You're A Mean One Mr. Grinch by Thurl Ravenscroft

Album: How The Grinch Stole Christmas (1966)

Get the Sheet Music License This Song

This was written and recorded for the classic 1966 Dr. Seuss TV Holiday Special How The Grinch Stole Christmas. Seuss wrote the lyrics and Albert Hague wrote the music. The song appears three times in the special, starting when The Grinch begins crafting his impostor Santa suit. Each time it plays, we hear more about the despicable green guy, who eventually grows a heart. The version played on radio is a combination of the three show uses.
Thurl was the voice of Kellogg's Frosted Flakes "Tony The Tiger," one of the most famous advertising icons ever created. Tony The Tiger's catch phrase is "They're Great." Ravenscroft died in 2005 at age 91. >>
Suggestion credit:
Jeff - Boston, MA, for above 2
How The Grinch Stole Christmas was a book before it was made into a movie. Warner Brothers legend Chuck Jones did the animation.
In the movie, The Grinch is voiced by Boris Karloff, a famous horror movie actor. This led many people to believe he recorded the song.
In 2000, Ron Howard directed a live-action version of How The Grinch Stole Christmas starring Jim Carrey. In the movie, Carrey sings this with rapper Busta Rhymes.
This can be heard in the 1990 movie Home Alone in a scene where Macaulay Culkin has fallen asleep watching the TV special.

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Comments: 16

Steve from Whittier, CaFa Hoo Forays may be an in reference to veteran voice actress June Foray who did a cameo as Cindy Lou (before Gossip Girl Taylor Momsen played her later.)
Tony from Vero Beach, FlA big, Bartholomew Cubbins "hat's off" to Dave of Edmonton for knowing that Thurl Ravenscroft was the singer of "Grim Grinning Ghosts"! (His face can be seen on one of the graveyard busts in the Haunted Mansion.) He was also the founder of the Mellomen, a vocal quartet that backed many singers - including Elvis! One of his last movie gigs was as the voice of Kirby the vacuum cleaner in the "Brave Little Toaster" series of films.
Breanna from Henderson, NvI love this song! I get called the Grinch at times so I always hum this song when I get called that. Great song.
Mary from Phoenix, AzOkay...I found the song: "Welcome Christmas" from the Grinch cartoon. I will submit the song along with the lyrics.
Curt from Warren, Oh I thought the lyrics went as follows " You're a mean one, Mr. Grinch. You're a mean and nasty heel !!!!!! " But in the lyrics I received from you it reads " You really are a heel. Which one is correct. I am confused, and I would be grateful to you if you could find out if my brother and I are correct. Could someone help me?
Caitlin from Upper Township, NjGrinch is an american classic! my favorite christmas movie!!!!!
Wik from Brooklyn, NyMan, and I thought that that the 'Christmas Song' were full of made-up lyrics. Way to go, Dr. Geisel! A piece of roast beast of thanks to you for rediscovering the town Hu.
Claire from Oak Ridge, TnRon Howard, you screwed up this story big time!
K from Princeton, NjFor the background and lyrics to this song, go here:

http://burtcom.com/kwantem/hu/

It's an amazing story.
Steve from Fullerton, CaI had the pleaseure of meeting the man at St. Jude hospital in Fullerton, CA, in either '89 or '90, what a wonderful person Thurl was. Even after his procedure, he entertained a dozen or so of us with his many voices and stories while in the recovery and waiting rooms. He was truly a fun-loving person who will never be forgotten.
Laura from Eatontown, NjIf you have ever heard the rock version of this song, it was recorded by New Jersey's own Whirling Dervishes, an alt-rock band from Westfield that was big locally through the late 80s-early 90s. Although some of the members have been replaced and the group is now known as Everlounge, you can usually count on them to pull out "You're A Mean One Mr. Grinch" around the holidays during their live shows. I highly recommend you find the EP containing the song; you can sometimes pick it up from Amazon or on eBay (where as of this writing, 12/4/05, there are at least three copies listed for sale).
Brandon from Ocala, FlThurl has been a staple for Disney Character Voices almost since its inception. Unfortunately we lost him in 2005. I had written to him as a teen, and he sent out a head shot--and signed it as Tony the Tiger. What a truly great man. You can hear him all over the Disney theme parks and movies...keep an ear out!
Robert from Puyallup, WaThe lyrics to the Who's Christmas song, as near as I can figure are:

Da-Who Dorays
Fa-Who Forays
Welcome Christmas
Come this way

Da-Who Dorays
Fa-Who Forays
Welcome Christmas
Christmas Day

Welcome Christmas
Fa-Who Ramus
Welcome Christmas
Da-Who Damus
Christmas day is in our grasp
So long as we have hands to clasp

Fa-Who Forays
Da-Who Dorays
Welcome Christmas
Bring your cheer

Fa-Who Forays
Da-Who Dorays
To all the Whos
Both far and near

Welcome Christmas
Fa-Who Ramus
Welcome Christmas
Da-Who Damus
Christmas Day will always be
Just as long as we have we

Fa-Who Forays
Da-Who Dorays
Welcome Christmas
While we stand

Fa-Who Forays
Da-Who Dorays
Heart to heart
And hand in hand

Welcome Christmas
Christmas Day!
Teri from Albany, NyI am searching for the lyrics to the "Who Song" that is sung at the end of the video. Thanks in advance for the help!!
Matt from Atlanta, GaAlbert Hague (composer of the music) was later famous as Prof. Benjamin Shorofsky, one of the teachers in the movie and TV series FAME (about NYC's School of the Performing Arts).
Dave from Edmonton, CanadaThurl Ravenscroft can be seen as one of the ghostly heads singing in the Haunted Mansion at Disney World. He sings the Mansion's theme song, "Grim Grinning Ghosts".

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