# TV theme song questions **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [April 25, 2025, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-theme-song-questions/1017510 "2025-04-25T22:43:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2025, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-theme-song-questions/1017510/41 "2025-04-26T14:11:29Z")
Somehow I picked up the ‘dignity’ part even though much of the rest like most sing lyrics I couldn’t pick up most of the words. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2025, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-theme-song-questions/1017510/42 "2025-04-26T14:16:01Z")
> [@solost](#): > > > [@markn\_1](#): > > > > And “Gee our old LaSalle ran great”. I couldn’t get this one; I heard “Gee are all the sallan great” but I knew that wasn’t right. > > That line was so notoriously misheard that in later seasons they re-recorded it to be almost comically slow and over-pronounced. Seth MacFarlane did the same thing with Stewie’s half of the line “All the things that make us laugh and cry” in the _Family Guy_ theme song, because he was tired of people mishearing it as “…effin’ cry.” ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2025, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-theme-song-questions/1017510/43 "2025-04-26T14:25:15Z")
> [@rsat3acr](#): > > There were lyrics to the Bonanza theme. Sung by the Cartwright’s only in the first episode. My dad had a Johnny Cash album where he made up his own lyrics to the Bonanza theme song. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/WoTBerbcYl4/maxresdefault.jpg "Bonanza!") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WoTBerbcYl4) ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2025, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-theme-song-questions/1017510/44 "2025-04-26T14:43:46Z")
> [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](#): > > Seth MacFarlane did the same thing with Stewie’s half of the line “All the things that make us laugh and cry” in the _Family Guy_ theme song, because he was tired of people mishearing it as “…effin’ cry.” And he did a throwaway joke about it in another episode. Peter is climbing stairs, and to get himself psyched up (“come on, you do this all the time in the opening credits”) he starts humming the theme song. You then hear him say “I swear he says the F word”. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/n7y61NOl5P0/maxresdefault.jpg "Peter Struggles To Climb The Stairs | Season 17 Ep. 14 | FAMILY GUY") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7y61NOl5P0) ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2025, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-theme-song-questions/1017510/45 "2025-04-26T21:04:37Z")
> [@rsat3acr](#): > > There were lyrics to the Bonanza theme. Sung by the Cartwright’s only in the first episode. IIRC And memorably sung by the occasional character Paul in an episode of **Cheers.** [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/BX5Z40N_bHo/hqdefault.jpg "Bonanza cheers") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BX5Z40N_bHo) ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2025, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-theme-song-questions/1017510/46 "2025-04-26T21:17:37Z")
There’s also this version with alternate lyrics: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/DSW_Mpyhla4/hqdefault.jpg "Taco Bell Grilled Steak Taco TV Commercial") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSW_Mpyhla4) ---
**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:** [April 26, 2025, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-theme-song-questions/1017510/47 "2025-04-26T21:22:33Z")
I kinda like Lorne Green’s version: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/ZoIJ1t3_2V8/maxresdefault.jpg "Bonanza") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZoIJ1t3_2V8) At one point, I made up my own because I couldn’t remember either: _Far-iddle-o and biddle-leedle-o, Bonanza! Far-iddle-o and a biddle-leedle-o, the Ponderosa Ranch!_ ---
**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:** [April 26, 2025, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-theme-song-questions/1017510/48 "2025-04-26T21:33:54Z")
> [@hogarth](#): > > Sung by the Cartwright’s only in the first episode. Sung by the Cartwright’s what? 🤭 ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2025, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-theme-song-questions/1017510/49 "2025-04-26T21:36:22Z")
You quoted the wrong dude. ---
**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:** [April 26, 2025, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-theme-song-questions/1017510/50 "2025-04-26T21:41:54Z")
Sorry about that, Chief! 😖 ---
**Author:** ![Steven\_Maven](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steven_maven/32/3272_2.png) [@Steven\_Maven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steven_Maven)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2025, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-theme-song-questions/1017510/51 "2025-04-27T02:09:51Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > The way I heard it, it’s “beer,” not “soup.” You aren’t Jewish, are you? Any “member of the tribe” would know that “schlemiel/schlimazel” is DEFINITELY soup. Consult _The Joys of Yiddish_. ---
**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:** [April 27, 2025, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-theme-song-questions/1017510/52 "2025-04-27T06:21:36Z")
Guilty as charged, though I suspect my Great-Grandma Matkevich back in Austria-Hungary was. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2025, 7:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-theme-song-questions/1017510/53 "2025-04-27T07:19:42Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > Sorry about that, Chief! 😖 The old “quote the wrong dude” trick, huh? Third time this week. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2025, 8:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-theme-song-questions/1017510/54 "2025-04-27T08:13:26Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > It’s only one more minute, “I’m almost halfway finished” is the line I sing in my head (and confirmed on a lyrics search.) All these years and I barely remember watching the show, but that theme song is seared into my brain. There’s a couple more lines after that, but I remember it to where you stopped. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2025, 8:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-theme-song-questions/1017510/55 "2025-04-27T08:20:17Z")
Yeah, I’ve had my doubts about “It’s only one more minute” since I posted that. Maybe it was, “It only took a minute,” but your “It’s only halfway finished” sounds closer to what I remember. Thanks for the reminder, and I guess it’s true: no matter how obscure the question, some Doper will be able to respond with something substantial. Two of us who remember the Garry Shandling Show’s theme song from almost 40 years ago? Well, yeah, that’s what we do. 😉 Again, thanks for the reminder. ---
**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:** [April 27, 2025, 8:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-theme-song-questions/1017510/56 "2025-04-27T08:41:58Z")
I will recite it from my memory: > This is the theme to Garry’s show > The theme to Garry’s show > Garry phoned me up and asked if I would write his theme song > I’m almost halfway finished > How do you like it so far? > How do you like the theme to Garry’s show? > > This is the theme to Garry’s show > The opening theme to Garry’s show > This is the music that you hear as you watch the credits > I’m almost to the part > Of where I start to whistle > Then you can watch It’s Garry Shandling’s Show > > _whistles theme tune_ > > The opening theme to Garry Shandling’s show. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2025, 8:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-theme-song-questions/1017510/57 "2025-04-27T08:47:25Z")
Nice! Don’t remember a single episode of it, but clearly have recollections of liking it if I’ve seen it enough to remember half the theme song. I wonder if it’s worth digging it up. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2025, 8:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-theme-song-questions/1017510/58 "2025-04-27T08:59:10Z")
Very well done, @GuanoLad ! Yes, that’s it! I do remember the show. It broke the fourth wall in all directions. I remember the show where Garry went out for a bit, and the studio audience, getting bored, took over—sitting in his living room, watching his TV, reading his magazines, looking in his kitchen, and so on. Then Garry returned, and the audience ran back to their seats before he found them in his home. Great memory, @GuanoLad , and well done. Thank you! ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2025, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-theme-song-questions/1017510/59 "2025-04-27T20:47:35Z")
Thanks to the miracle of multiple tabs, it’s possible for me to fact-check @GuanoLad on [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cWbkWTYwTw) and post verification here before I have a chance to screw anything up. This is the theme to Garry’s show The theme to Garry’s show Garry **called** me up and asked if I would write his theme song I’m almost halfway finished How do you like it so far? How do you like the theme to Garry’s show? This is the theme to Garry’s show The opening theme to Garry’s show This is the music that you hear as you watch the credits **We’re** almost to the part Of where I start to whistle Then **we’ll** watch It’s Garry Shandling’s Show whistles theme tune **This is the** theme to Garry Shandling’s show. Excellent work guano, hardly worth a Doper nitpick ---
**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:** [April 27, 2025, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-theme-song-questions/1017510/60 "2025-04-27T21:08:50Z")
That’s gratifying. I was hoping to get **It’s Garry Shandling’s Show** on DVD, but it was several hundred dollars so that was not gonna happen. Maybe it’s available elsewhere. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-theme-song-questions/1017510.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-theme-song-questions/1017510.md?page=4)