"You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch" is a song composed by Albert Hague and written by Dr. Seuss for the 1966 animated adaptation of Seuss' storybook How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, sung as a way of describing the story's villainous protagonist. Made popular by the late Thurl Ravenscroft (best known for his vocal talents as Frosted Flakes mascot Tony the Tiger), it made its mark with children and the young at heart who still remember the classic Dr. Seuss character, and was included in the later two movie adaptations as well as the Broadway musical adaptation.
On Radio Disney, a rock version of the song (performed by Korn) used to be played during the Christmas holidays.
Parody versions of the song appeared in Freakazoid! (in the episode "The Freakazoid", during a crime spree by the Lobe), The Simpsons (in "'Tis the Fifteenth Season") and ER (in "How the Finch Stole Christmas").
Lyrics[]
Original version[]
You're a Mean One, Mr Grinch - How the Grinch Stole Christmas 1966
Original song, performed by Thurl Ravenscroft.
You're A Mean One, Mr. Grinch
The album version, also performed by Thurl Ravenscroft.
Dr. Seuss wanted to make certain that the Grinch was not to be liked, even though he was the story's main character, so he thought up the most disgusting descriptions about him. The song plays in three parts in the animated cartoon.
The first two verses are played when the Grinch is creating his Santa suit:
- You're a mean one, Mr. Grinch
- You really are a heel
- You're as cuddly as a cactus
- And as charming as an eel, Mr. Gri-inch…
- You're a bad banana with a… greasy black peel!
- You're a monster, Mr. Grinch
- Your heart's an empty hole
- Your brain is full of spiders
- You've got garlic in your soul, Mr. Gri-inch…
- I wouldn't touch you with a… 39½-foot pole!
The second two verses are played when he is in the first of the Whos' houses.
- You're a vile one, Mr. Grinch
- You have termites in your smile
- You have all the tender sweetness
- Of a seasick crocodile, Mr. Gri-inch…
- Given the choice between the two of you,
- I'd take the, uh… seasick crocodile!
- You're a rotter, Mr. Grinch
- You're the King of Sinful Sots
- Your heart's a dead tomato splotch
- With moldy purple spots, Mr. Gri-inch…
- You're a three-decker sauerkraut and toadstool sandwich… with arsenic sauce!
The last two verses play later, as the Grinch continues his theft spree through the other Whos' houses.
- You nauseate me, Mr. Grinch
- With a nauseous super "Naus"
- You're a crooked, jerky jockey
- And you drive a crooked "Hoss", Mr. Gri-inch…
- Your soul is an appalling dung heap,
- Overflowing with the most disgraceful assortment of rubbish imaginable,
- Mangled up in tangled-up knots!
- You're a foul one, Mr. Grinch
- You're a nasty-wasty skunk
- Your heart is full of unwashed socks
- Your soul is full of gunk, Mr. Gri-inch...
- The three words that best describe you are as follows, and I quote:
- "Stink… stank… stunk!"
The version of the song featured on the adjacent album release rearranges the order of the lyrics in the later three verses. Verses four and five have their last lines switched around, and also, the fourth verse switches places entirely with the sixth verse. Also, the "most disgraceful assortment of rubbish imaginable" line is modified to say "assortment of deplorable rubbish".
2000 version[]
You're A Mean One Mr. Grinch (From "Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas" Soundtrack)
2000 version of the song, performed by Jim Carrey.
In the live-action remake, the song is sung by Jim Carrey, who played the Grinch, turning it into an outright villain song instead of one insulting the villain.
- [And he chuckled and clucked at this great Grinchy trick.]
- With this coat, and this hat, I'll look just like St. Nick! [maniacally] HOHOHO...!
- You're a mean one, Mr. Grinch, [snorts like a pig]
- You really are a heel,
- You're as cuddly as a cactus,
- And as charming as an eel, Mr. Grinch.
- You're a bad banana with a… greasy black peel!
- [Ooo! Whee!]
- (Just face the music)
- You're a monster, Mr. Grinch,
- (Yes you are)
- Your heart's an empty hole,
- Your brain is full of spiders,
- You've got garlic in your soul, Mr. Grinch.
- [Mmm]
- I wouldn't touch you with a… 39½-foot pole!
- [I asked for three quarters, not five eighths. Stay focused!]
- You know, if you ask the Whos who in Whoville…
- No one would deny it!
- [Ow… Air bag's a little slow. BUT THAT'S WHAT THESE TESTS ARE FOR!]
- You're a vile one, Mr. Grinch,
- You have termites in your smile.
- You have all the tender sweetness
- Of a seasick crocodile, Mr. Grinch.
- Given the choice between you
- I'd take the… seasick crocodile! [coughing]
2018 version[]
In the 2018 CGI-animated version, it is performed at the beginning in the protagonist's (and Max's) introduction scene. The song is present in full on the soundtrack album, but the film has it abridged when the Grinch calls his dog to "fetch" his cup of hot coffee, leading into a morning routine up until his breakfast. The lyric video interprets it with scenes from the movie, promotional animations, and the characteristics about the protagonist himself.
Dr. Seuss' The Grinch - ("You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch" Lyric Video) HD
Lyric Video for the 2018 version, performed by Tyler, the Creator
- You're a mean one
- You really are a heel
- (You're as charming as an eel)
- You're as cuddly as a cactus,
- You're as charming as an eel
- Mr. Grinch
- You're a bad banana
- (Mr. Grinch)
- With a greasy black peel
- You're a vile one
- You've got termites in your smile
- You have all the tender sweetness
- Of a seasick crocodile
- Mr. Grinch
- You're a foul one
- Friends, you don't have none
- I wouldn't touch you with a thirty-nine and a half foot pole
- You're a monster
- You're heart's an empty hole
- (You've got garlic in your soul)
- You've got garlic, you've got garlic in your soul
- Mr. Grinch
- All those smiles, homie, I turn 'em frowns
- All them decorations, I tear 'em down
- You can ask Max, I don't play around
- Ayo
- (Eww)
- Who is this mean fellow
- With his skin all green
- And his teeth all yellow?
- (Eww)
- What you so mad for?
- Halloween comin' round
- And we ain't knockin' at your door
- (Mr. Grinch,
- You're a bad banana
- Here to spoil everything with your bad attitude,
- Mr. Grinch)
- Who is this mean fellow
- With his skin all green
- And his teeth all yellow?
- (Eww)
- What you so mad for?
- Halloween comin' round
- And we ain't knockin' at your door
- Ahh
- (Bad banana!)
Album releases[]
- How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (1966)
- Nick at Nite: A Classic Cartoon Christmas
- How the Grinch Stole Christmas: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (2000)
- Glee: The Music, the Christmas Album
- Kidz Bop Christmas
- Darius Rucker: Home For The Holidays
- The Grinch: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (2018)
Appearances in other Christmas specials[]
- Home Alone (1990) - As Kevin watches the special on CBS, the second half of the second part of the song is shown. For some reason, the closing credits listed it under the special's title.
- Glee: "A Very Glee Christmas" - Performed by k.d. Lang alongside the series' cast.
- Hawkeye - Heard in the credits of the fifth episode, "Ronin".