(Every Day Is) Halloween


"All Day" and " Halloween" are songs by American industrial band Ministry, written and produced by Al Jourgensen. They were originally released by Wax Trax! Records in 1984 as Ministry's "comeback" single following their departure from Arista Records, with "All Day" on the A-side and " Halloween" on the B-side, respectively. In 1987, they were included on the compilation album Twelve Inch Singles (1981–1984).

Composition

"All Day" has been described as a "hard-rocking antidote to Depeche Mode's sissy synth-pop." Its lyrics are about class inequality, how the common man works hard, but makes little profit compared to the rich, who sit around. " Halloween" is a synth-pop, industrial, new wave and gothic rock song. Music writer Dave Thompson described it as being "adopted as the anthem of America's disenfranchised Gothic community," who are mocked for the way they dress.

Legacy

A remixed version of "All Day", titled "All Day Remix", was featured on Ministry's second studio album Twitch. A synth-pop song, it adds distorted vocals and a sample; "I don't make the rules to give to you. Whether you like it or not, this world is not too easy. Reality is here. It's knockin' on the door. Y'all know it's beatin' the damn door down."
" Halloween" is featured in the 1998 Rhino Records compilation Just Can't Get Enough: New Wave Halloween and used in an Old Style Dry beer commercial in the US. This popularized the song in dance clubs.
On October 31, 2019, it was re-released as an acoustic version with Dave Navarro on guitar. On March 21, 2025, it was re-recorded again as "Every Day Is Halloween ", and included on remix album The Squirrely Years Revisited a week later.

Personnel

Credits adapted from liner notes of the "All Day / Halloween" single, Twelve Inch Singles (1981–1984) and Twitch.