The Skeleton Dance
Them bones them bones them dancing bones — connect the skeleton and dance
Listen
Arrangement: Ian J. Watts / Mike Wilbury · Singalongasong Band / ClassicRocks
Lyrics
Them bones, them bones, them dancing bones,
Them bones, them bones, them dancing bones,
Them bones, them bones, them dancing bones,
Doin' the skeleton dance.
The toe bone connected to the heel bone,
The heel bone connected to the foot bone,
The foot bone connected to the leg bone,
Doin' the skeleton dance.
The leg bone connected to the knee bone,
The knee bone connected to the thigh bone,
The thigh bone connected to the back bone,
Doin' the skeleton dance.
Put your hands to the left,
Put your hands to the right,
Put your hands in the air
And wiggle them out of sight.
Put your hands to the left,
Put your hands to the right,
Put your hands in the air
And wiggle, wiggle, wiggle, wiggle, wiggle your knees!
The foot bone connected to the leg bone,
The leg bone connected to the knee bone,
The knee bone connected to the thigh bone,
Doin' the skeleton dance.
The thigh bone connected to the back bone,
The back bone connected to the neck bone,
The neck bone connected to the head bone,
Doin' the skeleton dance.
Them bones, them bones, them dancing bones,
Them bones, them bones, them dancing bones,
Them bones, them bones, them dancing bones,
Doin' the skeleton dance.
Traditional lyrics — public domain. Arrangement © Singalongasong Band / ClassicRocks.
History & Background
History & Origin
"The Skeleton Dance" is based on "Dem Bones," a traditional African American spiritual that draws on the vision of the valley of dry bones from the Book of Ezekiel. The original spiritual connects the bones of the skeleton from toe to head, each bone joined to the next, as the bones rise up in the vision and the spirit of the Lord breathes life into them. The song has been recorded in gospel, spiritual and children's music traditions.
This version transforms the spiritual into an action song, adding movement instructions — hands to the left, hands to the right, wiggling the knees — and building the bone connections in both directions: from toe to head and back again. The refrain of "doin' the skeleton dance" gives the song a joyful, slightly spooky character that makes it ideal for Halloween or any occasion that calls for something a little bit creepy and a lot of fun.
The fun-punk arrangement here gives the bones plenty of energy to dance with, and the action verses ensure that no part of the audience is left standing still.
