[Verse 1] The porch was full of paper ghosts And treats in bowls of orange dust I stood there with my stitched-up hands And a jaw that shook with rust My name was carved in one jack-o'-lantern But the candle died too soon A tiny face behind the glass Said, "Monsters stay out, too" [Pre-Chorus] I held my breath By the screen-door light My shadow looked Like a lonesome mite I rang the bell Just once, polite Then all the windows Turned away from sight [Chorus] Let me in tonight Let me in tonight I just want one Halloween bite Let me in, let me in I'm not here to fright I brought my heart For the moonlight [Verse 2] The kids went running in bright capes With sugar on their chins I watched them duck through every yard Where I never could slip in The mayor waved from the cider stand Then hurried off in a laugh His paper mask fell in the mud And nobody looked back [Pre-Chorus] I pressed my palms To the crooked frame The house smelled sweet But it called my name A tiny voice Behind the lace Said, "Poor old thing" Then hid its face [Chorus] Let me in tonight Let me in tonight I just want one Halloween bite Let me in, let me in I'm not here to fright I brought my heart For the moonlight [Bridge] So I sat on the bottom step With the bats above my head Shared my candy with the ants When the harvest moon turned red Then one small hand came back again With a costume torn and bright It touched my sleeve and said my name And left the porch lamp on for light [Final Chorus] Let me in tonight Let me in tonight I just want one Halloween bite Let me in, let me in I'm not here to fright I brought my heart For the moonlight Let me in tonight Let me in tonight Even real monsters Need a spooky night
