The Nightmare Before Christmas: Jack's Lament Lyrics
Danny Elfman
Lyrics
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
Song & Lyrics Facts
Danny Elfman's "Jack's Lament" is a song from the 1993 stop-motion fantasy film The Nightmare Before Christmas. It was written and composed by Danny Elfman, released on October 12th, 1993 as part of the album Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack.
The lyrics for this track were also provided by Danny Elfman, who wrote them in collaboration with director Tim Burton. The song is performed by Chris Sarandon as Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King of Halloween Town. The song tells the story of Jack's loneliness and his desire to find something that will make him happy. The song has become one of the most iconic songs from the movie and its soundtrack, becoming an enduring classic. The lyrics are filled with emotion and longing, making it a timeless piece of music.