Bobby Pickett: ‘Monster Mash’

Bobby Pickett was a nightclub entertainer who performed with a group called The Cordials. He wrote this with his friend Lenny Capizzi. They were both big horror movie fans, and Pickett would do an impression of actor Boris Karloff (known for playing the monster in many Frankenstein movies) during the speaking part of “Little Darlin’” that went over well in his act.

As Capizzi played the piano, he and Pickett put together this song with his Karloff impression in mind. They came up with the plot about Frankenstein’s monster starting a dance craze.

(source)

Lyrics to Bobby Pickett’s “Monster Mash”

I was working in the lab late one night

When my eyes beheld an eerie sight

For my monster from his 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

He did the mash

It caught on in a flash

He did the mash

He did the monster mash

 

From 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

They did the mash

It caught on in a flash

They did the mash

They did the monster mash

 

The zombies were having fun

The party had just begun

The guests included Wolf Man

Dracula and his son

The scene was rockin’, all were digging the sounds

Igor on chains, backed by his baying hounds

The coffin-bangers were about to arrive

With their vocal group, “The Crypt-Kicker Five”

 

They played the mash

They played the monster mash

The monster mash

It was a graveyard smash

They played the mash

It caught on in a flash

They played the mash

They played the monster mash

 

Out from his coffin, Drac’s voice did ring

Seems he was troubled by just one thing

He opened the lid and shook his fist

And said, “Whatever happened to my Transylvania twist”

 

It’s now the mash

It’s now the monster mash

The monster mash

And it’s a graveyard smash

It’s now the mash

It’s caught on in a flash

Its now the mash

It’s now the monster mash

 

Now everything’s cool, Drac’s a part of the band

And my monster mash is the hit of the land

For you, the living, this mash was meant too

When you get to my door, tell them Boris sent you

Then you can mash

Then you can monster mash

The monster mash

And do my graveyard smash

Then you can mash

You’ll catch on in a flash

Then you can mash

Then you can monster mash

Have you seen this Color Version?

Or what about this great cartoon music video?

RELATED: ‘Monster Mash’: 55 Years Later Bobby Pickett’s Daughter & Darlene Love Reflect On The ‘Ridiculous’ Song’s Success