[INTRO — TWO BARS] [Gentle acoustic reggae rhythm; steel pan answers] [Prompt sung entrance] [VERSE 1 — MALE] Everybody’s sleeping, There’s a light beside the vine. Little worm in a yellow hat Is working overtime. Lunchbox by his elbow, Coffee steaming in the blue. That pumpkin wall is mighty thick— He’s got a job to do. [FEMALE] What you building out there, honey? Why you digging through that skin? [MALE] There’s a whole good time in hiding— I’m just trying to get in. [PRE-CHORUS — DUET] One more scoop, one more scrape, Let the moonlight find the floor. He never had a grand front porch— Tonight he’ll have a door. [CHORUS — DUET] Pumpkin after midnight, Little lanterns swinging low. Everybody bring your happy, We got somewhere new to go. From a seed to a ceiling, From a vine to a dance hall— He worked the night shift So we could have a ball. [VERSE 2 — MALE] Seeds were hanging from the rafters, Strings were dangling everywhere. He looked up through his headlamp beam And said, “We’ll put the tables there.” Wheelbarrow full of tomorrow, Rolling softly down the row. Where’d he take those little seeds? Only he and the moon would know. [FEMALE] Did you save a spot for dancing? Did you leave some room for me? [MALE] I cleared a place beside the wall— Watch out for that last seed! [PRE-CHORUS — DUET] Carved a door and swept the corners, Hung the lights from stem to stem. One beetle’s fixing something— We’re still waiting there for him. [CHORUS — DUET] Pumpkin after midnight, Little lanterns swinging low. Everybody bring your happy, We got somewhere new to go. From a seed to a ceiling, From a vine to a dance hall— He worked the night shift So we could have a ball. [PROTECTED INSTRUMENTAL TURNAROUND — FULL EIGHT BARS] [No vocals; do not shorten] [Steel pan tells a playful melody] [Warm electric guitar answers] [Round bass, one-drop drums and hand percussion hold the groove] [VERSE 3 — FEMALE] Here comes that two-handed mantis, Got his Sunday colors on. The ant brought his little guitar— Those crooked legs keep time just fine. Tomato worm rolls through the doorway, Parks his skates beside a chair. Cross-eyed skeeter missed the entrance, Then came in with quite a flair. [MALE] Ladybug is on the hand drums, Bumblebee’s behind the pan. Beetle found the bottom notes— Now that’s a garden band! [BRIDGE — PLAYFUL CALL AND RESPONSE] [MALE] Who put the roof above the party? [FEMALE] Little worm with the coffee cup! [MALE] Who hauled the seeds out by the moonlight? [FEMALE] Now we’re here to lift him up! [MALE] Can a working worm get one break? [FEMALE] Take your hat off—take a seat! [DUET] He sat down to drink his coffee, But his tail still kept the beat. [FINAL CHORUS — FULL DUET AND WARM HARMONIES] Pumpkin after midnight, Little lanterns swinging low. Everybody bring your happy, We got somewhere new to go. From a seed to a ceiling, From a vine to a dance hall— He worked the night shift So we could have a ball. Pumpkin after midnight, Let that little steel pan sing. Who’d have thought an orange pumpkin Could hold this kind of spring? [TAG — DUET] The garden’s got a secret, And the moon can keep it tight— There’s a whole lot more than seeds In that pumpkin tonight. [OUTRO] [Steel pan and warm electric guitar finish the melody] [Let the last phrase breathe; clean final chord]
