“Skin and Bones” is a traditional American folk song often sung around Halloween due to its eerie and haunting theme. The song tells the story of a skeletal old woman who lives alone and encounters a spooky surprise. Its repetitive melody and slow, suspenseful build-up make it popular in schools and children’s Halloween activities. The song’s simplicity and haunting quality make it a great tool for creating suspenseful atmospheres without being too frightening for younger audiences.
Here Are the Lyrics:
There was an old woman all skin and bones,
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh.
She lived down by the old graveyard,
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh.
One night she thought she’d take a walk,
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh.
She walked down by the old graveyard,
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh.
She saw the bones a-layin’ around,
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh.
She went to the closet to get a broom,
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh.
She opened the door and…
BOO!
The song is often sung in a slow, drawn-out manner, with the “Ooh” sounds creating a ghostly, spooky effect.
The “BOO!” at the end is meant to surprise the listener, making it a favorite for interactive Halloween storytelling.
The Fusion Muse Songs Inspired by ‘Skin and Bones’
We decided to remix this classic Halloween folk song and created three new versions for you and your kids to enjoy.
Skin and Bones Remix
In the dark of night
Shadows groan
Whispers echo
The wolves moan
In the ruins where the lost hearts atone
Just skin and bones
Just skin and bones
[Verse 2]
Moon’s a specter
High in the sky
Echo of memories
Spirits fly
In that old graveyard
Where the tears dry
You feel the chill
And you don’t know why
[Chorus]
Skin and bones
Walkin’ those old stones
Hauntin’ whispers
Deep in your ear
Shivers down your spine
You’re not alone
In the eerie void
Swallowed by fear
[Bridge]
Eerie echoes
The past that’s cloned
Knuckles crackin’
Undertones
In the silence
The secrets are sown
Lurkin’ shadows
Where the seeds are blown
[Verse 3]
Deep bass trembles under your feet
Evil lurkin’ on this haunted beat
Eerie piano
A ghostly treat
Just skin and bones
In the dark we meet
[Chorus]
Skin and bones
Walkin’ those old stones
Hauntin’ whispers
Deep in your ear
Shivers down your spine
You’re not alone
In the eerie void
Swallowed by fear
Bones in the Night
[Verse]
Whis’prin’ winds in the hollow trees
Moonlight hides
The shadows freeze
Underneath the old
Creaky stones
There lie whispers
Just skin and bones
[Verse 2]
Footsteps echo on the broken path
Faint
Old stories ’bout a ghostly laugh
Owl’s eyes gleam in deep cold thrones
Chillin’ secrets
Just skin and bones
[Chorus]
In the night
When all’s asleep
There’s a tale that shadows keep
Children gather with flashlight cones
Listening close to the skin and bones
[Verse 3]
Door creaks open with a ghostly moan
Floorboards shiver
All alone
Tales of past in hushed
Low tones
Graves tell stories
Just skin and bones
[Chorus]
In the night
When all’s asleep
There’s a tale that shadows keep
Children gather with flashlight cones
Listening close to the skin and bones
[Bridge]
Hearts beat louder
Eyes opened wide
Ghostly faces that try to hide
In the corner where fear has grown
Tales of chills
Just skin and bones
Ghostly Old Woman
[Verse]
There was an old woman
All skin and bones
She lived down by
The old gravestones
[Verse 2]
She sang haunting tunes
In the dead of night
Her whispers echoed
Gave kids a fright
[Chorus]
She’d moan and groan
Through the house she’d roam
Her presence known
In the gloom alone
[Verse 3]
When the moon was full
She’d start to wail
Through the dark of night
In her shadowed veil
[Bridge]
Children would creep near
Trying not to fear
The eerie serenades
That they’d overhear
[Verse 4]
But the old woman
Had a secret game
Played with the children
To make them tame
Halloween Videos for Kid
So, there you have it—three new remixes of the classic “Skin and Bones” song to add to your family’s Halloween playlist! Which version is your favorite?
Looking for more Halloween Songs for Kids? Don’t miss our Five Little Pumpkins Kids Halloween Song and head on over to our YouTube channel for more fun and spooky videos perfect for kids and families!
Jenny has a passion for learning and sharing what she learns. She has researched, written and published hundreds of articles on a wide variety of topics, including: SEO, art, design, marketing, ethics, business management, sustainability, inclusion, behavioral health, wellness and work-life balance.
