Bobby Pickett co-wrote the song along with Leonard Capizzi. It became a million seller, as well as reaching Number One on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song was styled as being by Bobby "Boris" Pickett & The Crypt-Kicker 5. In Britain it took until October 1973 for the tune to become popular, but it then pinnacled at Number 3 in the UK singles chart.
A Christmas themed follow-up, "Monster's Holiday", was also released in 1962, and it became a minor hit. After releasing a variety of other Halloween-based songs as well as trying his hand at script-writing, Bobby died on April 25, 2007 of leukemia. He's deeply missed by a cult audience of fans.
Rabian The Fiendage Idol
Bobby 'Boris' Pickett Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm much too busy, would you answer it, Igor?
Excuse me, Boris, for this rude imposition
I have a new talent I′d like you to audition
I never expected this of you, Drac
Looks like everyone wants to get in on the act
Since I've had a hit record and made all this bread
Is he really that good or are you handing me jive?
One time he did wolf calls with your Crypt-Kicker Five
This here is Van Helsing, I know by his tail
His name is now Rabian, you should hear him wail
Oh, come now, Bela, do you take me for a fool?
Could this rabid creature be an all-American ghoul?
I′m sure he can, Boris, I bet my left wing
Alright, you bloodsucker, let′s hear him sing
Well, well, well, I'm a werewolf
Yeah, yeah, yeah, I′m a werewolf
Whoa, whoa, whoa
When I'm on the prowl and I hear your growl
I wanna howl
A-woo!
Groovy, Drac, this boy has a sound
He′ll knock 'em alive for miles around
We′ll comb his hair into rock and roll bangs
Get him de-flea-ed and cap his fangs
Werewolf
Yeah, yeah, yeah, I'm a werewolf
Woo, woo, woo
When I'm on the prowl and I hear your growl
I wanna howl
Woo, woo
It′s too much
I told you you would like him
Don′t call us, we'll call you
Werewolf, whoo, whoo, whoo
I′m a werewolf
When I'm on the prowl
Come around next week, will you?
Whoo, whoo, whoo
Whoo, whoo, whoo
I′m a werewolf
Whoo, whoo, whoo
I'm a werewolf
I′m a werewolf
Whoo, whoo, whoo
The lyrics of Bobby 'Boris' Pickett's song "Rabian The Fiendage Idol" tell a story about a group of famous movie monsters who are visiting Boris' laboratory. Someone knocks on the door of the laboratory, and Igor is asked to answer it. The one who is knocking is Drac, and he wants to introduce a new talent to Boris for an audition. Boris assumes it's something that Drac wants to ask him to do, but it appears it's Drac who has someone else in mind. After the success of Boris' latest hit record, everyone wants in on the act. Rabian is introduced as a new werewolf, and Bela didn't think he was all that great so Boris decided to give him a chance to perform The Werewolf Song, where Rabian surprises them all with his great voice.
The song is a playful and humorous take on the horror genre, featuring famous movie monsters as characters. The lyrics tell of the monsters' attempt to enter the world of music and entertainment instead of scaring people. The references to Dick Clark, the Crypt-Kicker Five, and Van Helsing further add to the comedic aspect of the song. The song is a classic Halloween hit that continues to be popular today.
Line by Line Meaning
Who's that knocking on my laboratory door?
Someone is knocking on the door of the singer's laboratory and the singer is wondering who it might be.
I'm much too busy, would you answer it, Igor?
The singer is too busy to answer the door and is asking Igor to answer it instead.
Excuse me, Boris, for this rude imposition
The person who is knocking on the door is apologizing for imposing on Boris by interrupting him.
I have a new talent I'd like you to audition
The person who is knocking on the door has a new talent that they would like Boris to evaluate.
I never expected this of you, Drac
The artist is surprised that Drac has become interested in the talent that was just presented.
Looks like everyone wants to get in on the act
The singer is observing that many people are becoming interested in the talent that was just presented.
Since I've had a hit record and made all this bread
The singer is noting that they have made a lot of money from a successful record.
I've become the Dick Clark for all the undead
The artist has become a popular figure for the undead, much like Dick Clark was a popular figure in the music industry.
Is he really that good or are you handing me jive?
Boris is questioning whether the talent presented is actually good or if they are just telling him what he wants to hear.
One time he did wolf calls with your Crypt-Kicker Five
Boris and Drac are reminiscing about a time when the talent presented did wolf calls with Boris' band, The Crypt-Kicker Five.
This here is Van Helsing, I know by his tail
Boris is introducing Van Helsing, a well-known vampire hunter, to Drac using a humorous observation about his tail.
His name is now Rabian, you should hear him wail
The talent presented has a new name, Rabian, and Boris wants Drac to hear him sing.
Oh, come now, Bela, do you take me for a fool?
Boris is teasing Bela Lugosi, an actor known for playing Dracula, about whether he thinks Boris is foolish or gullible.
Could this rabid creature be an all-American ghoul?
Boris is questioning whether the talent presented is actually a ghoul or just a wild animal that has been trained to perform.
I'm sure he can, Boris, I bet my left wing
Drac is confident that the talent presented can sing.
Alright, you bloodsucker, let's hear him sing
Boris agrees to hear the talent presented sing after Drac's confidence in him.
Well, well, well, I'm a werewolf
The talent presented is singing about being a werewolf.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, I'm a werewolf
The talent presented is enthusiastic about being a werewolf.
Whoa, whoa, whoa
The talent presented is making sounds to show off his singing abilities.
When I'm on the prowl and I hear your growl
The talent presented is singing about how he feels when he hears other animals growling while he is on the hunt.
I wanna howl
The talent presented is expressing his desire to howl.
A-woo!
The talent presented is making a howling sound.
Groovy, Drac, this boy has a sound
Boris is acknowledging that the talent presented has a unique sound that Drac also finds enjoyable.
He'll knock 'em alive for miles around
Boris is suggesting that the talent presented will become very popular and well-known for his singing abilities.
We'll comb his hair into rock and roll bangs
Boris is making plans to style the talent presented's hair into a fashionable look for rock and roll.
Get him de-flea-ed and cap his fangs
Boris is making plans to take care of the talent presented's hygiene and appearance by removing any fleas and capping his fangs so they look neat and tidy.
Woo, woo, woo
The talent presented is making sounds to show off his singing abilities again.
It's too much
Boris is expressing that the situation with the talent presented has become overwhelming.
I told you you would like him
Drac is reminding Boris that he had predicted that Boris would enjoy the talent presented's singing abilities.
Don't call us, we'll call you
Boris and Drac are suggesting that they will be in touch with the talent presented after they decide whether or not to work with him.
Come around next week, will you?
Boris is inviting the talent presented to come back next week so they can further evaluate him and discuss potential opportunities.
I'm a werewolf
The talent presented is reminding everyone that he is a werewolf.
Whoo, whoo, whoo
The talent presented is making more sounds to show off his singing abilities.
Writer(s): Robert Pickett, Fred Aylor Macrae
Contributed by Kaelyn M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.