You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch

"You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch" is a Christmas song that was originally written and composed for the 1966 cartoon special How the Grinch Stole Christmas!. The lyrics were written by Theodor "Dr. Seuss" Geisel, the music was composed by Albert Hague, and the song was performed by Thurl Ravenscroft. The song's lyrics describe the Grinch as being foul, bad-mannered and sinister using increasingly creative metaphors and synonyms, beginning with the opening line "you're a mean one, Mister Grinch". The song has six verses.

Because Ravenscroft was not credited in the closing credits of the special, it is often mistakenly attributed to Boris Karloff, who served as narrator and the voice of the Grinch in the special but who himself could not sing. After becoming aware of the oversight, Seuss himself called Ravenscroft and apologized profusely, and later wrote letters to columnists nationwide telling them that it was Ravenscroft who provided the song.

Ravenscroft recorded two versions of the selection, one version for the television special and the other version for the soundtrack. The two versions differ in the order of the verses; the instrumentation—the soundtrack version's accompaniment is more straight-forward, and features fewer instruments and "sound effect" musical events, than the version heard during the special; the nature of singing (Ravenscroft uses more sprechgesang in the version heard on TV than the soundtrack version, which is mostly sung straight and in rhythm) and the transitions between verses—the soundtrack's transitions are shorter and less abrupt.

Cover versions

The song, You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch has been covered by several other artists:

• Jim Carrey, for the 2000 live-action version of the film, in which he portrayed The Grinch.
• Flipmode Squad featuring Jim Carrey, a rap version where Carrey, rapping as the Grinch, collaborates with Flipmode founder Busta Rhymes. The only part of the original song heard is the first verse during the chorus
• That Handsome Devil covered the song, titled as "Mr. Grinch" as a 2008 Christmas single.
• Slaid Cleaves, on the Holiday Samper EP.
• Gary Hoey, guitar instrumental.
• Sixpence None the Richer.
• Rockapella, a cappella.
• Mojo Nixon & Toadliquors, titled "Mr. Grinch," on the Horny Holidays album.
• Deanna Kirk, on the album Where Are You Now?
• Bus Stop, titled "Grinch," on the album Miracle Time!
• Blue Meanies, titled "Hey Mr. Grinch," on the A Very Punk Christmas compilation.
• Brian Setzer Orchestra, from the Dig That Crazy Christmas album.
• Dweezil Zappa.
• Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal, live in 2006 on a Guns N' Roses concert in Los Angeles.
• Fareed Haque.
• Bob Malone.
• The Coats, on the album "On Christmas Time."
• Crash Test Dummies.
• The Asylum Street Spankers.
• RuPaul, on the album Ho, Ho, Ho.
• Aimee Mann, on the album One More Drifter in the Snow.
• Mannheim Steamroller, on their album Christmasville, sung by Jeffrey Morrow.
• The Whirling Dervishes
• Straight No Chaser, on their album Christmas Cheers
• Tay Zonday
• VersaEmerge
• VAST
• Queens Club covered the song for the Happy Christmas 5 compilation.
• Tracy Bonham
• Matthew Morrison and K.D. Lang Glee The Music: The Christmas Album