.”
So – check it out and perhaps even sing it a few times! It is a great song and perfect for Halloween!
Debra LaValley's Blog 
So nice to see this book and see this song after more then 45 years. It is one of my best childhood memories. Daniel had fine gift of creating music. Sure was a fun song for me and still is.Happy Halloween!
By: Doc on October 31, 2015
at 12:21 am
Happy Halloween! Check out this youtube find of the song. It seems there was vinyl copy of the song. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w83QkEEmg1k
By: Debra LaValley on November 1, 2015
at 8:30 pm
Hi Deb! A friend on Facebook was asking about this song. It’s a song I learned in grade school at a very young age. I find myself singing it this time every year. After a quick search, I found your blog with this post about the song. Thanks so much for finding this info! Siobhan
By: Siobhan Basile on November 1, 2015
at 3:50 pm
Hi Siobhan – I too love the song. Someone found this on youtube for me. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w83QkEEmg1k
By: Debra LaValley on November 1, 2015
at 8:18 pm
Hey Debra, That was my link! Glad that you found, enjoyed and shared the video that I posted in 2012. Even more amazing is that the writer of the song is just now becoming a legend in his own right.
By: Bob Gifford on December 20, 2023
at 1:37 am
I am glad the writer of this great Halloween song is now becoming a “legend.” Thanks for your comment.
By: Debra LaValley on December 24, 2023
at 7:38 pm
PS – I see we run with some of the same birders on Flickr, etc. Small World 🙂
By: Debra LaValley on November 1, 2015
at 8:28 pm
I learned this song in the 5 th grade in Massachusetts! Mrs. Lucy, our music teacher was wonderful! She dressed to the nines! Dresses heels hats and gloves! Brings back happy memories!!
By: Elizabeth Vanuden on October 30, 2016
at 7:42 pm
I am so delighted to run across your post today as I searched for this favorite Halloween song from my childhood!!! I sing it for my grandson and was not sure I had all the words correct. Ha! I had every single one! I can’t remember anything else these days!!! Thanks for the memory!!!
By: Annette Laughlin on October 23, 2017
at 1:56 pm
I am so glad you enjoyed hearing the song again. I too sing it this time of year. I learned it in 5th grade (many moons ago) 🙂 Happy Halloween!
By: Debra LaValley on October 23, 2017
at 8:35 pm
https://youtu.be/w83QkEEmg1k Here is the link to a youtube video of the vinyl recording of the song – just in case you don’t get the email that I sent via my email account. Enjoy!
By: Debra LaValley on October 23, 2017
at 8:36 pm
Reblogged this on Debralavalley's Blog and commented:
Since Halloween is almost upon us – I wanted to repost this entry from 2011. Enjoy and make sure to listen to the song! https://youtu.be/w83QkEEmg1k
By: Debra LaValley on October 23, 2017
at 8:38 pm
So glad you found the Halloween song. I think about it every year at this time. Does anyone remember a pilgrim and Indian song for Thanksgiving? I can’t seem to remember the words, but I do remember dressing in character in 4th grade for a Thanksgiving play.
By: Suzanne on September 21, 2018
at 9:06 pm
HA!
Yes. I’m another child of the sixties who learned this in grade school.
Weird how this stuff stick with you after DECADES!
By: Lee on September 24, 2025
at 11:38 pm