The world's greatest criminal mind

"World's Greatest Criminal Mind" is a song featured in Disney's The Great Mouse Detective. It is sung by Ratigan and his thugs. This song also includes a special appearance by Bill the Lizard from Alice in Wonderland.

The song begins with Ratigan mentioning his earlier crimes, and that his current plan will be even more wicked than before. It then changes to his henchmen singing their admiration of their evil leader before switching to Ratigan lamenting over Basil's constant interference with his plans, before wickedly claiming that not even Basil can stand in his way this time. The henchmen sing their praises again, but the song is interrupted when Bartholomew, a mouse who had made himself extremely drunk throughout the song, loudly calls Ratigan the 'world's greatest rat'. Enraged, Ratigan flings the henchman out his lair and has him devoured by Felicia. Once Bartholomew has been consumed, the henchmen resume their singing (mostly out of fear due to Ratigan giving the implied threat of feeding them to Felicia next if they didn't), and the song ends with them smashing their wine glasses together as Ratigan displays his signature grin.

Lyrics:

Ratigan: (Laughs evilly) 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 Londoners 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

Thugs: Even meaner?

You mean it?

Worse than the widows and orphans you drowned?

You're the best of the worst around

Oh, Ratigan

The rest fall behind

To Ratigan

The world's greatest criminal mind!

(Song temporarily pauses)

Ratigan: (Playing harp) Thank you, 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!

Thugs: (Various boos)

Ratigan: (Overly dramatic) For years, that insufferable pipsqueak has interfered with my plans! I haven't had a moment's peace of mind.

Thugs: (Various sympathetic awes)

Bartholomew: (Cries)

Ratigan: (Tone becomes hostile) But all that's in the past! This time, nothing, not even Basil can stand in my way! (Thugs bow to him) All will bow before me!

(Song resumes)

Thugs: Oh, Ratigan

Oh, Ratigan

You're tops and that's that

To Ratigan

Bartholomew: (Clearly drunk) To Ratigan, the world's greatest rat! (Hiccups)

Ratigan: (Evil smile turns into frown; walks back inside) I trust there shall be no further interruptions. And now, as you were singing...?

Thugs: (Hesitate to singing until Ratigan pulls his bell back out)

(Song resumes)

Thugs: Even louder

Let's shout it!

No one can doubt what we know you can do