This page was made Song of the Month forOctober 2019.
WARNING: This article contains major spoilers. If you do not wish to have certain plot or character information spoiled for you, then do not read past this warning. If you read further and have something important spoiled for you, don't hold it against us.
"Grim Grinning Ghosts" is a song from the Disney Parks' ride The Haunted Mansion, performed by various ghosts that reside in the mansion who sing about their nature. The song was later featured in various spinoff and adaptational material for the ride.
The song was originally performed by the late Jay Meyer, the late Thurl Ravenscroft, the late Verne Rowe, the late Bob Ebright, and the late Chuck Schroeder as the singing busts, the late Loulie Jean Norman and the late Bill Reeve as the opera singers, the late Leota "Toombs" Thomas (who was also an Imagineer) as the Ghost Hostess/Little Leota, Candy Candido as the Hitchhiking Ghost Gus, and a chorus as the other ghosts. The narrated introduction was performed by the late Paul Frees as the Ghost Host.
[When hinges creak in doorless chambers
And strange and frightening sounds echo through the halls
Whenever candlelights flicker where the air is deathly still
That is the time when ghosts are present
Practicing their terror with ghoulish delight]
When the crypt doors creak, and the tombstones quake
Spooks come out for a swinging wake
Happy haunts materialize
And begin to vocalize
Grim Grinning Ghosts come out to socialize
Now don't close your eyes and don't try to hide
Or a silly spook may sit by your side
Shrouded in a daft disguise
They pretend to terrorize
Grim Grinning Ghosts come out to socialize
As the moon climbs high o'er the dead oak tree
Spooks arrive for the midnight spree
Creepy creeps with eerie eyes
Start to shriek and harmonize
Grim Grinning Ghosts come out to socialize
When you hear the knell of a requiem bell
Weird glows gleam where spirits dwell
Restless bones etherialize
Rise as spooks of every size
Grim Grinning Ghosts come out to socialize
If you would like to join our jamboree
There's a simple rule that's compulsory
Mortals pay a token fee
Rest in peace, the haunting's free
So hurry back, we would like your company
[Hurry back... hurry back...
Be sure to bring your death certificate
If you decide to join us
Make final arrangements now
We've been... dying... to have you]
When the crypt doors creak,
and the tombstones quake
Spooks come out for a swinging wake
Happy haunts materialize
And begin to vocalize
Grim Grinning Ghosts come out to socialize
Now don't close your eyes and don't try to hide
Or a silly spook may sit by your side
Shrouded in a daft disguise
They pretend to terrorize
Grim Grinning Ghosts come out to socialize
When you hear the knell of a requiem bell
Weird glows gleam where spirits dwell
Restless bones etherialize
Rise as spooks of every size
Grim Grinning Ghosts come out to socialize
As the moon climbs high o'er the dead oak tree
Spooks arrive for the midnight spree
Creepy creeps with eerie eyes
Start to shriek and harmonize
[BOO!]
Grim Grinning Ghosts come out to socialize
If you would like to join our jamboree
There's a simple rule that's compulsory
Mortals pay a token fee
Rest in peace, the haunting's free
So hurry back, we would like your company
Grim Grinning Ghosts come out
Grim Grinning Ghosts come out
Grim Grinning Ghosts come out
Grim Grinning Ghosts come out
When the crypt doors creak,
and the tombstones quake
Spooks come out for a screaming wake
Creepy creeps with eerie eyes
Start to shriek and harmonize
Grim Grinning Ghosts come out to socialize
Flying ghosts in the firelight
Rising spooks on every side
restless bones materialize
eerie eyes in the night
Grim Grinning Ghosts come out to socialize
Grim Grinning Ghosts come out to socialize
So don't close your eyes and try to hide
Or a silly spook may sit by your side
Dressed up in a strange disguise
They pretend to terrorize
Grim Grinning Ghosts come out to socialize
Grim Grinning Ghosts come out
Grim Grinning Ghosts come out
Grim Grinning Ghosts come out
Grim Grinning Ghosts come out
Grim Grinning Ghosts come out to socialize
Grim Grinning Ghosts come out
Grim Grinning Ghosts come out
Grim Grinning Ghosts come out to socialize
When the crypt doors creak,
and the tombstones quake
Spooks come out for a swinging wake
Happy haunts materialize
And begin to vocalize
Grim Grinning Ghosts come out to socialize
Now don't close your eyes and don't try to hide
Or a silly spook may sit by your side
Shrouded in a daft disguise
They pretend to terrorize
Grim Grinning Ghosts come out to socialize
Mwahahahahahahahaha!
As the moon climbs high o'er the dead oak tree
Spooks arrive for the midnight spree
Creepy creeps with eerie eyes
Start to shriek and harmonize
Grim Grinning Ghosts come out to socialize
When you hear the knell of a requiem bell
Weird glows gleam where spirits dwell
Restless bones etherialize
And rise as spooks of every size
Grim Grinning Ghosts come out to socialize
Grim Grinning Ghosts come out to socialize!!!
Mwahahahahahahahaha!
When the crypt doors creak
And the tombstones quake
Spooks come out for a singing wake
Happy haunts materialize
And begin to vocalize
Grim grinning ghosts come out to socialize
Now don't close your eyes
And don't try to hide
Or a silly spook may sit by your side
Shrouded in a daft disguise
They pretend to terrorize
Grim grinning ghosts come out to socialize
As the moon climbs high o'er dead oak tree
Spooks arrive for the midnight spree
Creepy creeps with eerie eyes
Start to shriek and harmonize
Grim grinning ghosts come out socialize
When you hear the knell of a requiem bell
Weird glows gleam where spirits dwell
Restles bones etherealize
Rise as spooks of every size
Grim grinning ghosts come out to socialize
Grim grinning ghosts come out
Grim grinning ghosts come out
To socialize
Other Appearances[]
The song was featured in the 2003 live action film The Haunted Mansion, inspired by the ride.
Part of the song was used in the track "Rest in Peace" from the 2021 special Muppets Haunted Mansion.
The melody is a frequent motif in the 2023 live action film Haunted Mansion, inspired by the ride. The song is featured twice in the film; once during a scene where the characters attempt to eat breakfast, and again at the end of the film. The versions are referred to as the "Breakfast" and "Dance Party" versions.
The song's beginning melody can be heard during Riley's nightmare at the beginning of the 2015 Pixar animated film Inside Out.
Two versions were made for the Sing-Along video series:
The first one was played with a video that featured images of the ride along with a dance featuring haunted trees, Queen Grimhilde (as a hag), Maleficent, the Big Bad Wolf, Captain Hook, and Donald in a ghost costume. Another video with the same version and a similar structure was made with Paris' Phantom Manor instead, featuring the same group but replacing Hook with Jafar and adding the Phantom as well.
A second version was made with a video featuring various clips from scary Disney works and scenes.
The song appeared in the video game The Haunted Mansion, inspired by the ride.
The song was featured in the video game Kinect: Disneyland Adventures.
It was featured in the online game The Haunted Mansion: The Black Widow Bride.
An 8-bit instrumental version was featured in the mobile game Disney Crossy Road.
An special version was made for Disneyland Paris' Phantom Manor.
The song can be heard in some background music loops at the Disney Parks.
The song was included in the Halloween show Happy Hallowhises and Halloween Screams!.
The main chorus of the song was included in the ride's Christmas overlay Haunted Mansion Holiday.
A cover made by the band Barenaked Ladies was included in the album. The Haunted Mansion: Haunted Hits.
The song was featured in the albums Story and Song from The Haunted Mansion, Disney's 75 Years of Music & Memories, House of Mouse, and Disney Classics.
Gallery[]
Images[]
Videos[]
Official[]
Grim Grinning Ghosts
Original
Phantom Manor Grim Grinning Ghosts
Phantom Manor
Disney Villains 'Grim Grinning Ghosts'
Sing-Along 1 (Disneyland California)
Disneyland Paris Sing Along Songs Grim Grinning Ghosts
Sing-Along 1 (Disneyland Paris)
Disney Sing Along Songs Grim Grinning Ghosts (The Haunted Mansion) KARAOKE
Sing-Along 2
Grim grinning ghosts movie version
2003 Film
Grim Grinning Ghosts - Barenaked Ladies
Barenaked Ladies
HitchHiking Grim Grinning Ghosts (House of Mouse)
House of Mouse
Haunted Mansion - Disney Crossy Road
Disney Crossy Road
Disney's The Haunted Mansion Game Soundtrack - Grim Grinning Ghosts
Video Game
Darren Criss - Rest in Peace (From "Muppets Haunted Mansion")