John Darnielle performed “Skeleton’s Tooth” just once, it seems, for a spooky event.

Track: “Skeleton’s Tooth”
Album: Unreleased

In October of 2018, John Darnielle curated a series of spooky stories read by some famous actors at this event in New York. At that event he played “Skeleton’s Tooth,” which was listed on the event’s description as brand-new and a special performance for the “eclectic evening.” It fits with the vibe, absolutely.

The imagery of “Skeleton’s Tooth” is what will stick with you, from dried blood on iron gates as a warning to a mouth full of bloody gums as the positive outcome if the alternative is death. It’s a song about taking the least-bad outcomes, seemingly, and about trying to make it through a world that seems to be full of foreboding and grim spectacle. I’m willing to be wrong on all of these, but especially I’m willing to be wrong on a song that was performed one time for a special event. If you hear something else, you’re probably right. For my money, though, it’s all in this part: “threats of my enemies run loose in my head // the way that lullabies do.”