10 Country Songs You Need For Halloween

While Australia may not boast the rust-coloured leaves and autumn chill of October, we still love to celebrate the spookiest of seasons in our own way. From grizzly tales and ghastly ghouls, country music is an underrated presence in Halloween festivities. Whether it be tales of phantom encounters or revenge of an evil witch, these are just a few of the country bangers you need on your playlist this Halloween. 

1. The Legend of Wooley Swamp - Charlie Daniels

This eerie 1980 classic marks Charlie Daniels’ second single of which delves into the supernatural, having released his hit ‘The Devil Went Down to Georgia’ the year prior. Based on a folklore tale, The Legend of Wooley Swamp narrates the story of three brothers who plot to kill an elderly recluse Lucius Clay, in order to steal his wads of money. Having successfully slain the old man, the brothers find themselves wounding up with the same fate, quickly sinking in quicksand as the laughs of deceased Lucius can be heard mocking their final moments. The tune’s chorus alludes to the mystery of ghosts, as Daniels croons "there's some things in this world you just can't explain". 

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2. Scarecrow in the Garden - Chris Stapleton

"Scarecrow in the Garden," was penned by Stapleton back in 2017 with the help of writers Brice Long, and Matt Fleener. The ballad details a farm in West Virginia that has been passed down through the family of North Irish immigrants. Stapleton told ABC Radio that the track was essentially a “suicide song”, speaking of the scarecrow as a sort of dark figure clouding his reality.

“There's a scarecrow in the garden / That looks like Lucifer / And I've been readin' Revelations / With my bare feet in the river.” 

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3. Phantom 309 - Red Sovine

“Phantom 309” is a ghostly trucker’s tale that captures the essence of the open road. 

In this spoken-word tune, Sovine's gravelly voice narrates a chance encounter with a mysterious truck driver, before finding out that the ride he’d taken was that of a phantom apparition. 

While the phantom trucker is an urban legend, the story of the trucker’s demise is completely true.

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4. Sketelons - Brothers Osborne

Brothers Osborne’s “Skeletons” cleverly uses the metaphor of skeletons in the closet to explore secrets and hidden fears, threatening that they have a “bone to pick” with the song’s recipient. It’s a modern take on spooky storytelling that resonates with anyone grappling with their own “skeletons.”

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5. Long Black Veil - Johnny Cash 

Whether real life, or the result of mystics, Johnny Cash can always be trusted to spin a sobering yarn. Cash’s cover of the Lefty Frizzell original ‘Long Black Veil’ is narrated from the perspective of a man falsely sentenced to death, due to his resemblance to the killer. Even though our wrongly convicted protagonist has the right to negotiate for his freedom via an alibi, he would rather die than admit to being in bed with his best friend’s wife that night. As the suspect is put 6 feet under, a figure in a long black veil comes to visit. While less supernatural than others, this track still displays the obtrusive sight of some of humanity’s darker themes. 

As of 2019 Frizzell's original version of "Long Black Veil" now rests in Library of Congress’ National Recording Registry, meeting the criteria of being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant, and inform or reflect life in the United States."

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6. Mama Werewolf - Brandi Carlile 

In this whimsical yet eerie track, Carlile channels the spirit of a motherly werewolf, urging her brood to be aware of intergenerational patterns. The haunting folksy track was released in 2021 as part of Carlile’s seventh studio album ‘In These Silent Days’.

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7. Psycho - Eddie Noack

This might be one of the most grizzly songs of the list. Eddie Noack’s murder ballad was written by Leon Payne in 1968, whilst discussing the famous deranged serial killers of the time - people who were deemed “psychos”. 

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8. Ghost Riders in the Sky - The Highwaymen

This Americana classic croons of cowboys riding across the sky, searching for lost souls. While it’s been covered by a slew of talented artists, The Highwaymen’s rendition brings together the iconic voices of Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, and Kris Kristofferson. While written in 1948, the urban legend goes way back, and can be linked to European, Dutch, and Native American folklore. 

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9. The Silver Ghost - Merle Haggard

Haggard’s “The Silver Ghost” was released in 1976, accompanied by an entire album about trains. The song, written by Sterling Whipple, details the story of a ghost train left to eternally wail its horn, as it slivers along the night searching for its crew of deceased mountain miners. 

Haggard’s classic country sound adds a layer of eeriness to the spooky season. 

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10. Death Valley High - Orville Peck & Beck

Soundtracking the wild nights of a casino hustler, this Peck & Beck collab teases the fun of livin life on the edge. This Las Vegas-inspired debauchery tune is perfect for a big Halloween weekend, and encourages you to let loose. 

“Sin City lights / Spin the wheel around and roll the dice / Death Valley high / Gonna let it run like the devil's son tonight.” 

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