[Intro - eerie spoken delivery; distant thunder; creaking floorboards; low pulsing bass; sparse piano notes] The moon is up. The porch light’s dead. There’s something moving At the foot of your bed. [Verse 1 - dark, playful groove; low female contralto, chest-voice dominant; restrained verses that build] There’s a black cat sitting on the windowsill Staring like it knows me still The wind keeps whispering my name And every shadow’s playing games There’s a knock-knock-knock at half past two Three little words: “I’m coming through” I checked the door, but no one’s there Just cold breath floating in the air [Pre-Chorus - rising tension; drums building; whispered backing vocals] So lock the door Turn off the lights Don’t look behind you Not tonight [Chorus - big, catchy Halloween anthem; stomping drums; distorted guitar; gang vocals] Come out after midnight Come out if you dare The witches are dancing And ghosts are everywhere Come out after midnight Let the devil hear you scream The dead don’t stay sleeping On Halloween Ooh-ooh On Halloween Ooh-ooh The dead don’t stay sleeping [Verse 2 - faster, mischievous delivery; heavier groove] There’s lipstick on the bathroom mirror But nobody’s been in there A child’s laugh comes down the hallway And I feel somebody’s stare The jack-o’-lantern’s grinning wider Than it was an hour ago And there’s something underneath my bed That I really don’t wanna know [Pre-Chorus - building harder; whispered backing vocals] So lock the door Turn off the lights If you hear footsteps Don’t invite them inside [Chorus - full energy; gang vocals] Come out after midnight Come out if you dare The witches are dancing And ghosts are everywhere Come out after midnight Let the devil hear you scream The dead don’t stay sleeping On Halloween Ooh-ooh On Halloween Ooh-ooh The dead don’t stay sleeping [Bridge - stripped down; creepy heartbeat percussion; intimate contralto] Maybe it’s the wind Maybe it’s the rain Maybe it’s your imagination Driving you insane Then something grabs your shoulder And you freeze right where you stand [Beat drops; whispered] But nobody’s behind you. [Final Chorus - explosive; stomping drums; distorted guitar; layered gang vocals; sinister laughter underneath] Come out after midnight Come out if you dare The witches are dancing And ghosts are everywhere Come out after midnight Let the devil hear you scream The dead don’t stay sleeping On Halloween Come out after midnight Come out if you dare Turn up the music And scare the hell out of them there Come out after midnight If you’re brave enough to see The monsters aren’t hiding… They’re right here with me. [Outro - music slowly fading; whispered vocals; distant laughter] Come out after midnight… Come out if you dare… [whispered] Happy Halloween.
