Poor Jack (From The Nightmare Before Christmas)

by Danny Elfman

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Lyrics

(Bbm)What have I (Bbsus)done?

(Bbm)What have I (Bbsus)done?

(Ab)How could I (Ab)be so blind?

(Bbsus)All is lost.

(Em)Where was (Fm)I?

(Bbm)Spoiled (Fm)all, (Bbm)spoiled (Fm)all, (Gb)ev ’ry (Fm)thing’s (Gb)gone all (F)wrong.

(Bbm)What have I (Bbsus)done?

(Bbm)What have I (Ebm)done?

(Adim)Find a deep cave to hide in.

(Adim)In a mil lion years they’ll find me, (Gm)on ly dust (Ebdim7)and a (D)plaque (CN.C.)that reads “Here lies (Dsus)poor (D)old (Gm)Jack!”

But I (Am)nev er in tend ed all this (E)mad ness, nev er.

And (Em)no bod y real ly un der (Cm)stood (Well, how could they?) that (C#m)all I ev er want ed was to (G#m)bring them some thing great.

(CN.C.)Why does noth ing ev er turn out like it (F#7)should?

Well, (Bm)what the (G)heck, I went and (Em)did my (F#7)best.

And, by (G#m)God, I real ly tast ed some thing (Eb)swell.

For a (F#m6)mo ment, why, I e ven (Ab)touched the sky.

And at (Bbm)least I left some (F7)sto ries they can (Bbm)tell.

I did!

And, for the (Gb)first time since I don’t re (Gdim7)mem ber when, I’d felt (Cdim7)just like my old bon y (F7)self a gain.

And (Gdim7)I, (Bbm)Jack, the Pump kin King!

And I just can’t (B7)wait un til next (F)Hal low (E)een ’cause I’ve (F#m)got some new i (Fm)de as that will (Am)real ly make them (Fm)scream.

And, by (Gdim7)God, I’m real ly gon na (Gm)give it all my might!

I (Bbdim7)hope there’s still (B)time to (Em)set things (Ebdim7)right!

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

This page shows “Poor Jack (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 C at 105 BPM, a comfortable easy-level arrangement perfect for first-time learners.

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 "Poor Jack (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 "Poor Jack (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.
What other Danny Elfman songs work for kids?
Try "KIDNAP THE SANDY CLAWS", "THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS", "THIS IS HALLOWEEN". All play with color-coded notes; pick a familiar tune to keep kids engaged.