Monster Mash

(Bobby Pickett/Leonard Capizzi)

The transcriptions on this site have been contributed by fans for fans as a labour of love and as a tribute to the creating artists. The copyrights of the relevant artists, records companies and other rights holders are acknowledged. This is a non-commercial site. Some of the many other lyrics collections

Various other pages:

lyrics at spy.org
lyrics at the cmu.edu lyrics server
and lyrics at World Internet Technologies
Pickett/Capizzi lyrics & history of the song at Jeff Morris' Dr. Demento FAQ site - the original version as recorded by Bobby Pickett & the Crypt Kickers (single charted in the UK in 1973 on London HL 10320) (local copy).

Versions included here: Tadpoles, Do Not Adjust Your Set, The Peel Sessions.

(1) As on "Tadpoles"

[ Tadpoles | Do Not Adjust Your Set | Top Gear | The Simpsons ]

I was working in my lab late one night
When my eyes beheld a eerie sight,
For my monster from the slab began to rise
And suddenly to my surprise: (he did the mash)
He did the monster mash: (the monster mash)
It was a graveyard smash: (it was a smash)
It caught on in a flash: (the monster mash)
He did the monster mash.
In the hall of gore in the castle east,
To the master bedroom where the vampires feast,
The ghouls all came from their humble abodes
To get a jolt from my electrodes: (they did the mash)
They did the monster mash: (the monster mash)
It was a graveyard smash: (it was a smash)
It caught on in a flash: (the monster mash)
They did the monster mash.
The Zombies were having fun, the party had just begun.
The guests included Wolfman, Dracula and his son. (BRIDGE)
The brain surgeons were all digging for sounds,
Igor on chains, backed by his baying hounds.
The Poodle Stabbers were about to arrive
With their vocal group, the Crypt Kicker Five: (they did the mash)
They did the monster mash: (the monster mash)
It was a graveyard smash: (it was a smash)
It caught on in a flash: (the monster mash)
They did the monster mash. (BRIDGE)
Come in Boris, we always have a guest for breakfast.
Come in Horace, we always have a breast for geckfast.
Igor, have you watered the brains today, Igor, Igor?

(2) Do Not Adjust Your Set version

[ Tadpoles | Do Not Adjust Your Set | Top Gear | The Simpsons ]

Variant of the last verse performed on Do Not Adjust Your Set in 1968 and which can be heard on Anthropology:

The scene was rocking, all were digging for sounds,
Igor on chains, backed by his baying hounds.
The Coffin Crickers were about to arrive
With their vocal group, the Brain Surgeon Five.

The cover of The Very Best Of The Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band appears to be a still taken at this session - the costumes and scenery look the same.

(3) As recorded for John Peel's "Top Gear" on 29/7/69

[ Tadpoles | Do Not Adjust Your Set | Top Gear | The Simpsons ]

Available on The Peel Sessions and Unpeeled.

I was working in my lab late one night
When my eyes beheld a eerie sight,
For my monster from the slab began to rise
And suddenly to my surprise: (he did the mash)
He did the monster mash: (the monster mash)
It was a graveyard smash: (it was a smash)
It caught on in a flash: (the monster mash)
He did the monster mash.
In my laboratory in the castle east,
To the master bedroom where the vampires feast,
The ghouls all came from their humble abodes
To get a jolt from my electrodes: (they did the mash)
They did the monster mash: (the monster mash)
It was a graveyard smash: (it was a smash)
It caught on in a flash: (the monster mash)
They did the monster mash.
The Zombies were having fun, the party had just begun.
The guests included Wolfman, Dracula and his son. (BRIDGE)
The scene was rocking, all were digging the sounds,
Igor on chains, backed by his baying hounds.
The Poodle Stabbers were about to arrive
With their vocal group, the Crypt Kicker Five: (they did the mash)
They did the monster mash: (the monster mash)
It was a graveyard smash: (it was a smash)
It caught on in a flash: (the monster mash)
They did the monster mash. (BRIDGE)
Mash! (BRIDGE)
So you've stopped peeping out of windows and taken to looking at corpses, eh?
We hope that you are enjoying the show.
May I trim your wellingtons for you, madam?
We hope that you are enjoying the show.

(4) The Simpsons version

[ Tadpoles | Do Not Adjust Your Set | Top Gear | The Simpsons ]

In the I Love Lisa episode a DJ on the Springfield radio station KBBL starts his Valentine's Day morning show with Monster Mash and more of it is heard at the end of the episode, over the credits. The vocals are a very good imitation of Vivian's.

[The Sideshow Bob Roberts episode has a cameo from Dr. Demento as one of Bart's arch-enemies.]