Jack's Lament (From The Nightmare Before Christmas)

by Danny Elfman

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Lyrics

There are (Am)few who’d de (E)ny at what I (C)do I am the (F#m9)best, for my (F)tal ents are re (E)nowned far and (Dm)wide.

When it (B)comes to sur (Am)pris es on a (B)moon lit night, I ex (B7)cel with out ev er e ven (E)try ing.

With the (Dm)slight est lit tle (A7)ef fort of my (Dm)ghost like (Edim7)charms, I have (Dm)seen grown men give out a (Eb)shriek.

With the (Gdim)wave of my (Dm)hand and a (Dm)well placed moan, I have (Dm)swept the ver y (A7)brav est off their (Dm)feet.

Yet (A7)year af ter (Bbm)year, it’s the (Eb)same rou (Bbm)tine, and I (A)grow so wea ry of the (G#dim7)sound of (A)screams.

And (Fdim7)I,

(Dm)Jack, the (CN.C.)Pump kin King, have (Bb)grown so (A)tir ed of the (G#dim)same old (A)thing.

Oh, (Ebdim)some where (Gm)deep in (A)side of these (Em)bones, an (Am6)emp ti (Em)ness be (Am6)gan to (Em)grow.

There’s (Ebdim)some thing (Gm)out there, (Am)far from my (Em)home, a (Am6)long ing (Em)that I’ve (B)nev er (Em)known.

I’m a mas ter of (B)fright and a (G)de mon of (C#m9)light, and I’ll (C)scare you right (B)out of your (Am)pants.

To a (F#)guy in Ken (Gdim7)tuck y, I’m (F#)Mis ter Un luck y and I’m (F#7)known through out Eng land and (B)France.

And (Am)since I am (G#dim)dead, I can (Am)take off my (G#dim)head to re (Am)cite Shake spear

(Bb)ta

No (Ddim7)an i mal, no (Am)man can (E7)scream like I (Am)can with fu ry of my re ci (Am)ta

But (E7)who

(Fm)here would (Adim7)ev er un der stand that the (E7)Pump kin King with the (Am)skel e ton (E)grin would (Am)tire of his crown?

If they (F#m)on ly un der stood, he’d (D)give it all (C#)up if he (F#m)on ly (C#)could.

Oh, (Ebdim)there’s an (Gm)emp ty (A7)place in my (Em)bones that (Am6)calls out (Em)for some (Am6)thing un (Em)known.

The (Ebdim)fame and (Gm)praise come (A)year af ter (Em)year, does (Am6)noth ing (Edim7)for these (B7)emp ty (Em)tears.

Jack's Lament (From The Nightmare Before Christmas) by Danny Elfman — Easy Piano for Kids

This page shows “Jack's Lament (From The Nightmare Before Christmas)” by Danny Elfman in our color-coded kid songbook view — every note is colored by pitch (red C, orange D, yellow E, green F, blue G, purple A, pink B) and the lyrics sit directly under each note, so children can sing along while they play. The song is in the key of A at 92 BPM, a slightly more challenging arrangement — practice each phrase slowly first.

Tips for parents & teachers

  • Start at 50% tempo using the BPM control. Speed up only when your child can play through without stopping.
  • Turn on the metronome from the top bar to build steady rhythm.
  • Use the segmented OFF / C / 1 button to toggle note labels on the staff and keys — kids learn note names faster with letters showing.
  • Tap a measure number on the timeline to jump to a specific section for repeat practice.

Frequently asked questions

Is "Jack's Lament (From The Nightmare Before Christmas)" good for a child learning piano?
Yes — this color-coded arrangement is designed for ages 4-12. Each note is colored by pitch so kids match colors to keys, no music reading required. Lyrics sit under every note for sing-along play.
What age can start with "Jack's Lament (From The Nightmare Before Christmas)"?
Children as young as 4 can follow the color-coded notes. By age 6-7 most kids can play through the song themselves with light guidance. Parent help is recommended for the first few sessions.
Do we need a piano teacher to use this?
No — the color-coded format is designed to be self-explanatory. Parents with no music background can supervise. Teachers can also use it as an introductory lesson tool.
Can we print the sheet music?
Yes — tap "Download Sheet Music" above for a free printable PDF with the same color-coded notes that appear on screen.