Grim Grinning Ghosts - General Overview

General Overview

"Grim Grinning Ghosts" features Buddy Baker's melody, usually in the key of A minor, with lyrics by Disney legend Xavier "X" Atencio. Different variations use 4/4 or 3/4 for the meter. The following chord progression is used for all versions: Am, B, Am, B♭, Am, Fm, Am, F7, Am, E7, Am. Typically, each chord lasts for two beats of 4/4 or three beats of 3/4. This underlying chord progression provides a macabre mood for the Haunted Mansion attractions. The song modulates to B-flat minor thus: Am, E7, F7, B♭m and on to B-minor via B♭m, F7 and F♯7. The melody then modulates back to A-minor after repeating a dissonant chord six times. When recording the song, the organist actually played the song backwards to achieve the discord that the composer intended. The organ part that can be heard in the song is that tune played forwards.

The title comes from William Shakespeare's poem Venus and Adonis:

Look, how the world’s poor people are amaz’d

At apparitions, signs, and prodigies,

Whereon with fearful eyes they long have gaz’d,

Infusing them with dreadful prophecies;

So she at these sad sighs draws up her breath,

And, sighing it again, exclaims on Death.

‘Hard-favour’d tyrant, ugly, meagre, lean,

Hateful divorce of love,’—thus chides she Death,—

‘Grim-grinning ghost, earth’s worm, what dost thou mean

To stifle beauty and to steal his breath,

Who when he liv’d, his breath and beauty set

Gloss on the rose, smell to the violet?