The knock on the oak door echoes br (whispers and silence in the old manse) br br Muffled sounds from the root cellar br (red harvest moon hangs high) br br Men in soiled coveralls congregate in the yard br (the sleeping hound shudders and stirs) br br Overhead Satan and legions of demons br skate by on howling winds of malice br dark against the harvest moon br gleeful and joyous as death br br 'Kill 'em all, I say! br Let Old Nick take his pick! ' br br Ruby flames flicker br and devour shacks and hovels br br Corpses swing from hempen ropes br br 'Come frolic in autumn red! br Step to the Danse Macabre! 'br br Michael Pruchnickibr br