Last week, we announced a contest here to win one of three sets of signed copies of the Halloween Carols by singer/organist/composer Kristen Lawrence (as featured in the current issue of RM). Your charge, if you so chose, was to write an additional verse to Kristen’s rendition of the traditional song, “Ghost of John.”

Luckily for us, you wasted little time and exhibited no shortage of whimsical wit. One entry, in particular, went far beyond the call of duty. Though there is no official first prize, if there were it would go to ANDREW CLARK of San Antonio, Texas for these winning verses:

John stands long in the dead of night
In the mist of the pale moon light
Ooh oo-oo-oo-oo-ooh
Wouldn’t that be quite the frightful sight?

John’s sorrows have passed and fled
Worry died with him in his bed
Ooh oo-oo-oo-oo-ooh
Isn’t it carefree after you are dead?

John no longer must sweat and toil
In his fields the sun to boil
Ooh oo-oo-oo-oo-ooh
Wouldn’t it be peaceful beneath grave soil?

John appeared at the fall of dusk
Nothing more than an empty husk
Ooh oo-oo-oo-oo-ooh
Wouldn’t his image seem rather brusque

John was put in a six foot grave
Yet stands tall like a ghostly knave
Ooh oo-oo-oo-oo-ooh
Isn’t that a way for proper dead behave?

John’s organs no longer play
On his ribs he strikes today
Ooh oo-oo-oo-oo-ooh
Wouldn’t that be heard from miles away?

John’s old songs cast and eerie tone
Chilling all ears even to the bone
Ooh oo-oo-oo-oo-ooh
Isn’t that his ribcage xylophone?

All John’s robes are a tattered mess
All in black does he fully dress
Ooh oo-oo-oo-oo-ooh
Doesn’t he look stunning with death’s caress?

John has been to the other side
On wraith wings does his phantom glide
Ooh oo-oo-oo-oo-ooh
Isn’t that the way best by night to ride?

…and then there was this entry from PETER STAHL of Algona, Washington:

Have you walked with John this eve?
Strange he’s been so long deceased
Oooh, Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh
He’s never looked so much at peace, so much at peace

….and finally, SCOTT NORTON of Landisville, New Jersey with this fun verse:

Yes, I’ve seen the ghost of John
Thankful he, that I’d learned his song
Oooh, Oh Oh Oh Oh oh
Didn’t he look silly with a sweater on?

Thank you very much to everyone who entered and congratulations to Andrew, Peter and Scott. You have all won an autographed, deluxe set of Kristen Lawrence’s Halloween Carols. Happy Halloween!

For more on Kristen’s music, go to halloweencarols.com.