Springsteen’s song for Halloween

Bruce Springsteen chose Friday to unveil a Halloween-inspired blues rave-up, a song that came days after the artist announced he would not be able to have his annual Halloween display at his Rumson, N.J., mansion because the high volume of visitors caused too much disruption for the neighborhood.

“If you grew up in Central or South Jersey you grew up with the ‘Jersey Devil,’ ” Springsteen wrote on his website, brucespringsteen.net, where the song is available for a free download. “Here’s a little musical Halloween treat. Have fun!”

The Jersey Devil is a sort of half-man, half-beast with hooves and horselike features. In Springsteen’s harmonica-driven blues, dubbed “A Night With the Jersey Devil,” he wields a guitar made out of human skin and bones and dines on blood.

-- Todd Martens