Saturday, September 12, 2026

Halloween Song

Halloween Song - mp3
Morse Geordie Baritone EC and me singing


I wrote Halloween Song in 1994, but it had a bit more to the melody, and an additional verse that I've decided to omit. 

When I wrote it, I was using a Chinese pentatonic scale as a basis (something new to me), so that's kind of how a tune given in the key of A minor has ended up beginning with a B minor chord moving to a C-sharp minor chord.  

So now that I've changed things so that it's more of a simple tune but kind of odd, I've been trying to figure out how to explain it. I guess I'd just say there's some modulation. The key of B minor moves to the key of A minor. 



The words: 

Hello, it's Halloween
Dress for the scene
Eat pumpkin pie

If you can fly, grab a broom
We'll go hopping
From tomb to tomb

(Instrumental verse)

Who are you? Nobody knows
Gliding wherever the 
Wind of the cemetery blows



Go to the BOX file with the ABC code

Friday, September 4, 2026

Sweet By And By

 Here's a brief mp3 of "Sweet By And By" played by me on my Stagi tenor English concertina. 

Sweet By And By - Stagi tenor EC

I like to play this in a set with The Auld House.

And, here's a brief mp3 of "Sweet By And By" played by me on my Morse Geordie Baritone EC.

Sweet By And By - Morse Geordie Baritone EC


The tune: Joseph P. Webster (1819-1875)

The words: Sanford F. Bennett (1836-1898)

A great website where you may find the lyrics and a lot of interesting details: 

The Cyber Hymnal

See their list of search options. 

I noticed that this hymn is filed there as "In The Sweet By And By," and not as "Sweet By And By."