When I was a kid, my mother used to sing to me. I was, at times, embarrassed, bored, delighted, patient and impatient. She sang silly, childhood songs, Christmas carols, honky-tonk chartbusters and lullabies. And once a year, usually while rolling popcorn balls and filling treat bags, she crooned Halloween songs to me and my sister. Here are my favorites:
JACK O’LANTERN
Jack-o-Lantern, Jack-o-Lantern,
You are such a funny sight.
Sitting there by the window,
Looking out at the night.
Once you were a yellow pumpkin,
growing on a sturdy vine.
Now you are a Jack-o-lantern,
See the candle light shine.
HALLOWE’EN NIGHT
Witches on brooms
With cats and bats
Ride ’round after dark
In their funny black hats.
How queer are the noises
On Hallowe’en night,
And then through the window
I see a strange sight.
Big, scary eyes
And a great, red nose;
I sit close to Daddy
And curl up my toes.
It’s old Jack-o’lantern,
Who peeks in the room,
A worse looking spook
Than a witch on a broom.
Hallowe’en night
Is lots of fun,
But somehow I’m glad
When it’s over and done.
It’s good to have Mommy
To kiss me good-night,
And know that the witches
Have all taken flight.
Me & My Singing Mother
FUNNY HALLOWE’EN
Hallowe’en! Hallowe’en!
Oh, what funny things are seen!
Witches’ hats, coal black cats,
Broomstick riders, bats and rats!
(Some of these lyrics vary from family to family.)
So this morning, I sang to my daughter on the way to school. Not much appreciated by a high school junior stressing about her own costume… but I told her, I hope she knows the songs and can one day embarrass her own daughter and do justice to the tradition.