Info
Alternate title: Have You Seen the Ghost of John
Lyrics
(Folk song)
Have you seen the ghost of Tom
Long white bones with the rest all gone
Oo–
Wouldn’t it be chilly with no skin on
See also
- Subject: Halloween
- Harmony: chords i & iv
- Meter: 4
- Scale: natural minor
- Rhythm:
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I thought the lyrics went:
Have you seen the ghost of Tom?
Eyes bugged out and nose toooo long . . .
Big ugly teeth and a shiny white chin,
Only one cheek to keep his tongue in . . .
That is how I have sung it for decades.
Folk songs often have many versions. Thanks for sharing yours!
My version was similar but also different! It was “Have you seen the ghost of tom, long white bones with the skin all gone, Oo- wouldn’t it be chilly with no skin gone”
That’s what I remember signing growing up also, Donna! I can’t seem to find the rendition I grew up with anywhere. I’m glad I’m not the only one who remembers it this way.
Donna & Stephanie that is the version I remember singing also! I was born in 1973.
OMG thank goodness you remember it that way too! I thought this was either another case of the mandala effect OR I had lost my last marble! LOL!
I too remember learning a version like this, in first grade (1966). My teacher used two verses:
Have you seen the ghost of John?
Long white bones and the rest all gone
Oo-Oo’s for one line (I think, or else I forgot a line!)
Wouldn’t it be chilly with no skin on
Have you seen the ghost of Tom? (and then same as Donna’s)
The tune I learned was
D, C, D, F-E, D, C, D
F, E, F, A-G, F, E, D-E, F-G,
A, G, A, C-Bb, A, G, A
A-A, G-G, F-F, E, D, C, D (repeat last line)
I remember the lyrics the same as Donna and Steffany. What appears to be the most common variation here is foreign to me…Regardless, the melody haunts me like no other from my childhood. I’ve got goosebumps as we speak! OOOOOO!
Yep, My sister learned it the way Donna did! Combining the verses would be the nicest version of all!
Have you seen the ghost of Tom
long white teeth and no clothes
..wouldn’t it be chilly with no clothes on
I like this song most because it reminds me of Halloween and it’s so spooky and Halloween is coming up and we are singing this song in choir for one of our concerts and that’s why I like it the most.