The Nightmare Before
Christmas
Music & Lyrics by Danny Elfman
02) Jack's Lament
03) What's This?
05) Jack's Obsession
07) Making Christmas
09) Sally's Song
10) Poor Jack
11) Finale/Reprise
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01) This Is Halloween [ MIDI ]
DURATION: 3:01
FILE SIZE: 18.5 KB
SHADOW
Boys and girls of every age,
wouldn't you want to see something strange?SIAMESE SHADOW
Come with us and you will see
this, our town of Halloween!PUMPKIN PATCH CHORUS
This is Halloween, this is Halloween!
Pumpkins scream in the dead of night!GHOSTS
This is Halloween, ev'rybody make a scene.
Trick or treat 'til the neighbors gonna die of fright.
It's our town. Ev'rybody scream
in this town of Halloween!CREATURE UNDER BED
I am the one hiding under your bed,
teeth ground sharp and eyes glowing red!MAN UNDER THE STAIRS
I am the one hiding under your stairs,
fingers like snakes and spiders in my hair!CORPSE CHORUS
This is Halloween,
This is Halloween,VAMPIRES
Halloween! Halloween!
Halloween! Halloween!In this town we call home,
ev'ryone hail to the pumpkin song!MAYOR
In this town, don't we love it now.
Ev'rybody's waiting for the next surprise.CORPSE CHORUS
'Round that corner, man, hiding in the trashcan,
something's waiting now to pounce, and how you'll scream!HARLEQUIN DEMON
This is Halloween,WEREWOLF
red and blackMELTING MAN
and slimy green.WEREWOLF
Aren't you scared?WITCHES
Well, that's just fine!Say it once, say it twice, take a chance and roll the dice.
Ride with the moon in the dead of night.HANGING TREE
Ev'rybody scream, ev'rybody screamHANGED MEN
In our town of Halloween!CLOWN
I am the clown with the tear-away face.
Here in a flash and gone without a trace.SECOND GHOUL
I am the who when you call "Who's there?"
I am the wind blowing through your hair!OOGIE BOOGIE SHADOW
I am the shadow on the moon at night,
filling you dreams to the brim with fright!CORPSE CHORUS
This is Halloween, this is Halloween,
Halloween! Halloween!
Halloween! Halloween!
Halloween! Halloween!CHILD CORPSE TRIO
Tender lumplings everywhere.
Life's no fun without a good scare.PARENT CORPSES
That's our job,
but we're not mean
in our town of Halloween.CORPSE CHORUS
In this town,MAYOR
don't we love it now?MAYOR & CORPSE CHORUS
Ev'ryone's waiting for the next surprise.CORPSE CHORUS
Skeleton Jack might catch you in the back
and scream like a banshee, make you jump right out of your skin!This is Halloween, ev'rybody scream!
Won't ya please make way for a very special guy!
Our man Jack is King of the pumpkin patch.
Ev'ryone hail to the Pumpkin King now.EVERYONE
This is Halloween, this is Halloween.
Halloween! Halloween!
Halloween! Halloween!CORPSE CHILD TRIO
In this town we call home,
ev'ryone hail to the Pumpkin Song.EVERYONE
La, la, la, la, la (La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, Halloween! Halloween!)
La, la, la, la, la (La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, Halloween! Halloween!)
La, la, la, la, la (La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, Halloween! Halloween!)
La, la, la, la, wheee! (la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la.)
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02) Jack's Lament [ MIDI ]
DURATION: 3:17
FILE SIZE: 12.5 KB
JACK
There are few who'd deny at what I do, I am the best
for my talents are renowned far and wide.
When it comes to surprises on a moonlight night,
I excel without ever even trying.With the slightest little effort of my ghost-like charms
I have seen grown men give out a shriek.
With the wave of my hand and a well-placed moan
I have swept the very bravest off their feet.Yet year after year, it's the same routine,
and I grow so weary of the sound of screams.
And I, Jack, the Pumpkin King,
have grown so tired of the same old thing.Oh, somewhere deep inside of these bones,
an emptiness began to grow.
There's something out there, far from my home.
A longing that I've never known.I'm a master of fright and a demon of light,
and I'll scare you right out of your pants.
To a guy in Kentucky, I'm Mister Unlucky
and I'm known throughout England and France.And since I am dead, I can take off my head
to recite Shakespearean quotations.
No animal, no man can scream like I can
with the fury of my recitations.But who here would ever understand
that the Pumpkin King with the skeleton grin
would tire of his crown? If they only understood,
he'd give it all up if only he could.Oh, there's an empty place in my bones
that calls out for something unknown.
The fame and praise come year after year,
does nothing for these empty tears.
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03) What's This? [ MIDI ]
DURATION: 2:33
FILE SIZE: 17.8 KB
JACK
What's this?
What's this?
There's color ev'rywhere.
What's this?
There's white things in the air.
What's this?
I can't believe my eyes.
I must be dreaming.
Wake up, Jack,
this isn't fair!
What's this?What's this?
What's this?
There's something very wrong.
What's this?
There's people singing songs.
What's this?
The streets are lined with little creatures laughing.
Ev'rybody seems so happy.
Have I possibly gone daffy?
What is this?
What's this?There are children throwing snowballs instead of throwing heads.
They're busy building toyws and absolutely no one's dead.
There's frost on ev'ry window. Oh, I can't believe my eyes.
And in my bones I feel the warmth that's coming from inside.Oh, look!
What's this?
They're hanging mistletoe.
They kiss?
Why, that looks so unique,
inspired!
They're gathering around to hear a story,
roasting chestnuts on a fire.
What's this?What's this?
In here
they've got a little tree.
How queer!
And who would ever think,
and why?
They're cov'ring it with tiny little things,
they've got electric lights on strings
and there's a smile on ev'ryone.
So now, correct me if I'm wrong. This looks like fun!
This looks like fun!
Oh, could it be I got my wish?
What's this?Oh my,
what now?
The children are asleep.
But look,
there's nothing underneath.
No ghouls,
no witches here to scream and scare them or ensnare them,
only little cozy things secure inside their dreamland.
What's this?The monsters are all missing
and the nightmare's can't be found,
and in their place there seems
to be good feeling all around.Instead of screams, I swear
I can hear music in the air.
The smell of cakes and pies
are absolutely ev'rywhere.The sights,
the sounds,
they're ev'rywhere and all
around
I've never felt so good
before.
This empty place inside of me is filling up.
I simply cannot get enough.
I want it, oh, I want it.
Oh, I want it for my own.
I've got to know,
I've got to know.
What is this place that I have found?WHAT IS THIS?!
Christmas town? Hmmm...
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04) Town Meeting Song [ MIDI ]
DURATION: 2:45
FILE SIZE: 13.5 KB
JACK
Listen, everyone!There were objects so peculiar
they were not to be believed.
All around, things to tantalize my brain.
It's a world unlike anything I've ever seen,
and as hard as I try I can't seem to describe.
Like a most improbable dream.
But you must believe when I tell you this,
it's as real as my skull, and it does exist.Here, let me show you!
This is a thing called a "present."
The whole thing starts with a box.DEVIL
A box?
Is it steel?WEREWOLF
Are there locks?HARLEQUIN DEMON
Is it filled with a pox?DEVIL
A pox!WEREWOLF
How delightful,HARLEQUIN DEMON
a pox!JACK
If you please!Just a box with bright colored paper,
and the whole thing's topped with a bow.WITCH 1
A bow? But why?WITCH 2
How ugly!WITCH 1 & 2
What's in it?
What's in it?JACK
That's the point of the thing,
not to know!CLOWN
It's a bat.CREATURE
Will it bend?CLOWN
It's a rat.CREATURE
Will it break?UNDERSEA GAL?
Perhaps it's the head that I found in the lake!JACK
Listen now, you don't understand.
That's not the point of Christmasland.Now, pay attention!
We pick up an oversized sock
and hang it like this on the wall.MR. HYDE
Oh, yes! Does it still have a foot?MEDIUM MR. HYDE
Let me see!
Let me look!SMALL MR. HYDE
Is it rotted and covered with gook?JACK
Ah, let me explain.There's no foot inside, but there's candy.
Or sometimes it's filled with small toys.MUMMY & WINGED DEMON
Small toys!WINGED DEMON
Do they bite?MUMMY
Do they snap?WINGED DEMON
Or explode in the sack?CORPSE KID
Or perhaps they just spring out and scare girls and boys.MAYOR
What a splendid idea!
This Christmas sounds fun!
I fully endorse it!
Let's try it at once!JACK
Ev'ryone, please,
Now, not so fast.
There's something here that you don't quite grasp.Well, might as well give them what they want.
And the best, I must confess, I have saved for the last.
For the ruler of this Christmas land.
Is a fearsome king with a deep mighty voice.
Least, that is what I've come to understand.And I've also heard it told that he's something to behold,
like a lobster, huge and red.
When he sets out to slay with his rain-gear on,
carting bulging sacks with his big, great arms.
That is, so I've heard it said.And on a dark, cold night under full moonlight,
he flies into a fog like a vulture in the sky.
And they call him Sandy Claws.Well at least they're excited, but they don't understand
that special kind of feeling in Christmasland.
Oh well.
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05) Jack's Obsession [ MIDI ]
DURATION: 2:39
FILE SIZE: 13.2 KB
VAMPIRES
Something's up with Jack, something's up with Jack.
Don't know if we're ever going to get him back.WOLFMAN
He's all alone up there, locked away inside.MOM CORPSE
Never says a word.CHILD CORPSE
Hope he hasn't died!CROWD
Something's up with Jack!
Something's up with Jack!JACK
Christmas-time is buzzing in my skull.
Will it let me be? I cannot tell.
There are so many things I cannot grasp.
When I think I've got it, then at last
through my bony fingers it does slip
like a snowflake in a fiery grip.Something here I'm not quite getting.
Though I try, I keep forgetting.
Like a mem'ry, long since past.
Here in an instant, gone in a flash.
What does it mean?
What does it mean?In these little bric-a-brac,
a secret's waiting to be cracked.
These dolls and toys confuse me so,
confound it all, I love it though.Simple objects, nothing more.
something's hidden through a door,
though I do not have the key.
Something's here I cannot see.
What does it mean?
What does it mean?What does it mean?
I've read these Christmas books so many times.
I know the stories and I know the rhymes.
I know the Christmas carols all by heart.
My skull's so full it's tearing me apart.
As often as I've read them, something's wrong.
So hard to put my bony finger on.
Or perhaps it's really not as deep as I've been led to think.
Am I trying much too hard?
Of course! I've been too close to see!
The answer's right in front of me!
Right in front of me!
It's simple, really. Very clear,
like music drifting in the air,
invisible but ev'rywhere.
Just because I cannot see it,
doesn't mean I can't believe it.
You know, I think this Christmas thing
is not as tricky as it seems.
And why should they have all the fun?
It should belong to anyone.
Not anyone, in fact, but me!
Why I could make a Christmas tree.
And there's no reason I can find
I couldn't handle Christmas-time.
I bet I could improve it too!
And that's exactly what I'll do!
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06) Kidnap the Sandy Claws [ MIDI ]
DURATION: 2:56
FILE SIZE: 15.0 KB
LOCK, SHOCK & BARREL
Kidnap Mister Sandy Claws?LOCK
I wanna do it!BARREL
Let's draw straws.SHOCK
Jack said we should work together.
Three of a kind,ALL THREE
birds of a feather,
now and forever! Wheee!La, la, la, la, la, la.
La, la, la, la, la.
La, la, la, la, la, la.
La, la, la, la, la.Kidnap the Sandy Claws,
lock him up real tight.
Throw away the key and then
turn off all the lights.SHOCK
First we're going to set some nasty bait
inside a nasty trap and wait.
When he comes a sniffing
we will snap the trap and close the gate.LOCK
Wait! I've got a better plan
to catch this big red lobster man.
Let's pop him in a boiling pot
and when he's done we'll butter him up!ALL THREE
Kidnap the Sandy Claws,
throw him in a box.
Bury him for nintey years,
then see if he talks.Then Mister Oogie Boogie Man
LOCK & SHOCK
can take the whole thing over then.LOCK & BARREL
He'll be so pleased, I do declare,ALL THREE
that he will cook him rare! Wheeee!LOCK
I say that we take a cannon,
aim it at his door, and then
knock three times, and when
he answers, Sandy Claws will be no more.SHOCK
You're so stupid, think now. If we
blow him up to smithereens,
we may lose some pieces then
Jack will beat us black and green.ALL THREE
Kidnap the Sandy Claws,
tie him in a bag.
Throw him in the ocean, then
see if he is sad.LOCK & SHOCK
Because Mister Oogie Boogie is
the meanest guy around.
If I were on his Boogie list,
I'd get out of town!BARREL
He'll be so pleased by our success
that he'll reward us too, I'll bet.ALL THREE
Perhaps he'll make his special brew
of snake and spider stew. Ummm!We're his little henchmen and
we take our job with pride.
We do our best to please him
and stay on his good side.SHOCK
I wish my cohorts weren't so dumb.BARREL
I'm not the dumb one!LOCK
You're no fun.SHOCK
Shut up!LOCK
Make me!SHOCK
I've got something. Listen now,
this one is real good, you'll see.
We'll send a present to his door.
Upon there'll be a note to read.
Now, in the box we'll wait and hide
until his curiosityLOCK & SHOCK
entices him to look inside.ALL THREE
And then we'll have him, one, two, three!Kidnap the Sandy Claws,
beat him with a stick.
Lock him up for ninety years,
see what makes him tick.Kidnap the Sandy Claws,
chop him into bits.
Mister Oogie Boogie is
sure to get his kicks.Kidnap the Sandy Claws,
see what we will see.
Lock him in a cage and then
throw away the key.
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07) Making Christmas [ MIDI ]
DURATION: 2:33
FILE SIZE: 15.1 KB
ALL
This time...
This time...GHOSTS
Making Christmas.ACCORDIAN PLAYER
Making Christmas.MAYOR
Making Christmas,
making Christmas is so fine.CLOWN & CORPSE MOM
It's ours this time,+CORPSE DAD & CYCLOPS
and whon't the children be surprised?+MAYOR
It's ours this time!CORPSE KID
Making Christmas,
making Christmas,CORPSE KID & MUMMY
making Christmas.WITCHES
Time to give them something fun+UNDERSEA GAL
they'll talk about for years to come.MAYOR, WITCHES, UNDERSEA GAL, MUMMY & CORPSE KID:
Let's have a cheer from ev'ryone.DEVIL & GROUP
It's time to party!CHORUS
Making Christmas,+DUCK TOY
making Christmas.VAMPIRES
Snakes and mice get
wrapped up so nice
with spider legs and
pretty bows!WINGED DEMON
It's ours this time!CORPSE FATHER, DEVIL & WOLFMAN
All together,
that and this, with
all our tricks we're
making Christmas-time!WOLFMAN
Here comes Jack!JACK
I don't believe what's happ'ning to me.
My hopes, my dreams... my fantasies.HARLEQUIN DEMON
Won't they be impressed?
I am a genius!
See how I transformed
this old rat into a most
delightful hat. Hmm!JACK
My compliments, from me to you,
on this, your most intriguing hat.
Consider, though, this substitute:
A bat in place of this old rat.No, no, no, now that's all wrong.
This thing will never make a present.
It's been dead for much too long.
Try something fresher, something pleasant.Try again! Don't give up!
MR. HYDES
All together,
that and this, with
all our tricks we're
makign Christmas-time!GROUP
Making Christmas,
making Christmas, la, la, la!
It's almost here+WOLFMAN
and we can't wait,+HARLEQUIN
so ring the bells and
celebrate.GROUP
'Cause when the full moon
starts ti climb we'll
all sing out:JACK
It's Christmas-time!
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08) Oogie Boogie's Song [ MIDI ]
DURATION: 3:07
FILE SIZE: 13.7 KB
OOGIE BOOGIE
Well, well, well! What have we here?
Sandy Claws, huh? Oh, I'm really scared.
So you're the one ev'rybody's talkin' about?
Ha, ha, ha.You're jokin'! You're jokin'!
I can't believe my eyes.
You're jokin' me. You gotta be.
This can't be thr right guy.He's ancient! He's ugly!
I don't know which is worse.
I might just split a seam now,
if I don't die laughing first.When Mister Oogie Boogie says there's trouble close at hand,
you'd better pay attention now 'cause I'm the Boogie Man.
And if you aren't shakin', there's something very wrong.
'Cause this may be the last time you hear the Boogie song.Oh,
THREE BATS
oh,OOGIE BOOGIE
oh,SEVEN LIZARDS
oh.OOGIE BOOGIE
Oh,TOGETHER
oh, I'm the Oogie Boogie Man!Well, if I'm feeling antsy and I've nothin' much to do,
I might just cook a special batch of snake and spider stew.
And don't ya know the one thing that would make it work so nice?
A roly-poly Sandy Claws to add a little spice.Oh,
THREE BATS
oh,OOGIE BOOGIE
oh,SEVEN LIZARDS
oh.OOGIE BOOGIE
Oh,TOGETHER
oh, I'm the Oogie Boogie Man!SANTA
Release me now or you must face the dire consequences.
The children are expecting me, so please come to your senses.OOGIE
Ha!
You're jokin'! You're jokin'!
I can't believe my ears!
Would someone shut this fella up?
I'm drownin' in my tears.
It's funny. I'm laughin'.
You really are too much.
And now, with your permission,
I'm going to do my stuff.SANTA
What are you going to do?OOGIE BOOGIE
I'm gonna do the best I can!The sound of rolling dice to me is music in the air,
'cause I'm a gambling Boogie Man, although I don't play fair.
It's much more fun, I must confess, with lives on the line.
Not mine, of course, but yours, old boy. Now that'd be just fine.SANTA
Release me fast or you will have to answer for this heinous act.OOGIE BOOGIE
Oh, brother, you're somethin'.
You put me in a spin.
You aren't comprehendin' the position that you're in.
It's hopeless! You're finished!
You haven't got a prayer,
'cause I'm Mister Oogie Boogie, and you ain't goin' nowhere!
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09) Sally's Song [ MIDI ]
DURATION: 1:49
FILE SIZE: 6:50 KB
SALLY
I sense there's something in the wind
that feels like tragedy's at hand.
And although I'd like to stand by him,
can't shake this feeling that I have.
The worst is just around the bend.
And does he notice my feelings for him?
And will he see how much he means to me?
I think it's not to be.What will become of my dear friend?
Where will his actions lead us then?
Although I'd like to join the crowd
in their enthusiastic cloud,
try as I may it doesn't last.
And will we ever end up together?
No, I think not. It's never to become,
for I am not the one.
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10) Poor Jack [ MIDI ]
DURATION: 2:30
FILE SIZE: 9.72 KB
JACK
What have I done?
What have I done?
How could I
be so blind?
All is lost?
Where was I?
Spoiled all,
spoiled all,
ev'rything's
gone all wrong.What have I done?
What have I done?
Find a deep cave to hide in.
In a million years they'll find me,
only dust
and a plaque
that reads "Here lies poor old Jack!"But I never intended all this madness, never.
And nobody really understood (well how could they?)
that all I ever wanted was to bring them something great.
Why does nothing ever turn out like it should?Well, what the heck, I went and did my best.
And, by God, I really tasted something swell. That's right!
For a moment, why, I even touched the sky.
And at least I left some stories they can tell. I did!And, for the first time since I don't remember when,
I'd felt just like my old bony self again.
And I, Jack, the Pumpkin King!That's right! I am the Pumpkin King!
And I just can't wait until next Halloween
'cause I've got some new ideas that will really make them scream.
And, by God, I'm really gonna give it all my might! Uh-oh!
I hope there's still time to set things right!Sandy Claws... mmmmm
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11) Finale/Reprise [ MIDI ]
DURATION: 2:48
FILE SIZE: 12.6 KB
CHORUS
La la la la la la la la.
La la la la la la la la.Jack's okay and he's back, okay!
CHILD CORPSE & CHORUS
He's alright.MAYOR & CHORUS
Let's shout, make a fuss,
scream it out. Wheee!CHORUS
Jack is back, now, ev'ryone sing
in our town of Halloween.CHILD CORPSE
What's this?CYCLOPS
What's this?HARLEQUIN DEMON
I haven't got a clue!MR. HYDE
What's this?CLOWN
Why, it's completely new.OFF-SCREEN VOICE
What's this?WOLFMAN
Must be a Christmas thing!OFF-SCREEN VOICE
What's this?MAYOR
It's really very strange.CHORUS
This is Halloween,
Halloween,
Halloween,
Halloween.What's this?
What's this?
What's this?
What's this?
What's this?
What's this?
What's this?
What's this?JACK
My dearest friend... if you don't mind,
I'd like to join you by your side,
where we can gaze into the starsJACK & SALLY
and sit together,
now and forever.
For it is plain as anyone can see,
we're simply meant to be.
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