The future of music

30 Best Songs About Monsters

June 1, 2023
songs about monsters

Get ready to take a dive into the darkness as we explore the best songs about monsters in the music stratosphere.

Monsters are the stuff of nightmares, myths, and legends, so you’d be forgiven for thinking that being intangible subject matter they wouldn’t feature prominently in a musical fashion.

However, we often make a lot of metaphorical mention of the monster within, we are all pretty familiar with the analogy of the Jekyll-and-Hyde personality that can be applied to anyone who changes character rapidly when they can’t keep their emotions in check

The end result? A tonne of songs about monsters, some about genuine monsters that often have a playful edge and others that explore the darkness inside.

30 Songs About Monsters

1. Bobby Pickett – “Monster Mash”

Everyone’s favorite song about a mad scientist. I don’t care who you are or where in the world, there is no escaping having heard this record during that spooky ultimate day of October.

Pickett gives us his best Boris Karloff impersonation as he takes us through the steps of this monstrous dance based on the highly popular at the time “mashed potato”.

2. The Automatic – “Monster”

What’s that coming over the hill
Is it a monster? Is it a monster?”

A chorus repetition that made this one into a 2006 earworm. The lines were originally a place marker for lyrics they would later write.

Fortunately for the Welsh group, they stuck and turned it into one of their biggest singles of all time. The video features the lad’s comically monster hunting and gives a humorous edge to this song about monsters.

3. All Time Low – “Monsters”

The artist sings about his tunnel vision when it comes to t a toxic partner. He admits to being a “sucker” for their lies and rapper Blackbear adds his 2 cents admitting he is addicted to the situation.

The chorus asks us all some questions, and we guess in this case the monsters represent the way we reflect at night-time on our decisions and direction…

“Why do all the monsters come out at night?
Why do we sleep where we want to hide?
Why do I run back to you
Like I don’t mind if you fuck up my life?”

4. Meatloaf –  “The Monster Is Loose”

This song about monsters was the opening title track to Meatloaf’s ninth studio album. It is beautifully animated and it hosts a whole load of ‘dark’ lyrics over the top of a very gothic composition.

On some level we can all relate to the monster inside that tries to break loose when our emotions are heightened. The narrative describes someone who hasn’t had the best life experience and is at a breaking point.

“I’m angry (I’m angry)
I’m raging (I’m raging)
I’m breaking through the pain
The monster’s loose

And now you know the truth
Tell me can you feel it
As you hit the wall”

… They have clearly had enough!

5. David Bowie – “Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps)”

“Scary monsters, super creeps
Keep me running, running scared”

This was the title track to a fantastic album where Bowie explored art-rock and the new-wave sounds coming out of Berlin.

It is a song with a narrative that follows a woman slowly going mad. Bowie describes her as having been exposed to horrors until the point that there was no light behind her eyes. The monsters in the song are in her mindscape.

6. Of Mice And Men – “I’m A Monster”

The most profound songs about monsters are written from personal experience, not that many of us have come face to face with Godzilla or a 10-foot-yeti…

The writer, Austin, penned this one directly in anger after his now ex-wife cheated on him. The lyrics are gritty and pretty dark, there are expletives at the peak of the singer’s anguish but they paint an authentic picture.

“For every backstabbing lie and the whispers
I’ll shove this down your throat
You know there’s nowhere to hide, no way out alive
I’ll eat your heart, I’m a monster”

For the most part, we are all good-hearted but sometimes all it takes is one bad thing to bring out the monster.

7. Sheb Wooley – “Purple People Eater”

Well, that last one was a little bit dark, so how about we lighten things up with this contagious bit of fun from Novelty country star Sheb Wooley?

We actually could have probably given Sheb a couple of spots as he has a penchant for tunes about beasts.

The title and lyrics were inspired by a joke a friend had shared with him and the narrative tells of a “one-eyed, one-horned, flying, purple people eater” who comes to earth with one wish;

To form a rock and roll band!

It is one of those funny songs about monsters that are perfect for a Halloween party.

8. Queens Of The Stoneage – “Monsters In The Parasol”

When trawling through songs with monster in the title we found this, forgotten gem. It is far from one of the group’s well-known tracks. Josh Homme wrote the tune originally to perform as part of his Desert Sessions project. But Queens Of The Stoneage wanted to release it!

The lyrics are vague and actually describe an LSD trip that he experienced. So we are guessing that the protagonist doesn’t really have to worry about the monsters that may or may not be in her parasol…

9. Duran Duran – “Dirty Great Monster”

A song with a far spookier feel than your average Duran Duran jam – and there is a good reason.

This song about a monster is loosely based on real events. Simon has said personally that it is based on a close extended family member’s traumatic and abusive childhood.

Sadly, the monster in question is the father.

“There’s a Dirty Great Monster
In this house
We pretend that it’s not there
And there’s no escape from it’s it’s grip
But nobody seems to care”

10. En Vogue – “I Want A Monster To Be My Friend”

I want a monster to be my playmate
I want a monster to be my friend
I want to get, as my own pet,
A real live monster who is not pretend.

First written in 1975 as a sweet, friendly tune for the muppets performed on Sesame Street. this version features En Vogue and has a classic retro vibe.

Another example of a fun song about monsters, its’ delightfully light-hearted and filled with positive lyrics, something you don’t get with the majority of songs about monsters- that’s for sure!

11. Ramones – “Makin Monsters For My Friends”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rer0x0-zWcM

Another song about making friends with monsters!

This time hot out of the late punk scene, The Ramones, describe with this punchy narrative, that they seem to rub others up the wrong way, they describe their friend’s reactions as monstrous, stating that they know when someone is holding them a grudge.

“I don’t want to open a can of worms and
I don’t want any Spagetti-Os
And I could always tell when
Someone is holding a grudge

I’m making monsters for my friends
I’m making monsters for my friends”

12. Misfits – “Die Monster Die”

In 1999, post-Danzig, The Misfits released their Famous Monsters album, chock-full of songs about monsters inspired by popular science-fiction and horror movies of years gone by.

This Misfits song shares its title with a famous Boris Karloff movie, loosely based on “The Colour Out Of Space” by H.P Lovecraft.

It references the film as well as Marilyn Monroe in its lyrics.

“There’s a place where the mirrors don’t lie
I hope you die
Die Monster die”

13. Five Finger Death Punch – “Meet The Monster”

As you may expect, many songs about monsters contain darker subject matter and therefore the themes lend themselves better to heavier and darker genres of music. So here is a heavy metal rock song about monsters.

ThisLas Vegas group warns the listener of the oncoming trouble. They invite their enemies to settle the beef that has been brewing between them.

“Hope I’m on the list of people that you hate
It’s time you met the monster that you have helped create
Boo!

You’ve pushed me one too many times
I’m sick of all of the fiction, we’re gonna settle it
You’ve pushed me one too many times
I’m sick of all of the shit, I’m gonna settle it!”

14. Marilyn Manson – “Unkillable Monster”

Manson gives us a dark love song steeped in metaphorical monsters. He asks a lot of questions of the listener or to his love interest.

But none more poignant than the following;

“Are we in love or are we in pain?”

In some ways it is a song about the end of a relationship, he wants to kill her and give her a “pretty death”

This again is metaphorical, he wants things to end but end amicably… If he is s’ such a ‘monster’ she should go because his monster is “Unkillable”.

15. Gorillaz – “Kids With Guns (Jamie T’s Turns To Monsters Mix)”

“Didn’t mean to (push it real, push it)
But it won’t be long (push it real, push it)
Kids with guns
Kids with guns
Easy does it, easy does it, they got something to say no to
And they’re turning us into monsters
Turning us into fire
Turning us into monsters
It’s all desire”

Kids With Guns is a song about monsters that describes the way in which a morally corrupt society is nurturing kids’ minds. The kids are given guns and being turned into monsters… The guns could be metaphorical, or literal as we are guilty of recruiting youngsters into wars.

16. Metallica – “Some Kind Of Monster”

This is another of those rock songs about monsters that are on the heavier side. The lyrics make no clever statements but instead describe in great detail a monster. Hetfield imagined the creature as some sort of Frankenstein-like beast.

“These are the ears that ring with hate
This is the face that’ll never change
This is the fist that grinds you down
This is the voice of silence no more”

The single-version release was a lot longer than the album edit. The track was featured on the bands documentary, which had the same title as the song.

17. Skrillex – “Scary Monsters And Nice Sprites”

Now dubstep is not for everyone, but this bass-heavy track from the second Skrillex EP was crit generally well-received.

“Look at this
I’m a coward too
You don’t need to hide, my friend
For I’m just like you”

The lyrics are short and succinct but essentially highlight the way in which we hide our darker traits from people until we know they are accepting of us. The narrative here reverses that as the protagonist lets the listener know they are one and the same in their cowardice.

18. Shawn Mendes & Justin Beiber – “Monster”

Justin Beiber teams up with Mendes to discuss the finer points of being propelled into the limelight at a young age. They talk about the attention, the praise, and being put on a pedestal. This puts a lot of pressure on them, not to put a foot out of place.

The pair lay their worries bare in an authentic manner through revealing lyrics…

“But what if I, what if I trip?
What if I, what if I fall?
Then am I the monster?
Just let me know”

19. Imagine Dragons – “Monster”

The narrative of this song about monsters is pretty relatable. It tells the tale of not really fitting in with society, not having found your place. Feeling awkward or different, so much so that you hide parts of yourself away.

When these parts are revealed people can view you as the monster.

“Can I clear my conscience
If I’m different from the rest
Do I have to run and hide?
I never said that I want this
This burden came to me
And it’s made it’s home inside”

It is full of burning questions as it is a song of internal reflection.

20. Timeflies Ft. Katie Sky – “Monsters”

This one was a big hit that helped to really bring Katie Sky to the surface of the electro-pop scene with her interesting vocals.

The British singer-songwriter, rose to fame thanks to various remixes of her tune, namely a nightcore version. She saw much more popularity abroad.

The artist tweeted about how strange it was to hear her song being sung in China!

21. Gabbie Hanna – “Monster”

The singer describes exactly what this one is about in a youtube video for Genius that went viral and eventually became a meme.

She says that. It is a song about self-analysis, You can’t keep track of everyone in your life’s needs and wants no matter how much you love them. Sometimes you grow apart…

This hits Hanna hard as she likes to keep people happy and it leads her to feel like a bit of a MONSTEEER.

22. REM – “Furry Happy Monsters”

We are heading back to Sesame Street for a song with monsters we can all get on board with. This time the cameo came in the form of R.E.M.

The lyrics may seem familiar because it is a parody of the group’s popular hit “Shiny Happy People” adorably dressed down for its target demographic…

“Ha Ha Ha Ha
Furry happy monsters laughing (oh, that’s great!) (ha ha ha ha)
Monsters having fun,
Happy, happy
See them jump and run.”

The second verse takes a turn of kid-friendly mild-peril as they get sad… but not for long!

23. James Blunt – “Monsters”

This is one of those songs about monsters with a deeper meaning. Blunt wrote it to address his father’s mortality and the way he warned him not to take his worries with him into the afterlife.

The singer will take care of the monsters now. this references the way in which parents will often have to check a kid’s room for monsters and creates relatable imagery.

A sad, but honest goodbye to his father.

24. Rihana & Eminem – “The Monster”

Probably one of the most notorious songs about monsters, this pop/hip-hop track had a very gritty edge.

Rapper Eminem takes us through the bittersweet, double-edged sword, of going for broke and chasing dreams but not really wanting the fame that comes with it. He tries to address that he is probably a little “weird” or maybe even “nuts”.

Rihanna meanwhile belts out a cracking chorus penned by Bebe Rexha, with a killer melody;

“I’m friends with the monster that’s under my bed
Get along with the voices inside of my head
You’re tryin’ to save me, stop holdin’ your breath
And you think I’m crazy, yeah, you think I’m crazy”

25. 21 Savage & Childish Gambino – “Monster”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OnWn-flsN7U

Childish Gambino makes his feelings of disillusionment pretty clear from the opening. He doesn’t believe that there’s a lot of talent he describes the current game as “weak”, and states that if you are getting paid to rap then you’re not in the game for the right reasons.

He speaks from a place of privilege as for him his rapping is a hobby, if he wasn’t enjoying exploring it he could pull out. The hook describes clearly the pitfalls of money and fame in the music industry.

“Power
The money and the fame make a monster
A monster”

26. Little Mix – “Monster In Me”

A hit for Little Mix back in 2018, this tune is about toxic love, toxic relationships that you just can’t get enough of…

“the monster in me loves the monster in you”

The lyrics speak of the love affair as an addiction of sorts, whatever the case the two seem doomed from the start with so much darkness in the mix;

“Touch me
Why don’t we kill each other slowly?
What can I say? Baby, what can I do?”

Given that the group seemed to influence a much younger demographic and the song is about sex, with the killing and death referring to la petit mort, it’s a little shocking as a song about monsters goes!

27. Ne-Yo – “Beautiful Monster”

Unsurprisingly there are a lot of love songs about monsters. Love is complicated and human emotions are complex.

“Beautiful Monster” comes from an album that tells a complete story. It centers around a couple choosing between love and the frivolous evils of power, money, and fame.

In this song, the protagonist admits his fear of this powerful woman, but admits that he doesn’t mind being afraid of this creature with fire in her eyes…

“But I don’t mind
In fact I like it
Though I’m terrified
I’m turned on but scared of you, oh
She’s a monster
Beautiful monster
Beautiful monster
But I don’t mind
And I need her”

28. Gnarls Barkley – “The Boogie Monster”

Gnarls wasn’t afraid to experiment with his St. Elsewhere album as he fused styles together with a creepy, hip-hop feel “The Boogie Man is the epitome of songs about monsters.

It heavily samples Angelo Francesco Lavagnino & Armando Trovajoli’s “Klu Klux Klan Sequence” written as the title soundtrack for the 1966 film America Paese Di Dio.

The lyrics speak of a monster lurking in various classic locations; the closet, under the bed, outside the window and the singer says;

“I’d kill it but it’s already dead”

Later on, we get treated to a big-reveal finale, surprise surprise the monster is him all along.

29. Eric Church – “Monsters”

Monsters under the bed is a common recurring theme, in this one, it makes for a great analogy for childhood trauma. Although there are many, this is probably one of the most memorable ‘monster under the bed country songs’ out there.

It is dark from the get-go;

“I killed my first monster when I was seven years old
He melted like butter in my bathroom’s sixty-watt bulb
Kept a three-cell MagLite from Daddy’s workshop drawer
Under my pillow and I’d pull it like a sword”

30. Michael Jackson – “Thriller”

We are closing with the song of all songs about monsters, with lyrics that don’t even mention the word!

“It’s close to midnight
And something evil’s lurking in the dark”

Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” is one of the artist’s most theatrical numbers and biggest successes. It is rolled out every year once a year minimum on October 31st and that’s for starters…

With Quincy Jones laying down some funktastic, post-disco vibes all over the production and a cameo from Vincent Price; What’s not to love with this song about beasts!

Final Thoughts

So that was our monster songs hotlist, laden with a fair serving of songs about monsters, songs about becoming monsters, and songs about beasts that are a little less scary too!

We strived as ever to keep it l little bouts of light between the darkness as we tackle songs about becoming monsters which can cause a lot of negative reflection.

Whether you were searching to put together a top-notch Halloween playlist full of songs about beasts or simply a few songs about monsters to help you tame the beast within, hopefully, you’ll have found just the ticket!

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Will Fenton

Will, the founder of MIDDER, is a multifaceted individual with a deep passion for music and personal finance. As a self-proclaimed music and personal finance geek, he has a keen eye for futuristic technologies, especially those that empower creators and the public.

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