You're A Mean One Mr. Grinch
Tyler the Creator Lyrics


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You're a mean one
You really are a heel
You're as cuddly as a cactus (you're as charming as an eel)
You're as charming as an eel
Mr. Grinch, you're a bad banana
(Mr. Grinch), with the greasy black peel
You're a vile one
You got termites in your smile
You have all the tender sweetness
Of a seasick crocodile (Mr. Grinch)
You're a foul one
Friends, you don't have none
I wouldn't touch you with a thirty-nine-and-a-half foot pole
You're a monster
Your heart's an empty hole
You got garlic
(You got garlic) in your soul
You got garlic in your soul

All them smiles, homie
I turn to frowns
All them decorations
I tear 'em down
You can ask Max, I don't play around
Ayo (ew)
Who is this mean fellow
With his skin all green and his teeth all yellow? (Ew)
What you so mad for? (Ew)
Halloween come around and we ain't knockin' at your door, mane

Mr. Grinch, you're a bad banana
You're gonna spoil everybody with your bad attitude
(Gonna spoil everybody)
Mr. Grinch
(La-la-la-la)
Who is this mean fellow
With his skin all green and his teeth all yellow?
(La-la-la-la)
What you so mad for?




Halloween come around and we ain't knockin' at your door
Bad banana

Overall Meaning

Tyler the Creator's version of "You're A Mean One Mr. Grinch" revives a familiar and classic Christmas song. The song describes the Grinch as a mean, vile, and heartless monster with termites in his teeth, garlic in his soul, and no friends. Tyler adds his own character by referring to the Grinch as a bad banana with greasy black peel. The chorus echoes that the Grinch's sour attitude will only spoil everybody around him.


Tyler's take on the "Grinch" reveals the character's nonsensical and exaggerated qualities through fantastical lyrics, making it playful and lighthearted. The song underscores how during the holiday season, being mean can hinder one's fun and enjoyment. In Tyler's interpretation, the Grinch is a being filled with anger and frustration, but he misses out on the joy of Christmas. The song's message also suggests that the Grinch's bad behavior is only due to his own twisted view of the holiday.


Line by Line Meaning

You're a mean one
You're a very disagreeable person


You really are a heel
Your character is marked by meanness or spitefulness


You're as cuddly as a cactus
You're not at all cuddly, in fact you're prickly and unpleasant


You're as charming as an eel
You're not charming at all, in fact you're slimy and deceitful


Mr. Grinch, you're a bad banana
Mr. Grinch, you have a bad attitude that will spoil things for everyone


(Mr. Grinch), with the greasy black peel
Your demeanor is unpleasant, with a slimy, oily quality


You're a vile one
You're morally reprehensible


You got termites in your smile
Your smile is fake and insincere, full of hidden decay


You have all the tender sweetness
You lack any genuine kindness or warmth


Of a seasick crocodile (Mr. Grinch)
You're nauseating and unpleasant, like a crocodile suffering from motion sickness


You're a foul one
You're extremely unpleasant


Friends, you don't have none
You have no friends due to your disagreeable personality


I wouldn't touch you with a thirty-nine-and-a-half foot pole!
I wouldn't come near you, you're so odious and unpleasant


You're a monster
Your behavior is monstrous


Your heart's an empty hole
You have no empathy or compassion


You're a goner
You're doomed to failure and rejection due to your attitude


You got garlic in your soul
You lack any sweetness or warmth, and instead have a harsh, pungent quality


All them smiles, homie
You ruin all the happiness and positivity around you


I turn to frowns
You make people unhappy and miserable


All them decorations
You destroy all the festive decorations and spirit


I tear 'em down
You actively work to ruin other people's enjoyment


You can ask Max, I don't play around
You can confirm with my accomplice, Max, that I'm serious about my dislike for you


Ayo (eww)
I express disgust and revulsion towards you


Who is this mean fellow
Who is this unpleasant individual


With his skin all green and his teeth all yellow? (eww)
With such an unappealing appearance, along with my continued disgust


What you so mad for?
Why are you so angry and unpleasant all the time?


Halloween come around and we ain't knockin' at your door, mane
It's Halloween time and we're not seeking any contact with you due to your attitude


You're gonna spoil everybody with your bad attitude
Your attitude will make things unpleasant for everyone else


(Spoil everybody)
You'll ruin the experience for everyone


La-la-la-la
A vocalization to express indifference to the negativity of Mr. Grinch


Bad banana
An expression used to describe Mr. Grinch's unpleasant behavior and character




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Albert Hague, Theodor S. Geisel

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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