Born in Los Angeles, he entered the film industry in 1976, initially as an actor. He made his film scoring debut in 1980 for the film Forbidden Zone directed by his older brother Richard Elfman. He has since been nominated for four Academy Awards and won a Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Composition Written for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media for Tim Burton's Batman and an Emmy Award for his Desperate Housewives theme. Elfman was honored with the prestigious Richard Kirk award at the 2002 BMI Film and TV Awards. The award is given annually to a composer who has made significant contributions to film and television music.
He is the son of novelist Blossom Elfman and the brother of director Richard Elfman.
Elfman was born in Los Angeles, California, the son of Blossom Elfman (née Bernstein), a writer and teacher, and Milton Elfman, a community in the Baldwin Hills area of Los Angeles. He spent much of his time in the local movie theatre, adoring the music of such film composers as Bernard Herrmann and Franz Waxman.
Stating that he hung out with the "band nerds" in high school, he started a ska band. After dropping out of high school, he followed his brother Richard to France, where he performed with Le Grand Magic Circus, an avant-garde musical theater group. Violin in tow, Elfman next journeyed to Africa where he traveled through Ghana, Mali, and Upper Volta, absorbing new musical styles, including the Ghanaian highlife genre which would eventually influence his own music. Elfman contracted malaria during his one-year stay and was often sick. Eventually he returned home to the United States, where he began to take Balinese music lessons at the CalArts. He was never officially a student at the institute, nonetheless, the instructor encouraged him to continue learning. Elfman stated, "He just laughed, and said, 'Sit. Play.' I continued to sit and play for a couple years." At this time, his brother was forming a new musical theater group, The Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo. The group performed the music for Richard's debut feature film, Forbidden Zone. Danny Elfman composed his first score for the film and played the role of Satan. By the time the movie was completed, they had taken the name Oingo Boingo and begun recording and touring as a rock group.
In 1985, Tim Burton and Paul Reubens invited Elfman to write the score for their first feature film, Pee-wee's Big Adventure. Elfman was apprehensive at first because of his lack of formal training, but with orchestration assistance from Oingo Boingo guitarist and arranger Steve Bartek, he achieved his goal of emulating the mood of such composers as Nino Rota and Bernard Herrmann. In the booklet for the first volume of Music for a Darkened Theatre, Elfman described the first time he heard his music played by a full orchestra as one of the most thrilling experiences of his life.[citation needed] Elfman immediately developed a rapport with Burton and has gone on to score all but two of Burton's major studio releases: Ed Wood, scored by Howard Shore, which was under production while Elfman and Burton were having a fight, and Sweeney Todd, an adaptation of the 1979 Stephen Sondheim Broadway musical. He also, more recently, accompanied Tim Burton in the composition of music for "Almost Alice", the soundtrack for Alice in Wonderland.
Burton has said of his relationship with Elfman: "We don't even have to talk about the music. We don't even have to intellectualize – which is good for both of us, we're both similar that way. We're very lucky to connect" (Breskin, 1997).
In 2021 he released "Big Mess", his first non-soundtrack album since 1984's "So-Lo", which is often considered to rather be an Oingo Boingo album due to the presence of many other band members.
Elfman has three children: Lola, born in 1979; Mali, born in 1984; and Oliver, born in 2005. On November 29, 2003, Elfman married film actress Bridget Fonda. In 1997 he scored A Simple Plan – his only score for one of her films to date (although he did compose a cue for the film Army of Darkness, in which Fonda has a cameo). He is the uncle of actor Bodhi Elfman who is married to actress Jenna Elfman, known most notably in her role as Dharma in the TV series Dharma and Greg.
Poor Jack
Danny Elfman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What have I done?
How could I be so blind?
All is lost, where was I?
Spoiled all, spoiled all
Everything's gone all wrong
What have I done?
Find a deep cave to hide in
In a million years they'll find me
Only dust and a plaque
That reads, "Here Lies Poor Old Jack"
But I never intended all this madness, never
And nobody really understood, well how could they?
That all I ever wanted was to bring them something great
Why does nothing ever turn out like it should?
Well, what the heck, I went and did my best
And, by God, I really tasted something swell, that's right
And for a moment, why, I even touched the sky
And at least I left some stories they can tell, I did
And for the first time since I don't remember when
I felt just like my old bony self again
And I, Jack, the Pumpkin King
That's right, I am the Pumpkin King
And I just can't wait until next Halloween
'Cause I've got some new ideas
That will really make them scream
And, by God, I'm really going to give it all my might
Uh oh, I hope there's still time to set things right
Sandy Claws
The lyrics to "Poor Jack" by Danny Elfman are from the perspective of the character Jack Skellington, who is the singer of the movie "The Nightmare Before Christmas". Jack is the Pumpkin King who is always looking for something new and exciting to bring to his Halloween town. In the song, Jack realizes that he has made a mistake by trying to take on the role of "Sandy Claws" and deliver gifts like Santa Claus. Jack becomes aware of the destruction he caused, and he laments his actions, wondering how he could have been so blind. Jack feels like everything he touches goes wrong, and he fears that he has ruined everything.
However, towards the end of the song, Jack begins to feel better about himself. He reminisces about his past Halloween successes and begins to feel like himself again. Jack regains his confidence as the Pumpkin King, and he starts to think about new and exciting ideas for next Halloween. The song ends with Jack feeling hopeful and excited for the future, but also worried about making up for his past mistakes.
Overall, "Poor Jack" is a powerful song that showcases the complex emotions of Jack Skellington. It is a song about regret, redemption, and the desire for greatness. The lyrics highlight Jack's struggle to find his place in the world and his desire to be seen as something more than just a scary Halloween monster.
Line by Line Meaning
What have I done?
Jack laments his choices and actions, questioning how he could have made such mistakes
How could I be so blind?
Jack reflects on his lack of foresight and realizes that he was unaware of the outcome of his actions
All is lost, where was I?
Jack realizes that everything has gone wrong and wonders where his judgement was
Spoiled all, spoiled all
Jack repeats the fact that his actions have ruined everything and affected everyone negatively
Everything's gone all wrong
Jack emphasizes the gravity of the consequences of his actions, acknowledging how things have taken a drastic turn for the worst
Find a deep cave to hide in
Jack expresses a desire to escape and hide from the consequences of his actions
In a million years they'll find me
Jack understands the impact of his actions will have a lasting effect and will not be forgotten easily
Only dust and a plaque
Jack foresees that his legacy will be nothing more than a memory and a monument to his mistakes
That reads, "Here Lies Poor Old Jack"
Jack envisions the epitaph that would be placed on his grave, acknowledging his failure and blaming himself
But I never intended all this madness, never
Jack denies having malicious intentions, asserting that he never meant for things to get so out of hand
And nobody really understood, how could they?
Jack feels misunderstood, acknowledging that no one could truly understand his intentions and motivations
That all I ever wanted was to bring them something great
Jack explains that he only wanted to make something amazing for everyone to enjoy and appreciate
Why does nothing ever turn out like it should?
Jack expresses his frustration with life's unpredictability, unable to comprehend why things never go as planned
Well, what the heck, I went and did my best
Jack comes to terms with his actions, acknowledging that he did his best
And, by God, I really tasted something swell
Jack experienced something amazing, but at the cost of everything else
And for a moment, why, I even touched the sky
Jack had a moment of triumph and accomplishment
And at least I left some stories they can tell, I did
Jack acknowledges that he made a mark and created memories, however fraught with failure
And for the first time since I don't remember when
Jack expresses relief at feeling like his old self again, after being caught up in a bad situation for too long
I felt just like my old bony self again
Jack remembers who he is and feels like he can be himself again after the tumultuous events that have transpired
And I, Jack, the Pumpkin King
Jack reasserts his title and position as the Pumpkin King, proudly and confidently announcing who he is
That's right, I am the Pumpkin King, ha, ha, ha
Jack laughs triumphantly, reveling in his identity and status
And I just can't wait until next Halloween
Jack anxiously anticipates the next opportunity to prove himself and redeem his mistakes
'Cause I've got some new ideas
Jack boasts about having fresh and original plans for the next Halloween celebration
That will really make them scream
Jack revels in the idea of spooking and terrifying his audience with his next spectacle
And, by God I'm really gonna give it all my might
Jack declares that he will put his all into making the next Halloween a success
Uh oh, I hope there's still time to set things right
Jack expresses worry and regret, hoping that he still has time to make amends for his earlier mistakes
Sandy Claws, hmm
Jack mutters Sandy Claws, possibly considering him as a possible protagonist in his next Halloween show
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Danny Elfman
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind