Monster Mash – English Lyrics

• By: Bobby Pickett

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the spooky fun of "Monster Mash" by Bobby "Boris" Pickett! This iconic Halloween song is a fantastic way to engage with English through its playful lyrics and memorable storytelling. You'll encounter vocabulary related to classic monsters and learn common phrases used to describe a lively party. Its clear narrative and repetitive chorus make it easy to follow along, offering a fun and catchy introduction to English in a cultural context.

[English]

I was working in the lab, late one night

When my eyes beheld an eerie sight

For my monster from his slab, began to rise

And suddenly to my surprise

(He did the mash) He did the monster mash

(The monster mash) It was a graveyard smash

(He did the mash) It caught on in a flash

(He did the mash) He did the monster mash

From my laboratory in the castle east

To the master bedroom where the vampires feast

The ghouls all came from their humble abodes

To get a jolt from my electrodes

(They did the mash) They did the monster mash

(The monster mash) It was a graveyard smash

(They did the mash) It caught on in a flash

(They did the mash) They did the monster mash

The zombies were having fun (tennis shoe, wa hoo)

The party had just begun (tennis shoe, wa hoo)

The guests included Wolfman, Dracula and his son

The scene was rockin', all were digging the sounds

Igor on chains, backed by his baying hounds

The coffin-bangers were about to arrive

With their vocal group, 'The Crypt-Kicker Five'

(They played the mash) They played the monster mash

(The monster mash) It was a graveyard smash

(They played the mash) It caught on in a flash

(They played the mash) They played the monster mash

Out from his coffin, Drac's voice did ring

Seems he was troubled by just one thing

He opened the lid and shook his fist and said

"Whatever happened to my Transylvania Twist?

(It's now the mash) It's now the monster mash

(The monster mash) And it's a graveyard smash

(It's now the mash) It's caught on in a flash

(It's now the mash) It's now the monster mash

Now everything's cool, Drac's a part of the band

And my Monster Mash is the hit of the land

For you, the living, this mash was meant too

When you get to my door, tell them Boris sent you

(Then you can mash) Then you can monster mash

(The monster mash) And do my graveyard smash

(Then you can mash) You'll catch on in a flash

(Then you can mash) Then you can monster mash

(Wa hoo, monster mash)

(Wa hoo, monster mash)

Easy Igor, you impetuous young boy (Wa hoo, monster mash)

(Wa hoo, monster mash)

(Wa hoo, monster mash)

(Wa hoo, monster mash)

(Wa hoo, monster mash)

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
lab /læb/ A2	noun - a room or building equipped for scientific experiments, research, or teaching
eyes /aɪz/ A1	noun - organs used for seeing
monster /ˈmɒnstər/ A2	noun - a frightening creature, often imaginary
rise /raɪz/ A2	verb - to move from a lower position to a higher one; to get up
surprise /sərˈpraɪz/ B1	noun - an unexpected or astonishing event, fact, or thing
mash /mæʃ/ B2	verb - to crush (something, especially food) into a soft mass noun - a soft mass of something, especially food
graveyard /ˈɡreɪvjɑːrd/ B1	noun - a burial ground; a cemetery
flash /flæʃ/ B1	noun - a sudden burst of light verb - to shine brightly or suddenly
castle /ˈkæsəl/ A2	noun - a large fortified building or set of buildings
vampires /ˈvæmpaɪər/ B1	noun - a mythical creature that feeds on human blood
ghouls /ɡuːl/ B2	noun - an evil spirit or phantom, especially one supposed to rob graves and feed on dead bodies
electrodes /ɪˈlɛktrəʊd/ B2	noun - a conductor through which electricity enters or leaves an object, substance, or region
zombies /ˈzɒmbi/ B1	noun - a dead person who has been brought back to life by magic
rockin /ˈrɒkɪn/ B2	adjective - excellent; fantastic
chains /tʃeɪnz/ A2	noun - a connected flexible series of metal links used for fastening or securing something
troubled /ˈtrʌbld/ B1	adjective - worried or anxious

Key Grammar Structures

• I was working in the lab, late one night

  ➔ Past Continuous Tense

  ➔ The sentence uses the past continuous tense ("was working") to describe an action in progress at a specific time in the past. It sets the scene for the events that follow.

• When my eyes beheld an eerie sight

  ➔ Past Simple Tense, Formal Vocabulary

  ➔ Uses "beheld," which is a more formal and slightly archaic past tense of "behold" (to see or observe). The past simple tense describes a completed action in the past.

• For my monster from his slab, began to rise

  ➔ Past Simple Tense, Infinitive after verb

  ➔ "Began to rise" illustrates the use of an infinitive after the verb "began". It shows the commencement of an action.

• The ghouls all came from their humble abodes

  ➔ Past Simple Tense, Word Order

  ➔ The sentence follows the standard subject-verb-object order. "All" is placed after the subject "ghouls" for emphasis.

• To get a jolt from my electrodes

  ➔ Infinitive of Purpose

  ➔ The infinitive "to get" expresses the purpose or reason why the ghouls came.

• The scene was rockin', all were digging the sounds

  ➔ Past Continuous Tense, Slang

  ➔ "Was rockin'" (a shortened form of "was rocking") is past continuous and uses slang to describe the lively atmosphere. "Digging" is also a slang term meaning "enjoying".

• Whatever happened to my Transylvania Twist?

  ➔ Question Formation, Past Simple Tense

  ➔ This is a wh-question in the past simple tense. "Whatever happened to..." is a common way to express surprise or concern about something.

• When you get to my door, tell them Boris sent you

  ➔ Imperative, Conditional Clause (Zero Conditional)

  ➔ "Tell them..." is an imperative. The "when" clause introduces a zero conditional meaning a habitual action and consequence.