Today’s song is the quirky and slightly spooky pop single “Dead Man’s Party.” The song is by the American New Wave/Ska band Oingo Boingo. It was originally released as the third single from their 1985 record album of the same name.
Fun Facts
- The band Oingo Boingo originated from a surrealist musical theatre troupe, called “The Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo.”
- The band was well known for high energy shows and their experimental mixing of rock and pop music with ska and even world music.
- “Dead Man’s Party” was released as a 12″ single with another song from the same record, “Stay.”
- The lyric, “I hear the chauffeur coming to my door/Says there’s room for maybe just one more,” refers to “The Bus-Conductor,” a short story about a hearse driver by E. F. Benson.
- The song was featured in the 1986 movie “Back To School” with the band playing the song during a party scene.
- “Dead Man’s Party was also featured in TV shows like Chuck, Malcolm in the Middle, Supergirl, Bones and The Blacklist.
- Oingo Boingo band founder Danny Elfman is also a film composer and some films he scored include, Edward Scissorhands, Good Will Hunting, Batman, Men in Black The Nightmare Before Christmas and Big Fish.
- The “Dead Man’s Party” album cover art is a homage to the Día de Los Muertos Mexican holiday.
- It charted at the number 95 spot on the Billboards Top 200 List in 1986.
Lyrics:
I’m all dressed up with nowhere to go
Walkin’ with a dead man
I’m all dressed up with nowhere to go
Walkin’ with a dead man over my shoulder
Don’t run away it’s only me
Waiting for an invitation to arrive
Goin’ to a party where no one’s still alive
Waiting for an invitation to arrive
Goin’ to a party where no one’s still alive
I was struck by lighting, walkin’ down the street
I was hit by something last night in my sleep
It’s a dead man’s party who could ask for more
Everybody’s comin’, leave your body at the door
Leave your body and soul at the door
Don’t run away it’s only me
Only me, only me
I’m all dressed up with nowhere to go
Walkin’ with a dead man, with a dead man
Waitin’ for an invitation to arrive
Walkin’ with a dead man, with a dead man
I got my best suit and my tie
Shiny silver dollar on either eye
I hear the chauffeur comin’ to my door
Says there’s room for maybe just one more
I was struck by lighting, walkin’ down the street
I was hit by something last night in my sleep
It’s a dead man’s party, who could ask for more
Everybody’s comin’, leave your body at the door
Leave your body and soul at the door
Don’t run away it’s only me
Don’t be afraid of what you can’t see
Don’t run away it’s only me
Don’t be afraid of what you can’t see
It’s only me
I was struck by lighting, walkin’ down the street
I was hit by something last night in my sleep
It’s a dead man’s party, who could ask for more
Everybody’s comin’, leave your body at the door
Leave your body and soul at the door
Don’t run away it’s only me
Don’t be afraid of what you can’t see
Don’t run away it’s only me
Don’t be afraid of what you can’t see
It’s only me
It’s only me, only me
It’s only me, only me
It’s only me, only me
It’s only me
It’s only me