Headless Horseman (song)

"The Headless Horseman" is a villain song from the film, The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad sung by Brom Bones (Bing Crosby).
In the sing-along version in Disney's Sing-Along Songs: Happy Haunting: Party at Disneyland!, the singing voice of Brom and the chorus is different than the one used in the film. In addition, the song starts at the line "When (the) spooks have a midnight jamboree" along with using scenes where Ichabod is running away from The Headless Horseman and when he's in the hollows. In 1990, the late singer Kay Starr performed the song for the Halloween Stomp album.
==Lyrics==
<tabber>
Original Version=
(Speech in rhyme)
Brom: Just gather 'round
and I'll elucidate
on what goes on outside when it gets late.
’Long about midnight,
The ghosts and banshees,
They get together for their nightly jamboree. 
There's things with horns and saucer eyes
some with fangs about this size.
(Speech)
Woman #1: Some are fat.
Woman #2: And some are thin.
Creepy Man: And some don't even wear their skin!
(Speech in rhyme)
Brom: Oh, I'm telling you, brother,
it's a frightful sight
to see what goes on Halloween night.
Oh, when the spooks have a midnight jamboree,
they break it up with fiendish glee.
Ghosts are bad,
but the one that's cursed
is the Headless Horseman,
he's the worst.
Chorus: That's right,
he's a fright on Halloween night.
Brom: When he goes a-joggin’
’cross the land,
holdin' his noggin
in his hand,
demons take one look and groan,
and hit the road for parts unknown.
Chorus: Beware, take care, he rides alone.
Brom: And there's no spook like the spook that's spurned.
Chorus: They don't like him, and he's really burned.
Brom: He swears to the longest day he's dead,
All: he'll show them that he can get a head.
Brom: They say he's tired of his flamin' top,
He's got a yen to make a swap.
So he rides one night each year
to find a head in the Hollow here.
Women: Now, he likes them little, he likes them big.
Men: Parted in the middle, or a wig.
Chorus: Black or white, or even red.
Brom: The Headless Horseman needs a head.
All: With a hip-hip and a clippity-clop,
he's out looking for a top to chop.
Brom: So don't stop to figure out a plan,
All: you can't reason with a headless man.
(Speech in rhyme)
Brom: Now, if you doubt this tale is so,
I met that spook just a year ago.
Now, I didn't stop for a second look,
but made for the bridge that spans the brook.
For once you cross that bridge, my friends,
Chorus: The ghost is through, his power ends.
Brom: So, when you're riding home tonight,
make for the bridge with all your might.
He'll be down in the Hollow there.
He needs your head.
Look out! Beware!
Women: With a hip-hip and a clippity-clop,
Men: He's out looking for a head to swap.
All: So, don't try to figure out a plan,
you can't reason with a HEADLESS MAN!
In 1949, Crosby released a 10" 78-RPM pop version of the song on Decca Records (with "Katrina" as the B-side), that mostly resembles both the Kay Starr and Thurl Ravenscroft versions that follow below; one major difference from both is the inclusion of a final stanza:
Now gather 'round
While I elucidate
On what happens outside when it gets late.
’Long about midnight
The ghosts and banshees
Get together for their nightly jamboree.
There's ghosts with horns and saucer eyes
And some with fangs about this size,
Some short and fat,
Some tall and thin.
Some don't even bother to wear their skin!
Ho ho! I'm tellin' you, brother:
It's a frightful sight
To see what goes on in the night!
When the spooks have a midnight jamboree,
They break it up with fiendish glee.
Ghosts are bad, but the one that's cursed
Is the Headless Horseman: he's the worst.
When he goes a-joggin' 'cross the land
Holdin' a noggin in his hand,
Demons take one look and groan
And hit the road for parts unknown,
And there's no wraith like a spook that's spurned.
They don't like him and he's really burned!
He swears to the longest day he's dead
That he'll show them that he can get a head!
So close all the windows,
Lock the doors;
Unless you're careful, he'll get yours.
Don't think he'll hesitate a bit
’Cause he'll clip your top if it'll fit,
And he likes them little, likes them big,
Part in the middle or a wig,
Black or white or even red:
The Headless Horseman needs a head!
With a hip-hip and a clippity-clop,
He's out lookin' for a top to chop,
So don't stop to figure out a plan:
You can't reason with a headless man!
So after dark, you kids be good!
Stay at home, the way that you should,
'Cause right outside, and waitin' there,
Is the Headless Horseman. Beware!
Man, I'm gettin' outta here!
|-|Kay Starr version=
Doo! Doo-doo! Doo-doo-doo!
Doo! Doo-doo! Doo-doo! Doo-doo-doo!
Now gather 'round
While I'll elucidate
On what goes on when it gets late.
Along about midnight,
The ghosts and banshees
Get together for a jamboree.
There's ghosts with horns and saucer eyes;
Some have fangs about this size;
Some short and fat,
Some tall and thin,
And some don't even bother to wear their skin!
I'm a-telling you, brother,
It's a fearful sight,
Just to see what goes on in the night.
When the spooks have a midnight jamboree,
They break it up with a fiendish glee.
Ghosts are bad, but the one that's cursed
Is the Headless Horseman: he's the worst.
When he goes a-joggin' across the land,
Holdin' his noggin right in his hand,
Demons take one look and groan
And they hit the road for parts unknown.
Well, there's no wraith like a spook that's spurned.
The ghosts don't like him, and he's really burned.
He swears to the longest day he's dead:
Well, I'll show them that I can get a head!
Wow-ooh! Wow-ooh! Wow-ooh! Wow-ooh! Wow-ooh!
So close all the windows,
Lock all the doors;
Unless you're careful, why, he'll get yours!
Don't think he'll hesitate a bit,
'Cause he'll clip your top if it will fit.
He likes them little, he likes them big,
Part 'em in the middle, or wear a wig,
Black or white or even red,
The Headless Horseman needs a head.
With a hip-hip-hip and a clippity-clop,
Why, he's out lookin' for a head to chop,
So don't stop to figure out a plan,
'Cause you can't reason with a headless man.
With a hip-hip-hop and a clippity-clop,
Look out! Aaaaaaaaah!
We KNOW what we're talking about, believe me.
You better watch your q's,
But take a look,
At the people who ignored the old Good Book!
Change your ways, you'll find it pays,
'Cause you cain't be a haint
If you ain't...
Kinda crazed, I guess you'd say...
Take our word, we KNOW what we're talking about.
Now this is a... pretty spooky thing we're doin' here...
You don't mind if I turn on another light,
Do you? Hm?
|-|Thurl Ravenscroft version=
Now gather 'round
While I elucidate
On what happens outside when it gets late.
Along about midnight
The ghosts and banshees
Get together for their nightly jamborees.
There's ghosts with horns and saucer eyes,
And some with fangs about this size,
Some short and fat,
Some tall and thin,
And some don't even bother to wear their skin!
I'm tellin' ya, brother,
It's a frightful sight
To see what goes on in the night!
Oh, when the spooks have a midnight jamboree,
They break it up with fiendish glee.
Ghosts are bad, but the one that's cursed
Is the Headless Horseman: he's the worst.
When he goes a-joggin' 'cross the land
Holdin' his noggin in his hand,
Demons take one look and groan
And hit the road for parts unknown,
Well, there's no wrath like a spook that's spurned.
They don't like him, and he's really burned,
Swears to the longest day he's dead
He'll show them that he can get a head!
Oh, close all the windows!
Lock the doors!
Unless you're careful, he'll get yours
Don't think he'll hesitate a bit,
'Cause he'll clip your top if it'll fit,
And he likes them little, he likes them big
Part in the middle or a wig,
Black or white or even red:
The Headless Horseman needs a head!
With a hip-hip and a clippity-clop
He's out lookin' for a head to chop
So don't stop to figure out a plan:
You can't reason with a headless man!
</tabber>
==Video==
The Headless Horseman-2|Kay Starr version
The Headless Horseman - Thurl Ravenscroft-2
"The Headless Horseman" Sing-Along-2
ar:فاقد رأسه (أغنية)
nl:De Hoofdloze Ruiter (lied)
ru:Всадник без головы (песня)
Category:Songs
Category:Villain songs
Category:The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad songs
Category:Songs in Disney Sing Along Songs videos
Category:Halloween songs
Category:Area-Music