Guide to all the songs from 'Beetlejuice'

Eddie Perfect's show for the musical adaptation of the Tim Burton favourite includes the numbers "Dead Mom", "Say My Name", and "Beautiful Sound".

Summary

• Australian composer/lyricist Eddie Perfect previously penned King Kong
• The score of Beetlejuice was nominated for a Tony for Best Original Score
• The rock score features high-energy production numbers and soulful power ballads

Beetlejuice, as we’re reminded numerous times, is a musical about death – and much more. The ghoulishly glorious musical adaptation of the 1988 Tim Burton cult classic was a huge hit on Broadway (where it is currently playing a return engagement), particularly among young audience members, and arrives in the West End in May 2026.

Beetlejuice tells the story of teenager Lydia Deetz, who is grieving for her mother and living in a house inhabited by the ghosts of Adam and Barbara Maitland. Enter Beetlejuice, an ancient demon who causes all sorts of chaos. Burton's original movie is considered a classic of horror comedy and ranks 88th in the American Film Institute's list of Best Comedies. It also spawned an animated television series that ran from 1988-91.

The musical adaptation boasts a score by Eddie Perfect, an Australian songwriter, actor, and comedian, whose previous musical theatre writing credits include King Kong. The rock score is filled with crazy chaos and high-energy production numbers that, on stage, are combined with dazzling visual effects. Read on to learn more about the songs ahead of the show’s West End premiere.

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“Prologue: Invisible”

We’re immediately plunged into a mournful, gothic environment. It’s the funeral of Emily Deetz, wife of Charles and mother of Lydia. No one knows what to say to a child who has lost her mother and Lydia feels invisible. An ancient demon called Beetlejuice breaks the fourth wall: “Holy crap, a ballad already? / And such a bold departure from the original source material!”

“The Whole ‘Being Dead’ Thing”

Beetlejuice introduces himself to the audience. If there was any doubt, this is a show about death. It might be a taboo subject but it’s going to come to us all, regardless of the amount of healthy eating, exercise, clean living, and Bible reading we choose to engage in to put off the inevitable.

“Ready, Set, Not Yet”

We meet Adam and Barbara Maitland, a staid married couple who have hit all the expected milestones except having a child as Barbara is wrecked with anxiety at the prospect. They decide to channel their energies into other activities and issues for the present. However, they immediately fall to their deaths through the rickety floorboards in their house.

“The Whole ‘Being Dead’ Thing, Pt 2 & Pt 3”

Beetlejuice appears to Adam and Barbara and offers to be their guide to the afterlife – he’s quite an expert, having been dead for centuries. They agree to his offer of assistance. He explains that a new family, the Deetzes, have bought their house.

“Dead Mom”

Lydia reaches out for her mother through song. She feels incomplete without the only person who made her feel safe and her father, who wants to build a gated community with their home as its model, is emotionally remote and in denial. She beseeches her for a sign.

“Fright of Their Lives”

Beetlejuice takes Adam and Barbara in hand – they were always mild-mannered and inoffensive in life; now they need to discover their darker sides. It isn’t something they find easy to access and Beetlejuice is frustrated by their blandness and deserts them.

“Ready, Set, Not Yet” (Reprise)

Adam and Barbara vow to step outside their comfort zone – they are ghosts now, after all.

“No Reason”

Lydia has a session with Delia, a life coach who is also her father’s secret lover. Delia is full of platitudes and advocates positive thinking as a cure-all. Lydia, on the other hand, takes a nihilistic approach. She encounters the ghostly Maitlands and tries to convince her dad that they should leave their haunted house. He tells her that he and Delia are engaged.

“Invisible” (Reprise) / “On the Roof”

Beetlejuice is banished with no escape – then he realises that Lydia, who is on the roof and suicidal, can see him. He has a new best friend!

“Say My Name”

Beetlejuice implores Lydia to say his name three times in a row – but she doesn’t know it and he can’t tell her, so he mimes it. However, she is wary of his offer of being her personal spectre. Adam and Barbara appear, singing Beetlejuice’s praises. Lydia, however, decides to work with the Maitlands to ruin her father’s party for investors for the gated community.

“Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)”

Delia starts behaving oddly at the dinner party – and soon Charles and their guests are also possessed and start performing a calypso-style number. Rather than being scared off, the potential investors see a haunted house as an amazing marketing opportunity. In desperation, Lydia summons Beetlejuice, who banishes the Maitlands to the attic and throws Charles, Delia, and their guests out of the house. The ghosts aren’t invisible anymore. End of Act One.

“Girl Scout”

A novice Girl Scout called Skye turns up at the house selling cookies. She was born with a heart defect and her parents have always protected her from anything scary. Lydia invites her inside but Beetlejuice appears and frightens her off.

“That Beautiful Sound”

Beetlejuice and Lydia embark on a full-on scare-fest, terrifying everyone who comes to the house: “The sound of a scream, is music to me / A sound that says fifteen years full-time therapy”. All hell breaks loose in this production number.

“Barbara 2.0”

Beetlejuice gives Lydia a copy of the Handbook for the Recently Deceased, which she can’t open due to being alive, much to her frustration as it might help her connect with her mother. Barbara and Adam help her to open it and learn that they should have gone straight to the Netherworld. They berate themselves for being so risk averse. Lydia needs their help and they resolve to become braver people.

“What I Know Now”

So much chaos has ensued, including Lydia being forced to agree to marry Beetlejuice in order to save Barbara, and Beetlejuice attempting to kill everyone. Lydia and Charles enter the Netherworld where they meet Miss Argentina, who reflects on the beauty of the land of the living in this Latin-flavoured number.

“Home”

Lydia searches for her mother in the Netherworld without any success. In this power ballad, she resolves to make her way home and “make the best of being flesh and bone” – but she’ll never forget her mom.

“Creepy Old Guy”

Lydia plans to trick Beetlejuice by agreeing to marry him as his underaged bride. The wedding brings him to life and Lydia stabs and kills him again.

“Jump Into the Line”

Beetlejuice’s mother Juno appears and tries to take Lydia to the Netherworld with her. Beetlejuice makes a speech about how he has learned to appreciate life through this experience. Juno is expelled and Beetlejuice says goodbye to everyone before leaving. Lydia accepts that life is for living.

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Photo credit: Beetlejuice artwork. Inset: Beetlejuice on Broadway. (Courtesy of production).