"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!
History
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 put-downs, metaphors and similes, beginning with the opening line "you're a mean one, Mr. Grinch".
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. Until Ravenscroft was publicly credited, Tennessee Ernie Ford was also speculated to be the voice behind the song.
Mainstream and pop acts have covered the song, usually for holiday-themed albums. In 1992, an emerging alternative band from New Jersey named Whirling Dervishes covered the song for their Wish it Would Snow EP. Their cover version took on a cult status in the region and went on to outlast the band's existence eventual becoming one of their only breakthrough hits. The song is still requested regionally during the holidays. In 1997 Ru Paul covered the song for the Christmas album Ho Ho Ho. In 2013 another New Jersey band, Misfits covered the song for Christmas-themed seven-inch promotion.