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The Nightmare Before Christmas
Music: Danny Elfman   
Lyrics: Tim Burton, Michael McDowell
Film:1993
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  1.Opening
  2.This Is Halloween
  3.Jack's Lament
  4.What's This?
  5.Town Meeting Song
  6.Jack's Obsession
  7.Kidnap the Sandy Claws
  8.Making Christmas
  9.Oogie Boogie's Song
 10.Sally's Song
 11.Poor Jack
 12.Finale
 13.Closing



       1.Opening  
          Narration by Patrick Stewart

          'Twas a long time ago, longer now than it seems
          In a place that perhaps you've seen in your dreams.
          For the story that you are about to be told
          Began with the holiday worlds of old.

          Now, you've probably wondered where holidays come from.
          If you haven't, I'd say it's time you begun.
          For holidays are the result of much fuss
          And hard work for the worlds that create them for us.
          Well, you see now, quite simply that's all that they do--
          Making one unique holiday, especially for you.
          But once, a calamity ever so great occurred
          When two holidays met by mistake.


       2.This Is Halloween  
          Performed by the Citizens of Halloween

          SHADOW
          Boys and girls of every age
          Wouldn't you like 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, everybody make a scene
          Trick or treat till the neighbors gonna die of fright
          It's our town, everybody 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
          Everyone hail to the pumpkin song

          MAYOR
          In this town, don't we love it now?
          Everybody's waiting for the next surprise

          CORPSE CHORUS
          Round that corner, man hiding in the trash can
          Something's waiting now to pounce, and how you'll scream

          HARLEQUIN DEMON, WEREWOLF, AND MELTING MAN
          Scream! This is Halloween
          Red 'n' black, slimy green

          WEREWOLF
          Aren't you scared?

          WITCHES
          Well, that's just fine
          Say it once, say it twice
          Take the chance and roll the dice
          Ride with the moon in the dead of night

          HANGING TREE
          Everybody scream, everybody scream

          HANGED 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 your 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 WITH CORPSE CHORUS
          Everyone's waiting for the next surprise

          CORPSE CHORUS
          Skeleton Jack might catch you in the back
          And scream like a banshee
          Make you jump out of your skin
          This is Halloween, everyone scream
          Won't ya please make way for a very special guy

          Our man Jack is king of the pumpkin patch
          Everyone 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
          Everyone hail to the pumpkin song

          EVERYONE
          La la-la la, Halloween! Halloween! (etc.)


       3.Jack's Lament  
          Performed by Danny Elfman

          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 in the moonlit night
          I excel without ever even trying
          With the slightest little effort of my ghostlike 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 nor 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 he only 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


       4.What's This?  
          Performed by Danny Elfman

          What's this? What's this? 
          There's color everywhere
          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 are people singing songs

          What's this? 
          The streets are lined with
          Little creatures laughing
          Everybody seems so happy
          Have I possibly gone daffy? 
          What is this? 
          What's this?

          There are children throwing snowballs here
          instead of throwing heads
          They're busy building toys
          And absolutely no one's dead

          There's frost on every 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 covering it with tiny little things
          They've got electric lights on strings
          And there's a smile on everyone
          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 nightmares 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
          Is absolutely everywhere

          The sights, the sounds
          They're everywhere 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, hmm...


       5.Town Meeting Song  
          Performed by Danny Elfman and Cast

          JACK
          Listen, 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?

          HARLEOUIN DEMON
          Is it filled with a pox?

          DEVIL, WEREWOLF, HARLEQUIN DEMON
          A pox
          How delightful, a pox

          JACK
          If you please
          Just a box with bright-colored paper
          And the whole thing's topped with a bow

          WITCHES
          A bow?
          But why?
          How ugly
          What's in it?
          What's in it?

          JACK
          That's the point of the thing, not to know

          CLOWN
          It's a bat
          Will it bend?

          CREATURE UNDER THE STAIRS
          It's a rat
          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 Christmas land

          Now, pay attention
          Now 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
          Hmm, let me explain
          There's no foot inside, but there's candy
          Or sometimes it's filled with small toys

          MUMMY AND WINGED DEMON 
          Small toys

          WINGED DEMON
          Do they bite?

          MUMMY
          Do they snap?

          WINGED DEMON
          Or explode in a sack?

          CORPSE KID
          Or perhaps they just spring out
          And scare girls and boys

          MAYOR
          What a splendid idea
          This Christmas sounds fun
          Why, I fully endorse it
          Let's try it at once

          JACK
          Everyone, please now, not so fast
          There's something here that you don't quite grasp
          Well, I may 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's 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 
          And 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
          Though they don't understand
          That special kind of feeling in Christmas land
          Oh, well...


       6.Jack's Obsession  
          Performed by Danny Elfman and Cast

          CITIZENS OF HALLOWEEN
          Something's up with Jack
          Something's up with Jack
          Don't know if we're ever going to get him back

          He's all alone up there
          Locked away inside
          Never says a word
          Hope he hasn't died

          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, and then at last
          Through my bony fingers it does slip
          Like a snowflake in a fiery grip

          Something's here I'm not quite getting
          Though I try, I keep forgetting
          Like a memory 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 
          But something's hidden through a door
          Though I do not have the key
          Something's there I cannot see 
          What does it mean? 
          What does it mean? 
          What does it mean? 
          Hmm... 

          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 everywhere
          Just because I cannot see it 
          Doesn't mean I can't believe it 
           
          You know, I think this Christmas thing
          It's 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
          Hee,hee,hee
          Eureka! I've got it


       7.Kidnap the Sandy Claws  
          Performed by Paul Reubens, Catherine O'Hara, and Danny Elfman

          LOCK, SHOCK, AND BARREL
          Kidnap Mr. Sandy Claws

          LOCK
          I wanna do it

          BARREL
          Let's draw straws

          SHOCK
          Jack said we should work together
          Three of a kind

          LOCK, SHOCK, AND BARREL
          Birds of a feather
          Now and forever
          Wheeee
          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 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

          LOCK, SHOCK, AND BARREL
          Kidnap the Sandy Claws
          Throw him in a box
          Bury him for ninety years
          Then see if he talks

          SHOCK 
          Then Mr. Oogie Boogie Man 
          Can take the whole thing over then 
          He'll be so pleased, I do declare
          That he will cook him rare

          LOCK,SHOCK, AND BARREL 
          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 
          lf we blow him up to smithereens 
          We may lose some pieces
          And then Jack will beat us black and green

          LOCK,SHOCK, AND BARREL 
          Kidnap the Sandy Claws 
          Tie him in a bag 
          Throw him in the ocean 
          Then, see if he is sad 

          LOCK AND SHOCK 
          Because Mr. 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 bet 

          LOCK, SHOCK, AND BARREL 
          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 curiosity entices him to look inside

          BARREL
          And then we'll have him
          One, two, three

          LOCK, SHOCK, AND BARREL
          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
          Mr. 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


       8.Making Christmas  
          Performed by Danny Elfman and the Citizens of Halloween

          CLOWN
          This time, this time 

          GROUP
          Making Christmas 

          CLOWN
          Making Christmas 

          MAYOR
          Making Christmas, making Christmas
          Is so fine

          GROUP 
          It's ours this time 
          And won't the children be surprised
          It's ours this time 

          CHILD CORPSE 
          Making Christmas 

          MUMMY 
          Making Christmas 

          MUMMY AND CORPSE CHILD
          Making Christmas 

          WITCHES
          Time to give them something fun

          WITCHES AND CREATURE LADY
          They'll talk about for years to come 

          GROUP 
          Let's have a cheer from everyone
          It's time to party 

          DUCK TOY 
          Making Christmas, making Christmas

          VAMPIRES
          Snakes and mice get wrapped up so nice
          With spider legs and pretty bows

          VAMPIRES AND WINGED DEMON
          It's ours this time

          CORPSE FATHER
          All together, that and this

          CORPSE FATHER, WOLF MAN
          With all our tricks we're

          CORPSE FATHER, WOLF MAN, DEVIL
          Making Christmastime

          WOLF MAN
          Here comes Jack

          JACK
          I don't believe what's happening to me
          My hopes, my dreams, my fantasies
          Hee, hee, hee, hee

          HARLEQUIN
          Won't they be impressed, I am a genius
          See how I transformed this old rat
          Into a most delightful hat

          JACK
          Hmm, my compliments from me to you
          On this your most intriguing hat
          Consider though this substitute
          A bat in place of this old rat
          Huh! No, no, no, now that's all wrong
          This thing will never make a present
          It's been dead now for much too long
          Try something fresher, something pleasant
          Try again, don't give up

          THREE MR. HYDES
          All together, that and this
          With all our tricks we're making Christmastime

          (Instrumental)

          GROUP 
          This time, this time
          Making Christmas, making Christmas 
          La, la, la 
          It's almost here 

          GROUP AND WOLF MAN
          And we can't wait 

          GROUP AND HARLEOUIN 
          So ring the bells and celebrate 

          GROUP 
          'Cause when the full moon starts to climb
          We'll all sing out

          JACK
          It's Christmastime
          Hee, hee, hee 


       9.Oogie Boogie's Song  
          Performed by Ken Page with Ed lvory 

          OOGIE BOOGIE
          Well, well, well, what have we here? 
          Sandy Claws, huh? 
          Oh, I'm really scared
          So you're the one everybody's talkin' about, 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 the 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 Mr. 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'
          Then there's something very wrong
          'Cause this may be the last time now
          That you hear the boogie song, ohhh

          THREE BATS
          Ohhh

          OOGIE BOOGIE
          Ohhh

          SEVEN LIZARDS
          Ohhh

          OOGIE BOOGIE
          Ohhh

          SEVEN LIZARDS
          Ohhh, he's the Oogie Boogie Man

          OOGIE BOOGIE
          Well if I'm feelin' antsy
          And there's 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

          THREE SKELETONS
          Ohhh

          OOGIE BOOGIE
          Oh, yeah

          THREE BATS
          Ohhh

          OOGIE BOOGIE
          Ohhh

          THREE BATS
          Ohhh

          OOGIE BOOGIE AND THREE SKELETONS
          Oh, yeah, I'm (he's) 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 BOOGIE
          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 laughing
          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

          (Musical interlude) 

          Oh, the sound of rollin' dice
          To me is music in the air 
          'Cause I'm a gamblin' Boogie Man
          Although I don't play fair

          It's much more fun, I must confess 
          When lives are 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 something
          You put me in a spin
          You aren't comprehending
          The position that you're in
          It's hopeless, you're finished
          You haven't got a prayer
          'Cause I'm Mr. Oogie Boogie
          And you ain't going nowhere


      10.Sally's Song  
          Performed by Catherine O'Hara

          I sense there's something in the wind
          That feels like tragedy's at hand
          And though 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


      11.Poor Jack  
          Performed by Danny Elfman 

          What have I done? 
          What have I done? 
          How could I be so blind? 
          All is lost, where was I? 
          Spoiled all, spoiled all
          Everything'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, 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
          And 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 felt just like my old bony self again
          And I, Jack, the Pumpkin King
          That's right! I am the Pumpkin King, ha, ha, ha

          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, hmm


      12.Finale  
          Performed by Danny Elfman, Catherine O'Hara, and the Citizens of Halloween


          CHORUS
          La, la, la, (etc.) 
          Jack's OK, and he's back, OK

          CHILD CORPSE AND CHORUS
          He's all right

          MAYOR AND CHORUS
          Let's shout, make a fuss
          Scream it out, wheee

          CHORUS
          Jack is back now, everyone 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? 
          (Repeat) 

          JACK
          My dearest friend, if you don't mind
          I'd like to join you by your side
          Where we can gaze into the stars

          JACK AND SALLY
          And sit together, now and forever
          For it is plain as anyone can see
          We're simply meant to be


      13.Closing
          Narration by Patrick Stewart

          And finally, everything worked out just fine.
          Christmas was saved, though there wasn't much time.
          But after that night, things were never the same--
          Each holiday now knew the other one's name.

          And though that one Christmas things got out of hand,
          I'm still rather fond of that skeleton man.

          So, many years later I thought I'd drop in,
          And there was old Jack still looking quite thin,
          With four or five skeleton children at hand
          Playing strange little tunes in their xylophone band.

          And I asked old Jack, "Do you remember the night
          When the sky was so dark and the moon shone so bright?
          When a million small children pretending to sleep
          Nearly didn't have Christmas at all, so to speak?
          And would, if you could, turn that mighty clock back,
          To that long, fateful night.  Now, think carefully, Jack.
          Would you do the whole thing all over again,
          Knowing what you know now, knowing what you knew then?"

          And he smiled, like the old pumpkin king that I knew,
          Then turned and asked softly of me, "Wouldn't you?"

