40 More Songs for Your Halloween Playlist

If you are hosting a party (even if it is a party of one, rocking out in your car on the way to work or gearing up for some serious trick or treating), you want the music to flow flawlessly with few interruptions and repeats, right? And there are so many great spooky songs out there that it is just so hard to pare them down!

So here are 40 more songs that will fill fit right in with your Fall and Halloween faves. Impress your friends with your extensive cross-genre musical knowledge and mastery of the atmospheric seasonal playlist. Have a happy—and a rocking—Halloween, my fellow spooks and spectres!

Seasonal Songs

Ok, so maybe Halloween is not necessarily your thing. Maybe you prefer the season without any special holidays attached to it. Or maybe you just need to switch things up a bit. Or perhaps you are like me and you love all of it! Here on this first list of 10 songs, you will find songs about the autumn leaves, chilling weather, dancing in the moonlight, the inevitable reflection of the death and rebirth that the season brings… err, um, where were we? Yes. Right. You will also find songs about the month of October and the holiday of Halloween itself. Happy fall!

1. "Autumn Leaves" by Nat King Cole
2. "Sweater Weather" by The Neighborhood
3. "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" by Blue Oyster Cult
4. "Every Day Is Halloween" by Ministry
5. "Halloween" by The Misfits
6. "This Is Halloween" from The Nightmare Before Christmas
7. "Moondance" by Van Morrison
8. "October Road" by James Taylor
9. "October" by Broken Bells
10. "October" by George Ogilvie

Grave Songs

"Grave" is a wonderful word with several different meanings. As a noun, it signifies the resting place of the dead. When used as an adjective, it can mean something is serious or reason for alarm. Sometimes those who have traversed beyond the grave have messages for those still on the side of the living. And sometimes, they manage to find a way to come back—even when they don’t particularly want to. For some, it is love that will break you. Or a love of life that will set you free!

1. "Ain't No Grave" by Crooked Still
2. "Dead Man's Party" by Oingo Boingo
3. "Diggin A Grave" by Micah P. Hinson
4. "Hey Mama Ya" by Scythian
5. "Love Me Dead" by Ludo
6. "Pet Sematary" by The Ramones
7. "Til The Casket Drops" by ZZ Ward
8. "Grim Grinning Ghosts" (Haunted Mansion Theme) covered by Creature Feature
9. "Work Song" by Hozier
10. "Dance in the Graveyards" by Delta Rae

More Devilish Songs

The devil is a popular scapegoat for human misdeeds dating back many, many centuries. To say that he is also a timeless choice for lore, music, and song would be an understatement. From music, we learn that the devil likes to laugh, he likes to tempt humans, and he will take the form of anything that “devils” us, whatever our particular choice of sin might be. And remember, always beware the devil within, possibly the most powerful devil of all.

1. "After Midnight" by Dorothy
2. "Bad Things" by Rayland Baxter
3. "You And Me And The Devil Makes 3" by Marilyn Manson
4. "Sed Diabolus" by Diabulus in Musica
5. "Devil" by Shinedown
6. "Devil" by The Wandering Hearts
7. "Friend Of The Devil" by The Grateful Dead (or one of several covers)
8. "Lucifer Over Lancashire" by The Fall
9. "Devil" by Stereophonics
10. "Devil In My Veins" by Yelawolf

Carnival Songs

Halloween means costumes, right? And what other occasion screams costumes possibly more than Halloween? The carnival, of course! Site of many a spooky story. Think Ray Bradbury’s Something Wicked This Way Comes and any of the Carnival of Souls films. Around 12 percent of the population suffers from coulrophobia, that is the fear of clowns. And can you blame them? Killer Klowns? From outer space maybe? How many were traumatized by those movies? And, of course, there is Steven King’s Pennywise the Dancing Clown. (Shudder.)

This all makes carnivals and carnival music pretty high on the creepy scale. I mean, how many haunted theme parks have at least one carnival- or circus-themed attraction? Probably all of them. Some of these songs specifically mention carnivals or carnival items. All of them conjure that spooky carnival sound that we all love (or “love”) so much.

1. "The Greatest Show Unearthed" by Creature Feature
2. "Carousel" by Melanie Martinez
3. "The Carny" by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
4. "Carry On Up The Vicarage" by Steve Hackett
5. "The Show Must Go On" by Three Dog Night
6. "The Black Rider" by Tom Waits
7. "The Air Is Getting Slippery" by Primus
8. "God's Away On Business" by Tom Waits
9. "Years Ago" by Alice Cooper
10. "Enter the Circus" by Christina Aguilera

Now you have a pretty lengthy Halloween playlist that should last for a few hours at least. Not bad for a Halloween party or a long commute. It’s ok if not every song is to your taste. What is important is the inspiration. And as always, have fun! Music can be somber, sure, but above all, music tells the human story. And I like to think that ultimately, we are all trending upward. Happy Halloween!