"The World's Greatest Criminal Mind" is a song from Disney's 1986 animated film The Great Mouse Detective. It is sung by Professor Ratigan and his thugs, and details Ratigan's crimes and criminal career.
It is performed by Ratigan's voice actor, the late Vincent Price, with chorus verses performed by the late Walker Edmiston, Wayne Allwine, Tony Anselmo and Val Bettin.
Lyrics[]
From the brain that brought you the Big Ben Caper
The head that made headlines in every newspaper
And wondrous things like the Tower Bridge Job
That cunning display that made London a sob
Now comes the real Tour de Force
Tricky and wicked of course
My earlier crimes were fine for their times
But now that I'm at it again
An even grimmer plot has been simmering
In my great criminal brain!
Even meaner? You mean it?
Worse than the widows and orphans you drowned?
You're the best of the worst around
Oh, Ratigan
Oh, Ratigan
The rest fall behind
To Ratigan
To Ratigan
The world's greatest criminal mind!
[Thank you. But it hasn't all been
champagne and caviar. I've had my share of
adversity, thanks to that miserable, second rate
detective, Basil of Baker Street. For years that
insufferable pipsqeek has interfered with my plans.
I haven't had a moments piece of mind. But, all
that's in the past! This time, nothing, not even
Basil, can stand in my way! All will bow before me!]
Oh, Ratigan
Oh, Ratigan
You're tops and that's that
To Ratigan
To Ratigan
To Ratigan the world's greatest rat!
Even louder
We'll shout it!
No one can doubt what we know you can do
You're more evil that even you
Oh, Ratigan
Oh, Ratigan
You're one of a kind
To Ratigan
To Ratigan
The world's greatest criminal mind!
From the brain that brought you the Big Ben Caper,
The head that made headlines in every newspaper
By scampering up and tampering with,
And hampering times and becoming a myth…
Now comes the real Tour de Force
Tricky and wicked of course
The Big Ben crime was fine for its time
But now that I'm back again
An even grimmer plot has been simmering
In my great criminal brain!
Even meaner? You mean it?
Worse than the widows and orphans you drowned?
You're the best of the worst around
Oh, Ratigan
Oh, Ratigan
The rest fall behind
To Ratigan
To Ratigan
The world's greatest criminal mind!
[Thank you!]
When these dark and devilish urges guide me,
This cruel and unusual gift that's inside me
Does wondrous things like the Tower Bridge Job
The cunning display that made londoners sob
Picking them off one by one,
Kicking them off, just for fun
Such privilege, my view from the Bridge,
As all of them bogged and sank!
But now, this matchless plot has been hatching
Some much more unnatural prank!
Even louder
We'll shout it!
No one can doubt what we know you can do,
You're more evil than even you!
Oh, Ratigan
Oh, Ratigan
You're one of a kind!
To Ratigan
To Ratigan
The world's greatest criminal mind!
[Hahahahahahahahaha!]
Other Appearances[]
- The song was featured on The Adventures of the Great Mouse Detective (Original Soundtrack).
- The song was included on the VHS Disney Sing Along Songs: Be Our Guest.
- A version with slightly different lyrics was performed by Corey Burton for the read-along storybook and record.
Gallery[]
Images[]
Videos[]
Trivia[]
- There was a deleted lyric that expanded a bit on the London Bridge Job: Ratigan had thrown several civilian Mice into the Thames River, and shot any that attempted to surface. It was presumably cut because of the dark and family-unfriendly nature of the lyric.
- Interestingly, the part that says "The widows and orphans you drowned" may be the same crime.
