What's This
Disney Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

What's this? What's this?
There's color everywhere
What's this?
There's white things in the air
What's this?
I can't believe my eyes
I must be dreaming
Wake up, Jack, this isn't fair
What's this?

What's this? What's this?
There's something very wrong
What's this?
There's people singing songs
What's this?
The streets are lined with
Little creatures laughing
Everybody seems so happy
Have I possibly gone daffy?
What is this?
What's this?

There's children throwing snowballs
Instead of throwing heads
They're busy building toys
And absolutely no one's dead
There's frost on every window
Oh, I can't believe my eyes
And in my bones I feel the warmth
That's coming from inside

Oh, look
What's this?
They're hanging mistletoe, they kiss
Why that looks so unique, inspired
They're gathering around to hear a story
Roasting chestnuts on a fire
What's this?

What's this?
In here they've got a little tree, how queer
And who would ever think
And why?
They're covering it with tiny little things
They've got electric lights on strings
And there's a smile on everyone
So, now, correct me if I'm wrong
This looks like fun
This looks like fun
Oh, could it be I got my wish?
What's this?

Oh my, what now?
The children are asleep
But look, there's nothing underneath
No ghouls, no witches here to scream and scare them
Or ensnare them, only little cozy things
Secure inside their dreamland

What's this?
The monsters are all missing
And the nightmares can't be found
And in their place there seems to be
Good feeling all around
Instead of screams, I swear
I can hear music in the air
The smell of cakes and pies
Are absolutely everywhere

The sights, the sounds
They're everywhere and all around
I've never felt so good before
This empty place inside of me is filling up
I simply cannot get enough
I want it, oh, I want it
Oh, I want it for my own
I've got to know
I've got to know
What is this place that I have found?
What is this?





Christmas Town? hmm...

Overall Meaning

The song "What's This?" from the movie The Nightmare Before Christmas is sung by the main character Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King of Halloween Town. The lyrics describe Jack's experience after accidentally stumbling upon Christmas Town, a place where everything is colorful, bright, and joyful, completely contrasting the dark and spooky Halloween Town he's used to. In the beginning, Jack is wary and confused about everything he sees, but as the song builds, he becomes more and more excited, and by the end, he is completely smitten with the magic of Christmas.


As the song progresses, Jack's confusion and shock are clearly conveyed through the lyrics, such as "I can't believe my eyes, I must be dreaming", "There's something very wrong", and "Have I possibly gone daffy?". In contrast, his growing excitement is shown with lines like "This looks like fun", "Oh, could it be I got my wish?", and "I simply cannot get enough". By the end of the song, Jack has completely fallen in love with Christmas Town, expressing his desire to make it his own.


Line by Line Meaning

What's this? What's this?
The singer is in disbelief and is questioning their surroundings.


There's color everywhere
The environment is vibrant and lively.


There's white things in the air
The landscape has snow falling.


I can't believe my eyes
The artist is amazed by what they are seeing.


I must be dreaming
The artist thinks that what they are seeing is too good to be true.


Wake up, Jack, this isn't fair
The singer thinks that this may be a dream but wants reassurance.


There's something very wrong
The singer senses that something is off.


There are people singing songs
There are people, unlike the monsters and scary characters in the artist's past, singing and celebrating.


The streets are lined with little creatures laughing
In contrast with the monsters, the environment is filled with joyous and jovial creatures.


Everybody seems so happy
All characters in the environment are content and joyous.


Have I possibly gone daffy?
The singer realizes that this newfound environment is out of place from their norm.


There are children throwing snowballs
There is childlike and playful behavior occurring.


Instead of throwing heads
Playful behavior is present instead of the potentially violent tendencies in the singer’s past.


They're busy building toys
Creativity and idle play are present as opposed to more pressing concerns from the singer’s past.


And absolutely no one's dead
The absence of violence is striking to the singer.


There's frost on every window
The climate is colder, indicating a winter season.


Oh, I can't believe my eyes
The artist is still amazed by what they capture to the senses.


And in my bones I feel the warmth
There is warmth to the environment, perhaps in contrast to how the singer felt before.


That's coming from inside
The energy in the current environment feels good and positive.


Oh, look
The artist is excited by what they see in their surroundings.


They're hanging mistletoe, they kiss
New and foreign customs within the environment surprise the artist.


Why that looks so unique, inspired
The foreign customs within the environment intrigue and inspire the artist.


They're gathering around to hear a story
Characters are engaging in group activities, likely in contrast to more solitary and violent tendencies from the singer's past.


Roasting chestnuts on a fire
Characters are cooking food, having relaxed and seemingly non-urgent conversations.


In here they've got a little tree, how queer
New and foreign décor is present, which the singer doesn’t recognize but finds fascinating.


And who would ever think
The singer is struck by the uniqueness in their surroundings.


And why?
The singer initially doesn’t understand why certain novel customs are present.


They're covering it with tiny little things
Unfamiliar decorations are present, such as small toys and ornaments.


They've got electric lights on strings
A foreign style of lighting, such as Christmas lights, is present.


And there's a smile on everyone
Characters in the environment are happy and content.


So, now, correct me if I'm wrong
The singer is asking for clarification and understanding.


This looks like fun
The artist would like to engage with the playful and less violent environment.


Oh, could it be I got my wish?
The artist may have wished for a new environment or new opportunities.


The children are asleep
Children are napping or asleep in a bed.


But look, there's nothing underneath
There is nothing under the bed, such as monsters or scary figures in comparison to the singer's past.


No ghouls, no witches here to scream and scare them
The atmosphere is not frightening or scary like the artist's past.


Or ensnare them, only little cozy things
There are only warm and comforting things around the children.


Secure inside their dreamland
The children are safe, happy, and content.


The monsters are all missing
The monsters that the singer may have been used to from their past are not present.


And the nightmares can't be found
The custom of nightmares and the scary feeling of them are no longer present.


And in their place there seems to be
New customs and attitudes have taken place of the old ones.


Good feeling all around
The singer feels positive energy and emotion in their new surroundings.


Instead of screams, I swear
The environment is relaxed and peaceful, even at night.


I can hear music in the air
Musical noises or songs are present within the environment, giving the sense of happiness.


The smell of cakes and pies
The atmosphere is full of good smells and positive aromas.


Are absolutely everywhere
The positive smells and aromas are present throughout the environment.


The sights, the sounds
The new environment, in general, is vibrant and lively.


They're everywhere and all around
The sights and sounds, although new and different, are present everywhere.


I've never felt so good before
The singer is enjoying the positive energy the new environment is giving them.


This empty place inside of me is filling up
The singer's emotion is moving from negative to positive with their newfound environment.


I simply cannot get enough
The environment is even more enjoyable than the singer originally anticipated.


I want it, oh, I want it
The artist yearns for more of the positive energy they’ve found in the new environment.


Oh, I want it for my own
The artist desires for this new environment to be theirs and part of their everyday life.


I've got to know
The singer is curious and wants to understand everything about their new surroundings.


What is this place that I have found?
The singer is questioning and questioning the identity of the new place.


What is this?
The artist is continuously questioning the new environment and realizing it's out of their norm.


Christmas Town, hmm
The place the artist has found is Christmas Town, a place that contrasts starkly its inhabitants and customs compared to the artist's past.




Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Danny Elfman

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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