# That Instrumental Movie or TV theme has LYRICS? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 31, 2019, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-instrumental-movie-or-tv-theme-has-lyrics/828722 "2019-01-31T14:01:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2019, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-instrumental-movie-or-tv-theme-has-lyrics/828722/21 "2019-01-31T20:16:00Z")
I believe the purpose to Star Trek’s was to take half the royalties for the song from the songwriter. Not a surprising move from Gene Roddenberry if true. ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2019, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-instrumental-movie-or-tv-theme-has-lyrics/828722/22 "2019-01-31T20:22:49Z")
> [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](#): > > “Theme from Star Wars (Main Title”), sung by [Carrie Fisher](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hH8rxarVG8&feature=youtu.be&t=5485) and from _The Star Wars Holiday Special_. And of course there is [Bill Murray’s version](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=femwTAWhE7M). ---
**Author:** ![Turble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Turble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turble)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2019, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-instrumental-movie-or-tv-theme-has-lyrics/828722/23 "2019-01-31T20:27:33Z")
Theme song of The Newlywed Game. Written by Chuck Barris, recorded by Eddie Rameau. [YouTube.com](http://YouTube.com) link: “Summertime Guy”[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CuJ2g42G\_A](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CuJ2g42G_A) [Lyrics](https://genius.com/Eddie-rambeau-summertime-guy-lyrics) ---
**Author:** ![Wallaby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/dc4da7/32.png) [@Wallaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wallaby)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2019, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-instrumental-movie-or-tv-theme-has-lyrics/828722/24 "2019-01-31T20:41:46Z")
Sammy Davis Junior singing words to theme from Hawaii-Five-O. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wn06KJNbVEs](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wn06KJNbVEs) ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@Doug\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_K)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2019, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-instrumental-movie-or-tv-theme-has-lyrics/828722/25 "2019-01-31T21:25:34Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > It’s probably worth pointing out that the Looney Tunes music has a title and lyrics – **The Merry-Go-Round Broke Down**. Daffy Duck actually sings it in an early cartoon. It was used in _Who Framed Roger Rabbit_, too (Judge Doom even reads the title off a record). > > [The Merry-Go-Round Broke Down - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Merry-Go-Round_Broke_Down) The article has a common error that has always bugged the heck out of me: Porky Pig never said “Th-th-th-that’s all, folks!” He said “Ubadee, ubadah, ubadee, ubadah, that’s all, folks!” Porky’s was more of a stammer. Gabby Goat was the character with a classic stutter. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2019, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-instrumental-movie-or-tv-theme-has-lyrics/828722/26 "2019-01-31T21:33:37Z")
> [@Doug\_K](#): > > The article has a common error that has always bugged the heck out of me: > > Porky Pig never said “Th-th-th-that’s all, folks!” He said “Ubadee, ubadah, ubadee, ubadah, that’s all, folks!” [You’re the one with the error.](https://animesuperhero.com/forums/threads/cartoon-character-catchphrases-sayings.4519481/#post-69525061) 😃 ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2019, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-instrumental-movie-or-tv-theme-has-lyrics/828722/27 "2019-01-31T21:41:39Z")
You’ll find (at Wikipedia among other places) the story that Johnny Carson wrote lyrics to the Paul Anka song that we all know today as “Johnny’s Theme,” but [this page](http://eyesofageneration.com/how-johnny-carsons-tonight-show-theme-song-came-about-today-singersong/) tells the story differently. I love Johnny, but that version has the ring of truth to it. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2019, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-instrumental-movie-or-tv-theme-has-lyrics/828722/28 "2019-01-31T22:30:14Z")
> [@Wallaby](#): > > Sammy Davis Junior singing words to theme from Hawaii-Five-O. > > [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wn06KJNbVEs](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wn06KJNbVEs) Now that is sure weird… ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2019, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-instrumental-movie-or-tv-theme-has-lyrics/828722/29 "2019-01-31T23:00:05Z")
> [@bump](#): > > Now that is sure weird… Compared to this? :dubious: There's another version by Bill Murray's "Nick, the Lounge Singer," but I don't think it's on YouTube. :( ---
**Author:** ![Jet\_Jaguar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jet_jaguar/32/3562_2.png) [@Jet\_Jaguar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jet_Jaguar)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2019, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-instrumental-movie-or-tv-theme-has-lyrics/828722/30 "2019-01-31T23:29:18Z")
Does this count? The _Mad Men_ theme song was actually [the instrumental track from a rap song](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YxulqGKsHuk). ---
**Author:** ![caligulathegod](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/caligulathegod/32/9685_2.png) [@caligulathegod](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/caligulathegod)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2019, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-instrumental-movie-or-tv-theme-has-lyrics/828722/31 "2019-02-01T01:24:31Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > I believe the purpose to Star Trek’s was to take half the royalties for the song from the songwriter. Not a surprising move from Gene Roddenberry if true. It’s a dick move, but understandable. Imagine pouring all your energies and imagination into a project. You live it day and night and your entire career hinges upon the success of this thing. If it is a success, then you spend the next few years of your life devoted to it. Then you hire a musician who spends half an hour composing a tune and another 2 hours recording it and never even thinks about it again and he makes a fortune and has an income for life. No doubt it was unethical, but considering Hollywood accounting, Roddenberry wanted to make sure he got at least something out of it. An unsympathetic Roddenberry is quoted as saying, “Hey, I have to get some money somewhere. I’m sure not going to get it out of the profits of Star Trek.” ---
**Author:** ![caligulathegod](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/caligulathegod/32/9685_2.png) [@caligulathegod](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/caligulathegod)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2019, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-instrumental-movie-or-tv-theme-has-lyrics/828722/32 "2019-02-01T01:26:07Z")
Adding one that I’m surprised was missed in the other thread. The Twin Peaks theme.[\*Falling \*sung by Julee Cruise](https://youtu.be/9li9GeDHc2s) ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2019, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-instrumental-movie-or-tv-theme-has-lyrics/828722/33 "2019-02-01T02:15:54Z")
_Lawrence… [Lawrence of Arabia](https://youtu.be/Tgvcbu5sf3g?t=44) He’s an English guy He came to fight the Turkish_ ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2019, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-instrumental-movie-or-tv-theme-has-lyrics/828722/34 "2019-02-01T02:36:11Z")
> [@caligulathegod](#): > > It’s a dick move, but understandable. Imagine pouring all your energies and imagination into a project. You live it day and night and your entire career hinges upon the success of this thing. If it is a success, then you spend the next few years of your life devoted to it. Then you hire a musician who spends half an hour composing a tune and another 2 hours recording it and never even thinks about it again and he makes a fortune and has an income for life. No doubt it was unethical, but considering Hollywood accounting, Roddenberry wanted to make sure he got at least something out of it. An unsympathetic Roddenberry is quoted as saying, “Hey, I have to get some money somewhere. I’m sure not going to get it out of the profits of Star Trek.” Forgetting for a moment that as the series’ creator and producer Roddenberry had the right to pen lyrics to the theme if he so chose, Alexander Courage was a big boy who’d spent many years in Hollywood. If he failed to read the contract before signing it, it was his own damned fault. I also think it’s a pretty cheap shot to snipe at someone who’s passed away and can no longer defend himself. In _ **Star Trek: The Real Story** _, there’s a copy of a letter Roddenberry sent to Courage that covered the situation and should have put an end to all such accusations. ---
**Author:** ![Asuka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2019, 10:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-instrumental-movie-or-tv-theme-has-lyrics/828722/35 "2019-02-01T10:36:31Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > …aaaaaannd here’s one for **Roseanne** > > [11 TV Theme Songs That Secretly Have Lyrics | Mental Floss](http://mentalfloss.com/article/31167/11-tv-theme-songs-secretly-have-lyrics) I don’t think you can claim the TV theme secretly has lyrics when the final season of the show used the intro theme with the lyrics. ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2019, 10:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-instrumental-movie-or-tv-theme-has-lyrics/828722/36 "2019-02-01T10:45:31Z")
its funny a younger friend not only didn’t know mash’s theme song had words he didn’t know it was originally a movie until i sang the theme song after watching it one day to my self …. he thought i was making it up til he dled it on napster ……then rented the movie… ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2019, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-instrumental-movie-or-tv-theme-has-lyrics/828722/37 "2019-02-01T11:36:39Z")
I remember wishing the finale of _MASH_ played the version with lyrics at the end credits. But nah, they didn’t. Disappointing. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2019, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-instrumental-movie-or-tv-theme-has-lyrics/828722/38 "2019-02-01T12:16:40Z")
Does anybody know of other cases of what I mentioned in the OP? – cases where the otherwise instrumental music seems to have a place that the movie title fits in perfectly, and was obviously intended to go. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2019, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-instrumental-movie-or-tv-theme-has-lyrics/828722/39 "2019-02-01T12:30:30Z")
_[Superman](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78N2SP6JFaI)_. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2019, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-instrumental-movie-or-tv-theme-has-lyrics/828722/40 "2019-02-01T12:34:31Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > Does anybody know of other cases of what I mentioned in the OP? – cases where the otherwise instrumental music seems to have a place that the movie title fits in perfectly, and was obviously intended to go. Another Alexander Courage theme written specifically because he’d been told “it should reflect the title of the show”: When I was co-hosting a radio show back in the '90s, I sang the Hawaii Five-O theme long before I knew there were at least two sets of genuine lyrics: \*It’s Hawaii Five-O, It’s Hawaii Five- (It’s Hawaii Five-O)! It’s Hawaii Five-O, It’s Hawaii Fiiive-Ohhh! Five-O, Five-O, Five-O, Five-O, Five-O! Five-O, Five-O, Five-O, Five-O, Five-O! Five-O, It’s Hawaii Five-Ohhhhhhh… \* I could have gone on a lot longer if the DJ hadn’t threatened to cut off my microphone. :o [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-instrumental-movie-or-tv-theme-has-lyrics/828722.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-instrumental-movie-or-tv-theme-has-lyrics/828722.md?page=3)