Who remembers the old days of Halloween in the Castro? It wasn’t that many years ago—only the mid-2000s—that thousands of revelers of all genders, orientations, and shades of nudity would gather in the city’s most fun-loving hood for a massive street party. Castro Halloween parties were huge and wild enough to go down as legendary—they helped define the area’s spirit over the years. Then, after four stabbings one year and a massive shooting that wounded nine people another year, the big, official party died. But S.F. singer-songwriter Chuck Prophet remembers. For his new upcoming album about San Francisco, Temple Beautiful (Out Jan. 24 on Yep Roc), Prophet wrote an ode of sorts to Castro Halloween parties the way they used to be, while sadly noting the violence that caused the city to stop the event. His first line is, “When the shots rang out/ And two men died/ You took off your mask just to see me cry.” The song itself is a gleaming, breezy rocker, anchored by Prophet’s everyman voice. We’re happy to premiere it this Halloween on All Shook Down—so download the song and read Prophet’s lyrics after the jump. Chuck Prophet - “Castro Halloween” by Yep Roc Music Group “Castro Halloween” by Chuck Prophet When the shots rang out and two men died, you took off your mask just to see me cry Did you dream you up Or did you dream me? Is there any place else you would rather be? Halloween was here, but now it’s gone Men in skirts and heels are marching on Halloween is gone Is the pain all your yours Is the pleasure mine? Don’t you think it fitting we trade sometime? When the merchants close the sidewalks down With the leaves on the trees still golden brown Halloween was here but now its gone Men in skirts and heels are marching on Halloween is gone Halloween was here but now its gone Men in skirts and heels are marching on Halloween is gone… Halloween is gone ——Follow us on Twitter @SFAllShookDown, follow Ian S. Port @iPORT, and like us at Facebook.com/SFAllShookDown. Tags: Castro Halloween, Chuck Prophet, Halloween