On All Hallows Eve it is said that witches and demons prowl
the darkened the streets with evil cackles and horrid howls
Dead spirits wander seeking answers to their demise
The Prince of Darkness will surely be about, so beware his princely lies

On this night children reap a plentiful harvest of candied-sweets
clothed in ghastly garb, they haunt suburban streets
But there's more to this story that Mother's afraid to tell
a tale that knows not the virtues of heaven, but opens the gates of hell

It is the story of fellow named "Jack" - a farmer of the old Celtic Isles
A legend that gives meaning to our pumpkins' frowns and smiles
Jack was a clever man, but his wit was just as cunning as it was sagacious
And he would refuse to give to the harvest begging of the ominous Druid
pagans

The Druids were a mysterious lot, clothed in black robes they came
If the household refused them a cut in the harvest, then a curse upon their
names
Not a soul dared refuse the Druids, so they fearfully filled their sacks
But one man would not give one grain, a local Farmer known as Jack

The Devil himself began to get concerned that his rude fellow did not fear
the curse his devout Druids put on him every year
So he paid a personal visit, to see if his presence could strike some terror
But the devil, as you shall soon see, had made a grievous error

Jack lived alone and was unashamedly cruel and mean
and was well prepared for any uninvited guests to barge upon the scene
The dark apparition of the devil crept behind Jack standing beneath a tree
"Jack, Why do you refuse to give," he boomed with hell's resounding
authority

Jack turned to him calmly, knowing he'd been there
and with a powerful look of annoyance returned the devil's stare
"Who do you think you are, trespassing on my land?" asked Jack with spite
"Why, I am the very Samhain whose harvest bounty you refuse to requite!"

The apparition yelled as Jack yawned and leaned upon his hoe
"If indeed you're him, then prove it, and I will grant you what you think I
owe.
The devil, it's said is a fine and princely young man,
but you're just an amorphous black cloud with no legs on which to stand."

The devil said, "I'll show you, but I'll only change form once,
then you must bow before me and grant me my harvest sum."
"Its a deal!" said Jack quick as a whip, "Now you're handsome form I'll see"
Then the devil materialized into a young man - aristocratic and princely

Jack moved so fast the devil hardly saw him pull the snare
and young Lucifer was lifted into a tree and left dangling in the air
"Since you're stuck in that form, I have a bargain to propose,"
said Jack to the prone prince of darkness who replied, "I'm not opposed"

Jack said, "When I die, I'll have you're word that you'll not let me into
hell"
The devil agreed, the rope was cut, and to the ground he fell
Old Jack was left unbothered by the Druids for the rest of his days
but knowing he could not go to hell, Jack didn't mend his wicked ways

And when he died, his spirit could not get into heaven, so down he went
to the fires of Hades to collect upon his debt
The Devil as promised, would not take his soul
so he was left to wander the earth, searching for a home

Every Halloween his spirit finds a dwelling place
In someone's pumpkin carved with a twisted, tortured face
So beware as you're about with your candy filled sacks
as you look upon your own grinning pumpkin, that lantern may be Jacks!