HPLHS - The H.P. Lovecraft Historical Society

H.P. Lovecraft enjoyed Christmas, and so do we! Lovecraft wrote a vast number of Yuletide poems to his many correspondents, and we were inspired by them to begin Solstice Caroling: one of the oldest traditions of the HPLHS, in which we rewrite holiday classics with horrifying lyrics and then sing them to reclaim an overcommercialized, oversentimentalized season and make it our own. We originally dressed up and sang our Solstice Carols on the Pearl Street mall in Boulder, Colorado in the late 1980s, and then later we produced a couple of albums and songbooks of our favorites. Christmas has always been a remixed, mashed-up holiday, combining ancient pagan seasonal festivals with later Christian symbolism. Some might go so far as to suggest that Christmas as it's often observed today is itself a parody. As HPL said himself in his story The Festival, "It was the Yuletide, that men call Christmas though they know in their hearts it is older than Bethlehem and Babylon, older than Memphis and mankind".

Our holiday music albums A Very Scary Solstice and An Even Scarier Solstice include a collection of songs which many people enjoy even more than the originals. We have heard from more than a few shop workers who put it on the store’s speakers and turned the volume down just low enough to make shoppers doubt that they’d really just heard about something “abhorrent and ancient” in Handel’s Messiah. We heard stories of jolly goths, festive shut-ins and merry madmen, who managed to eke a little unexpected joy out of this holiday that’s been so thoroughly co-opted by the global machine of holiday commerce. Many people have told us that they now mentally replace the traditional lyrics with our Lovecraftian ones, and it can make the holiday season a little easier to get through for some people. Some have even made ambitious YouTube videos from them!

You can find the complete albums in our online store Here! and Here! Get both albums plus a tentacle-shaped stocking Here!

Meanwhile, this page includes some samples, and links to download some sheet music so you can go caroling yourself!

Musical Samples

We are very happy to provide below some sample tracks from our albums for your listening pleasure. Half are full-length songs and half just brief tastes. The final track below is a very special solstice carol that is not on either of our albums, available exclusively here! Everyone's favorite Deep One hybrid lounge singer, Ogham Waite, fronts his Amphibian Jazz Band in a holiday song from the Gilman House Hotel in Innsmouth, Mass.!

A new Solstice duet from Ogham Waite and Robert Olmstead! Lyrics by Sean Branney, Andrew Leman and Doug Smith. Performed by Matt Foyer and Mike Dalager. Mixed by Bryan Davis.

Song and Album Credits

Have Yourself a Scary Little Solstice Rebecca Marcotte and Josh Thoemke

Lyrics by Andrew Leman, based on “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” written in 1943 by Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane.

Freddy the Red Brained Mi-Go Tamara McDonough and The Dunwich Children's Chorale

Lyrics by Philip Bell, Sean Branney, Andrew Leman and Darrell Tyler, based on “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer,” written in 1949 by Johnny Marks.

Great Old Ones are Coming to Town John Yelvington and the Shoggettes

Lyrics by Sean Branney, based on on “Santa Claus is Coming to Town,” written in 1934 by J. Fred Coots and Haven Gillespie.

The Carol of the Olde Ones The Arkham Carolers

Lyrics by Andrew Leman, based on "The Carol of the Bells,” written in 1910 by Mykola Leontovych.

Silent Night, Blasphemous Night Dagon Tabernacle Choir

Lyrics by Philip Bell, Sean Branney and Darrell Tyler, based on “Stille Nacht,” written in 1818 by Joseph Mohr and Franz X. Gruber.

Awake Ye Scary Great Olde Ones The Arkham Carolers

Lyrics by Philip Bell, Sean Branney, Andrew Leman and Darrell Tyler, based on “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen,” a traditional English carol.

Mi-Go We Have Heard on High Dagon Tabernacle Choir

Lyrics by Sean Branney, based on “Angels We Have Heard on High,” a traditional French carol.

The Shoggoth Song Dunwich Children's Chorale

Lyrics by Sean Branney, based on "The Dreidel Song,” written in 1950 by Samuel Goldfarb and S. S. Grossman.

It’s the Most Horrible Time of the Year J.D. Titan

Lyrics by Andrew Leman, based on “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” written in 1963 by Eddie Pola and George Wyle.

Es Y’Golonac John Yelvington, with the Scariachis

Lyrics by Sean Branney, based on “Feliz Navidad,” written in 1970 by José Feliciano.

Away in a Madhouse Matthew Fahey, with patients from the Arkham Asylum

Lyrics by Sean Branney and Andrew Leman, based on “Away in a Manger,” written in 1885 by James Ramsey Murray.

It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Fish-Men Andrew Leman

Lyrics by Andrew Leman, based on “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas,” written in 1951 by Meredith Willson.

I Saw Mommy Kissing Yog-Sothoth Lance Holt

Lyrics by Sean Branney and Andrew Leman, based on “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus,” written in 1952 by Tommie Connor.

Oh Come All Ye Olde Ones Dagon Tabernacle Choir

Lyrics by Sean Branney and Andrew Leman, based on “O Come All Ye Faithful,” written in 1743 by John F. Wade

I’m Dreaming of a Dead City Pascal Marcotte with the Randolph Carters

Lyrics by Terence Chua and Andrew Leman, based on “White Christmas,” written in 1942 by Irving Berlin

Dance the Cultists The Arkham Carolers

Lyrics by Philip Bell, Sean Branney and Darrell Tyler, based on “Deck the Halls,” a traditional Welsh carol.

He’ll Be Back for Solstice Holly Long, Rebecca Marcotte and Tamara McDonough

Lyrics by Andrew Leman, based on “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” written in 1943 by Walter Kent and James Gannon.

Mythos of a King Choir of Former Altar Boys

Lyrics by Andrew Leman, based on "The Birthday of a King,” written in 1890 by William Harold Neidlinger.

Here Comes Yog-Sothoth Dunwich Children's Chorale

Lyrics by Terence Chua, based on “Here Comes Santa Claus,” written in 1947 by Gene Autry and Oakley Haldeman.

Little Rare Book Room Josh Thoemke with Matthew Fahey and Rebecca Marcotte

Lyrics by Sean Branney and Andrew Leman, based on “Little Drummer Boy,” written in 1958 by Katherine Davis, Henry Onorati and Harry Simeone.

Demon Sultan Azathoth The Arkham Carolers

Lyrics by Sean Branney, based on "Good King Wenceslas,” written circa 1853 by John Mason Neale.

Tentacles Tamara McDonough

Lyrics by Reneé Cortner, based on “Silver Bells,” written in 1951 by Jay Livingston and Ray Evans.

Do You Fear What I Fear? Matthew Fahey, Jennifer Taub and Josh Thoemke

Lyrics by Sean Branney, based on “Do You Hear What I Hear?,” written in 1962 by Noel Regney and Gloria Shayne.

Cthulhu Lives! Dunwich Children's Chorale

Lyrics by He Who Must Not (for legal reasons) Be Named, based on “Jingle Bells,” written in 1857 by James S. Pierpont.

Oh Cthulhu Dagon Tabernacle Choir

Lyrics by Sean Branney and Andrew Leman, based on “The Hallelujah Chorus” from Messiah, composed in 1741 by George Frideric Handel.

The Arkham Carolers

Matthew Fahey, Andrew Leman, Holly Long, Rebecca Marcotte, Tamara McDonough, and Josh Thoemke

Dunwich Children's Chorale

Aidan Branney, Sean Branney, Matthew Fahey, Sharon McCune, Carolyn Palmer, Josh Thoemke, and Erika Zucker

Dagon Tabernacle Choir

Sean Branney, Matthew Fahey, Lance J. Holt, John Jabaley, Chris Lackey, Andrew Leman, Holly Long, Pascal Marcotte, Rebecca Marcotte, Sharon McCune, Tamara McDonough, Carolyn Palmer, Jennifer Taub, Josh Thoemke, John Yelvington and Erika Zucker

The Album

Digitally recorded, mixed and mastered at Artistry Entertainment International in North Hollywood, California. Very special thanks to Erik Hockman and Clayton Tripp. Organ chord progression on “Mythos of a King” by Alan Tripp. Illustrations by Darrell Tutchton.

The World In Terror and Madness Lies Rebecca Marcotte with the Dagon Tabernacle Choir

Lyrics by Andrew Leman, based upon “It Came Upon A Midnight Clear,” written in 1850 by Edmund H. Sears and Richard Storrs Willis.

Mountains of Madness Josh Thoemke

by Sean Branney, based on “Winter Wonderland,” written in 1934 by Dick Smith and Felix Bernard.

A Cyclopean Tomb (Down in Deep R’lyeh) Pascal Marcotte and the Tombsters

Lyrics by Andrew Leman, on “(There’s No Place Like) Home for the Holidays” written in 1954 by Robert Allen and Al Stillman.

Death to the World Dagon Tabernacle Choir

Lyrics by Sean Branney, based upon "Joy to the World,” written in 1836 by Isaac Watts and Lowell Mason.

All I Want for Solstice is My Sanity Lance Holt

Lyrics by Sean Branney and Andrew Leman, based upon “All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth” written in 1946 by Don Gardner.

What Thing Is This? Robyn Heller, Collen Kennedy, Elizabeth Reed & Jennifer Taub

Lyrics by Sean Branney, based on “What Child Is This?” music traditional, lyrics written in 1865 by William Chatterton Dix.

Slay Ride Chad Fifer, Matt Foyer and the Dunwich Chorale

Lyrics by Jeppe Buchreitz and Andrew Leman, based on “Sleigh Ride,” written in 1948 with lyrics by Mitchell Parish and music by Leroy Anderson.

Harley Got Devoured by the Undead John Yelvington

Lyrics by Sean Branney, based on “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer,” written in 1979 by Randy Brooks.

It’s Mi-Go! Josh Thoemke

Lyrics by Sean Branney, based on “Let It Snow!” written in 1945 by Sammy Cahn and Jule Styne.

A Brumalian Wish Mike Dalager

Lyrics by H. P. Lovecraft. Music by Troy Sterling Nies.

Look! Professor Angell Brings The Dunwich Chorale

Lyrics by Andrew Leman, based on “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing,” written in 1855 by Charles Wesley, Felix Mendelssohn, and William Cummings.

The Cultist Song Rebecca Marcotte and Josh Thoemke, with the Arkham Carolers

Lyrics by Andrew Leman and Sean Branney, based on “The Christmas Song,” written in 1944 by Mel Tormé and Robert Wells.

Death May Die Dan Conroy

Lyrics by Sean Branney, based on “Auld Lang Syne,” music traditional, lyrics written in 1799 by Robert Burns.

The Festival The Dunwich Chorale

Lyrics by Sean Branney with Andrew Leman, based on “Here We Come A-Wassailing,” a traditional English folk tune.

Eerie Dreary Solstice Robyn Heller

Lyrics by Jeppe Buchreitz, based on “Holly Jolly Christmas” written in 1962 by Johnny Marks.

The Deep One Song (Solstice in R’lyeh) Melissa Jones, Katherine Trottier & Erika Zucker, with Sean Branney

Lyrics by Andrew Leman, based on “The Chipmunk Song,” written in 1958 by Ross Bagdasarian

The Worst Hotel Mike Dalager & The Enigmamas

Lyrics by Sean Branney, based on “The First Noël,” traditional.

Unholy Night John Yelvington and the Dagon Tabernacle Choir

Lyrics by Andrew Leman, based on “Oh Holy Night,” written in 1847 by John Sullivan Dwight and Adolphe C. Adam.

The World In Terror and Madness Lies Rebecca Marcotte with the Dagon Tabernacle Choir

Lyrics by Andrew Leman, based upon “It Came Upon A Midnight Clear,” written in 1850 by Edmund H. Sears and Richard Storrs Willis.

We Three Friends of H. P. L. Are Dan Conroy, Mike Dalager & Josh Thoemke

Lyrics by Sean Branney, based on “We Three Kings of Orient Are,” written in 1857 by John Henry Hopkins.

Blue Solstice Dan Conroy

Lyrics by Sean Branney, based on “Blue Christmas,” written in 1948 by Billy Hayes and Jay Johnston, lyrics reworked by Elvis A. Presley.

Go Summon Up the Dead Ones Andrew Leman and the Dagon Tabernacle Choir

Lyrics by Jeppe Buchreitz and Andrew Leman, based on “Go Tell It On the Mountain,” written in 1907 by John Wesley Work, Jr. Orchestration by Jim Nabors and Troy Sterling Nies.

The Enigmamas

Colleen Kennedy and Elizabeth Reed

The Tombsters

Robyn Heller, Melissa Jones, Andrew Leman, Rebecca Marcotte, Josh Thoemke & Katherine Trottier

The Arkham Carolers

Leslie Baldwin, Suzanne Baldwin, Aidan Branney, Sean Branney, Douglas R. Clayton, Lisa Dobbyn, Matt Foyer, Angeline Garbett, Robyn Heller, Colleen Kennedy, Jennifer Knighton, Chris Lackey, Troy Sterling Nies, Elizabeth Reed, Jennifer Taub, Katherine Trottier& Erika Zucker

The Dunwich Chorale

Sean Branney, Chad Fifer, Lance Holt, Melissa Jones, Troy Sterling Nies, Pascal Marcotte, Katherine Trottier, Erika Zucker.

Dagon Tabernacle Choir

Sean Branney, Jamie Clark, Douglas R. Clayton, Matt Foyer, Robyn Heller, Melissa Jones, Colleen Kennedy, Andrew Leman, Holly Long, Rebecca Marcotte, Troy Sterling Nies, Elizabeth Reed, Jennifer Taub, Josh Thoemke, Katherine Trottier, & John Yelvington.

The Album

Guitar solos on "Blue Solstice" and "Harley Got Devoured by the Undead" by Tom Ritchie. A special thank you to Anne Nies and Karen Helm for additional choral arrangement assistance on "Go Summon Up the Dead Ones". Vocals digitally recorded at HPLHS Studios in Glendale, California. Instruments recorded, and album digitally mixed and mastered in Killdeer, North Dakota. Illustrations by Darrell Tutchton.

HPLHS staff artist Darrell Tutchton painted this charming watercolor for a holiday card.

Rare Footage

Some surviving members of the Dagon Tabernacle Choir gathered to perform "Carol of the Olde Ones" live at The Banshee theater in Burbank, California circa 2007. Pictured, from left to right, are Robyn Heller, Andrew Leman, Rebecca Marcotte, Josh Thoemke, Kati Trottier, Sean Branney, and Laura Brody. Videographer unknown.

Lovecraft's poem "A Brumalian Wish" was set to music by beloved composer Troy Sterling Nies and sung by Mike Dalager. It's the second track on the list above.

Sheet Music

In addition to our albums of songs, we have prepared sing-along songbooks of our Solstice Carols so you can join in the fun. These fully-annotated books reveal fascinating facts about the songs and the holiday itself, as well as providing full lyrics to all the songs. But some people have requested the sheet music as well so they can gather family members around the piano or hurdy-gurdy or what have you. We are happy to provide sheet music to a selection of the songs in the grid below. Hover over the desired song and a link will appear to download the PDF. Some of the sheet music differs slightly from the way these songs are performed on the album. We are also providing sheet music to a couple of songs that were not included on either album.

These PDFs are provided for your personal use only.