It’s over already? Fudge.

But that’s why Halloween is so exquisite, isn’t it? We want the feel of it, the freedom of it, to last forever. Except it has to end, so we savor every last second of it.

I think we achieve some kind of communal social empathy during Halloween. As we delve into scares, the supernatural, the hauntings, everything that disturbs and chills us? We grow outside our shells and observe as our fears mesh and mutate together into something wholly other. Something bigger than all of us.

Or we just wanna dress up, listen to cool music, scope out ass in skimpy costumes, sing karaoke, get drunk, watch creepy movies, and feel alive as we dance with death.

So be it.

So as Buttkickin’ Halloween Songs comes to a close for 2025, I want to thank anyone who’s reading this. If you came along for the ride, you were in for more than just a musical journey through October. These songs all had personal meaning to me this year.

Every last one of them.

The seeds were planted when I kicked this off thirty days ago. When I showcased the first song of the season, I wrote that 2025 was “a post-industrial consciousness-devouring nightmare of near Herculean proportions”.

And I wasn’t kidding. I struggled with mental health, physical infirmity, loss on multiple scales, even grappled with suicide ideation. And all that’s before taking a look at the maelstrom shitshow into which my country and our world has descended.

And yet I came out the other side. I don’t know if I came out stronger, or wiser, or more capable. But I tunneled through.

And I ain’t giving up. Not for nothing. I promise you that.

And that’s why I love Halloween so much. Because all of the turmoils of the human condition? For one month, maybe more than any other time of the year, we all get to feel them together through externalizing and vocalizing our horrors.

And that may be the most wonderful thing about Halloween. Because sometimes the most beautiful thing about someone isn’t how they shine; it’s how they break.

Because they’re trusting you with their ugliness. Which means you’re seeing them at their realest. And that’s when people are most beautiful.

One final thing. We lost three great ones this year. Three voices that were pivotal to my musical development and love of song and words and magic.

1. On July 26th, we lost Tom Lehrer. Who taught me wordplay, satire, and adverbs. In loving memory: We All Go Together When We Go.

2. On October 16h, we lost Ace Frehley. Who taught me rock and roll superheroics, badass blues licks, swagger, attitude, and inspired me to pick up the guitar. In loving memory: Shock Me.

And on July 22nd, we lost the Prince of Darkness himself, Ozzy Osbourne. The man whose bluesy vocals defined what heavy metal could really be. Whose songwriting and melodies were beyond peer in the heavy rock ecosphere. OK sure, all that 21st century Hollywood reality show garbage was revolting (and out of respect I won’t mention the Thing), but he never compromised himself, his attitude, or his majesty.

Or his legacy. Because alongside Geezer Butler, Tony Iommi, and Bill Ward, Ozzy Osbourne forged heavy metal at the dawn of time.

I give you Mr. Crowley.

Go out and celebrate Halloween, Hokeyfolks. Drink, party, sing, dance, trick-or-treat, watch scary movies, read cards, commune with other worlds, or just do whatever you want that makes you feel part of our flawed, weird, strange, and beautiful human condition.

Because I see you. Yes you. With the face. Thanks for sticking around.

Happy Halloween ya’ll.

Love,
Hokeydude

Mr. Crowley
What went on in your head?
Oh, Mr. Crowley
Did you talk to the dead?

Your lifestyle to me seemed so tragic
With the thrill of it all
You fooled all the people with magic
Yeah, you waited on Satan’s call

Mr. Charming
Did you think you were pure?
Mr. Alarming
In nocturnal rapport

Uncovering things that were sacred
Manifest on this Earth
Ah, conceived in the eye of a secret
And they scattered the afterbirth

Mr. Crowley
Won’t you ride my white horse?
Mr. Crowley
It’s symbolic, of course

Approaching a time that is classic
I hear that maiden’s call
Approaching a time that is drastic
Standing with their backs to the wall

Was it polemically sent?
I wanna know what you meant
I wanna know
I wanna know what you meant, yeah…