Do They Know It's Hallowe'en?
By: Adam Gollner, Nick Diamonds

Original Performance: North American Hallowe'en Prevention, Inc.
Written by: Adam Gollner, Nick Diamonds

Versions:
  1. Do They Know It's Hallowe'en? (5:56)
    Available on Do They Know It's Hallowe'en?.
    Credits
    Steven McDonald: Bass, Engineer, Producer, Vocals
    Anna Waronker: Choral Leader, Vocals
    Joey Waronker: Drums, Vocals
    A: Engineer (Vocal)
    Cornelius Rapp: Engineer (Vocal)
    Danny Kalb: Engineer (Vocal), Mix
    Donn Devore: Engineer (Vocal)
    Greig Nori: Engineer (Vocal)
    Jamie Thompson: Engineer (Vocal)
    Jay Ferguson: Engineer (Vocal)
    John Collins: Engineer (Vocal)
    Jona Bechtolt: Engineer (Vocal)
    Mark Lawson: Engineer (Vocal)
    Raf Katigbak: Engineer (Vocal)
    Russel Mael: Engineer (Vocal), Vocals
    Stuart Sullivan: Engineer (Vocal)
    Adam Gollner: Guitar, Producer
    Nick Diamonds: Keyboard / Synthesizer, Producer
    Ryan Morey: Mastering
    Asya: Vocals
    Beck Hansen: Vocals
    Blake Sennett: Vocals
    Buck 65: Vocals
    Chloe: Vocals
    Chris Murphy: Vocals
    Dan Boeckner: Vocals
    David Cross: Vocals
    Devendra Banhart: Vocals
    Elvira: Vocals
    Feist: Vocals
    Gino Washington: Vocals
    J'aime Tambeur: Vocals
    Jenny Lewis: Vocals
    Jimmy Tamborello: Vocals
    Karen Orzalek: Vocals
    Liane Balaban: Vocals, Vocals (Scream)
    Malcolm McLaren: Vocals
    Nardwuar the Human Seviette: Vocals
    Peaches: Vocals
    Regine Chassagne: Vocals
    Roky Erickson: Vocals
    Spencer Krug: Vocals
    Steve Jocz: Vocals
    Subtitle: Vocals
    Syd Butler: Vocals
    Tagaq: Vocals, Vocals (Throat Singing)
    Thurston Moore: Vocals
    Win Butler: Vocals
  2. Do They Know It's Hallowe'en? (Disco D Remix) (3:51)
    Available on Do They Know It's Hallowe'en?.
    Credits
    Disco D: Remix
  3. Do They Know It's Hallowe'en? (Radio Edit) (3:40)
    Available on Do They Know It's Hallowe'en?.
  4. Do They Know It's Hallowe'en? (Th' Corn Gangg Remix) (4:54)
    Available on Do They Know It's Hallowe'en?.
    Credits
    Th' Corn Gangg: Remix
 
Lyrics:
Do They Know It's Hallowe'en? [Version (a)]:

Once a year on a spooky night
It's Hallowe'en... and what a fright!

Young boys and ghouls in ghoulish disguise
They cover their skin, conceal their eyes
A grave mistake to be out when the ghosts are about
It's Hallowe'en... our time to be afraid!

In the rest of the year, they don't observe
This bash which has become our biggest concern
Latvia, Laos, Chad, Peru
We need their help or else we're through
They don't know the fear we endure once a year
All Hallow's Eve, we are afraid
Do they know it's Hallowe'en tonight?
Do they know it's Hallowe'en tonight?
Do they know it's Hallowe'en tonight?
Do they know it's Hallowe'en tonight?

It's October 31st, could it get any worse?
Children on streets, begging for treats
Drowning in a bucket of apples bobbing
Parents are hiding, our babies are sobbing
The undead have returned
They're freaking us out!
Dragging us down, so we shout:
"Help us!  Help us! Save our souls!"
We're dying of fear and they don't even know it
They think we've got it all
What we need is a team
To help us forget... forget Hallowe'en

Fools!  You think you can stop Hallowe'en?
The world can't hear your useless plea
It's too late, our orange and black plague will soon consume them all
Then everyone will understand the true meaning of Hallowe'en:
Pure terror!

We're all fed up, we've had enough enough enough enough
We're all fed up, we've had enough enough enough enough
Trick!  Caramel apples that will make you sick
Treat! And all those sweets will rot your teeth
Ouija board, ouija board... spell this!
We don't want you here no more
The writing's on the tombstone
Beneath the willow tree
No more razorblades in our kid's candy
Dead dogs and broomsticks
Pumpkins in flames
We're ending this night
Ending this shame


Do they know it's Hallowe'en tonight?
 
The Song:

"Do They Know It's Hallowe'en" is a spoof charity song, though it does also benefit charity. The old '80s "Do They Know It's Christmas" song is the target, which somewhat coincidentally, Beck has covered before himself.

This Hallowe'en version was put together by the North American Hallowe'en Prevention, Inc. A lot of indie singers (and others) each recorded a line (see below). Beck gets a couple of lines in there himself.

The main people behind this project was one of the guys in the band Islands, who remixed a couple of songs for Guerolito and opened some shows for Beck. He's a fan. Also, the rhythm section on the record was Beck's 2003 bassist, Steven MacDonald, and his usual drummer, Joey Waronker.

You can see the list of contributers in the 'notes' below, but others with ties to Beck include Arcade Fire, Devendra Banhart, Feist, Thurston Moore, Sparks, Anna Waronker, and Dntel.

Read more at the Wiki page.
 
Notes: