"The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead" is a song written by Andy Partridge of English rock band XTC for their 1992 album Nonsuch. It was their second number one hit on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart, after "Mayor of Simpleton", and reached number 71 on the UK Singles Chart. The song tells the story of Peter Pumpkinhead, a man who comes to an unspecified town, "spreading wisdom and cash around." He is extremely popular with the public, but extremely unpopular with the government. In the end, he is nailed to a block of wood by his enemies for being "too good," and his death is broadcast on live television.