Bruce Springsteen unleashes Halloween tune

October 31, 2008 | 9:57 am

Last week, Pop & Hiss was wondering if the world needed another "Monster Mash," writing about the fun Halloween novelty songs of Eban Schletter. Bruce Springsteen, however, doesn't joke around when it comes to All Hallow's Eve.

This morning, the New Jersey rocker unveiled a Halloween-inspired blues rave-up, a song that comes days after the artist announced he would not be able to have his annual Halloween display at his Rumson, N.J., mansion because of too many visitors. Wrote the Boss of the song:

Dear Friends and Fans,

If you grew up in Central or South Jersey you grew up with the ‘Jersey Devil.’ Here’s a little musical Halloween treat. Have fun!

Bruce Springsteen

The Jersey Devil, who has a Wikipedia page for those needing more detailed info, is a sort of half-man, half-beast with hooves and horselike features. In Springsteen's harmonica-driven blues, dubbed "A Night With the Jersey Devil," he wields a guitar made out of human skin and bones and dines on blood.

The Boss made a video for the song, of which a screenshot is above. Bookended with werewolf-like howls, Springsteen rises from swampy water, rides a horse, carries an axe and sings with a distorted fury about "16 witches" and "16 spells." A hi-res version of it can be found on Springsteen's site. A lower-rent YouTube version is below.

Here's the YouTube video for "A Night With the Jersey Devil," which was posted by YouTube user ZeroBlindTerry:

And the lyrics, courtesy of Sony BMG:

Hear me now!
I was born 13th child, 'neath the 13th moon
Spit out all hungry and born anew

Daddy drag me to the river tie me in rocks
Throw me in where it’s deep and wide
I go down, I don’t die
Hole in the river bottom, I crawl through

Come back kill six brothers and sisters, kill papa too
Sway down Mama, sway down low
They gonna know me wherever I go

Into my bed with her kerosene my mama creep
Set my flesh to burning, whilst I sleep

I burn, burn, burn, till my soul burn black
Black rains fall, I come back, I come back
Get down Mama, get down low
They gonna know me wherever I go

16 witches, cast 16 spells
Make me a guitar outta skin and human skull
Sing you a song like the wind in the sandy loam
Bring you baby out your happy home

Ram’s head, forked tail, clove hoof, love’s my trail
I sup on your body, sip on your blood like wine
Out world theirs, this world mine

So kiss me baby till it hurts
God lost in heaven, we lost on earth
Sway down Mama, sway down low
They gonna know me wherever I go
Wherever I go, wherever I go

Well I got a brand new lover
I love her yes I do,
She’s my one and only and her name is Baby Blue …

-- Todd Martens

Pop & Hiss

The L.A. Times music blog

Bruce Springsteen unleashes Halloween tune