Theme Songs

The Fall Guy was a television program in the eighties (1981-1986), originally broadcast in ABC and starred Lee Majors, Heather Thomas and Douglas Barr. It was about a Hollywood stunt man who was a bounty hunter on the side. He used his skills and knowledge of stunts and effects, especially involving cars, to capture criminals.

“The Unknown Stuntman”

…was the title of the show’s theme song, and was performed by no other than the show’s lead, Lee Majors. It was written by Glen A. Larson, Gail Jensen and David Sommerville.

“The Unknown Stuntman” lyrics

Well, I’m not the kind to kiss and tell
But I’ve been seen with Farrah
I’ve never been seen with anything than a nine
So fine

I’ve been on fire with Sally Field
Gone fast with a girl named Bo
But somehow they did not end up as mine

It’s a death defyin’ life I lead
I take my chances
I die for a living in the movies and TV
But hardest thing I ever do
Is watch my leading ladies
Kiss some other guy
While I’m bandagin’ my knee

I might fall from a tall building
I might roll a brand new car
‘Cause I’m the unknown stuntman
That makes Redford such a star

I’ve never spent much time in school
But I’ve taught ladies plenty
It’s true I hire my body out for pay (hey, hey)

I’ve gotten burned over Cheryl Tiegs
Blown up for Raquel Welch
But when I wind up in the hay,
It’s only hay (hey, hey)

I might jump an open drawbridge
Or Tarzan from a vine
‘Cause I’m the unknown stuntman
That makes Eastwood look so fine

“Farrah,” mentioned in the lyrics, pertained to the late Farrah Fawcett, which was then Lee Majors’ wife.

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Cars, the movie

The theme song for Cars—the 2006 animated film by Pixar, considered for this post’s sake, will be the one with an actual video made entirely for the movie—”Life Is A Highway” by the band, Rascal Flatts. There is an official soundtrack for the film which includes a number of songs used throughout the move. It includes artists such as Sheryl Crow, Brad Paisley, John Mayer and Chuck Berry among others.

About “Life Is A Highway”

“Life Is A Highway” was originally written by Tom Cochrane, and was included in his 1991 album, Mad Mad World.

“Life Is A Highway” lyrics

Well, life’s like a road that you travel on
There’s one day here and the next day gone
Sometimes you bend, sometimes you stand
Sometimes you turn your back to the wind

There’s a world outside every darkened door
Where Blues won’t haunt you anymore
For the brave are free and lovers soar
Come ride with me to the distant shore

We won’t hesitate
To break down the guarding gate
There’s not much time left today, yeay

Life is a highway, I wanna ride it
All night long
If you’re going my way, I wanna drive it
All night long

Through all these cities and all these towns
It’s in my blood and it’s all around
I love now like I loved you then
This is the road and these are the hands
From Mozambique to those Memphis nights
The Khyber Pass to Vancouver’s lights

They knock me down
And back up again
You’re in my blood
I’m not a lonely man
There’s no load I can’t hold
The road’s so rough this I know
I’ll be there when the light comes in
Just tell ‘em we’re survivors

Life is a highway, I wanna ride it
All night long
If your going my way, I wanna drive it
All night long

Gimme, Gimme, Gimme, Gimme, yeah

Life is a highway, I wanna ride it
All night long (mmmm yeah)
If your going my way, I wanna drive it
All night long

There was a distance between you and I
(between you and I)
A misunderstanding once
But now, we look it in the eye

Ooooo…Yeah!

There ain’t no load that I can’t hold
The road’s so rough this I know
I’ll be there when the light comes in
Just tell ‘em we’re survivors

Life is a highway, I wanna ride it
All night long (all night long, yeah hey)
If your going my way, I wanna drive it
All night long

Life is a highway, I wanna ride it
All night long
If your going my way, I wanna drive it
All night long

Life is a highway, I wanna ride it
All night long
If your going my way, I wanna drive it
All night long

Gimme, Gimme, Gimme, Gimme, yeah

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Jockeys is a show on Animal Planet about, well, jockeys. Horses, which is quite fitting because the theme song is by an ass—Kanye West. The song is entitled “Stronger,” which is a remix of Daft Punk’s “Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger.” Anyway, “Stronger” was the second single from West’s album, Graduation.

I’m quite stumped though, because there is someone looking for another theme song for Jockeys, used in the first few episodes, with the lyrics “Would be better if I sold my soul…” Not much to go by, but I will clarify all that someday.

Watch & Listen (Jockeys trailer)

Boy Meets World, a show which starred Ben Savage playing a growing boy named Cory Matthews, had a number of theme songs in its entire seven-season run. Wikipedia claims there were a total of five songs used. Most notable in these barrage of theme songs was the one with the words “boy,” “meets,” and “world” in the lyrics, which also happened to be the last and the longest used theme song, which carried the show from season five to seven.

That song was written by Phil Rosenthal. It was performed by the band Twenty Cent Crush, with Phil Rosenthal on vocals. Other members include Steve Berns and Ron Pak. Download sites (including Amazon.com) credit the song as “Boy Meets World (feat. Phil Rosenthal).” I am unsure if Phil Rosenthal was a part of that band, nor if that Phil Rosenthal is the same guy behind Everybody Loves Raymond.

Boy Meets World theme song lyrics (show edit, 22 seconds)

When this boy meets world
Boy meets world
Wandering down this road, that we call life
Is what we’re doin’
It’s good to know I have friends that will always
Stand by me
When this boy meets world

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Below is an earlier edit of the Boy Meets World opening, featuring an instrumental song and different scenes.

Download the full length version of “Boy Meets World.”

Modern Family—the latest comedy series to hit ABC, and, it’s making quite the buzz. I do not, however, have any useful information about the song used in the opening credits—the one that goes “Hey, hey…” but we have a video. Although, it barely is a theme song, which seems to be quite the trend these days. No more snappy theme songs that would make us nostalgic in the days to come when the shows are no longer aired.

Anyway, some original music is credited to a composer named Gabriel Mann. I will clear and organize all of this information in the future.

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The theme song for Leverage, as per other previous claims, is not “Mercy” by Duffy. Sure, “Mercy” was used for Leverage promotional material and commercials, but is definitely not the theme song, nor the one used in the show’s opening credits.

The show only started to have a short opening credits with background music, the one where Nathan Ford (Timothy Hutton) says “The rich and powerful, they take what they want…” in season 2, but that exact same piece was used in the pilot episode of season 1.

The only information I have as of present time about the show’s original theme music is that is was composed Joseph LoDuca, an award-winning television and film score composer.

Watch & Listen

There is another recurring theme from this show which is always played when they are currently setting up a job. It is this bass-driven song with a cool melody. If you know what I am talking about and actually know information about it, please hit the comments.

Up next on Theme Songs, another show that lasted only one season. Truth be told, I am not that familiar with this one, all I know is that it starred the really hot Carla Gugino.

Karen Sisco (ABC) was a show about a United States marshal battling with dangerous fugitives in Miami’s Gold Cost, whilst struggling to win the respect of her fellow officers. Sounds interesting. But wait, “Smart. Sexy. Tough.” was all we needed to hear and viola, we’re sold.

The show’s opening credits was very James Bond-like—colorful graphics, poses with guns, kaleidoscope-like. It played with a less serious theme though,  The Isley Brothers’ “It’s Your Thing.” So there you have it. Isley Brothers. “It’s Your Thing.”

It’s Your Thing lyrics (show edit)

It’s your thing, do what you wanna do.
I can’t tell you, who to sock it to.

Alright, so basically it was the song’s first two lines mixed and edited, with a couple of soul screams—”Hey!” “Alright!” “Hit me man!”

Watch and listen

You all remember John Doe? It was this one-season television series which starred Dominic Purcell—Lincoln Burrows in Prison Break, about a mysterious man (hence, John Doe) who had no idea of his whereabouts whatsoever, except that he had McGyver-like skills and knowledge, which was deemed useful by the authorities.

Anyway

It had a great intro theme to it, which now after research, revealed itself as another masterpiece by the great Danny Lux—a theme song composing legend (Boston Legal, Boston Public, Ally McBeal, etc.). Some sites claim that is is simply called “John Doe Theme.”

Good thing there’s a video on YouTube (listen…)

The theme song from Weeds (gotta love that show!) is entitled, as the first line suggests, “Little Boxes.” It was written and performed by the late American blues/folk singer, Malvina Reynolds. In the first season, Malvina’s original recording was used. In the second and third seasons, a number of artists including (among others) Linkin Park, Engelbert Humperdinck, Elvis Costello, Billy Bob Thornton, Death Cab for Cutie and Joan Baez were commissioned to use previously recorded versions or create special versions for the show.

“Little Boxes” ridicules the development of the “suburbs” and its (then) rising conformist values.

Weeds, from the Showtime network, is now currently on its sixth season.

Lyrics (full version)

Little boxes on the hillside
Little boxes made of ticky-tacky
Little boxes on the hillside
Little boxes, all the same
There’s a pink one and a green one
And a blue one and a yellow one
And they’re all made out of ticky-tacky
And they all look just the same

And the people in the houses
All went to the university
Where they were put in boxes
And they came out all the same
And there’s doctors and lawyers
And business executives
And they’re all made out of ticky-tacky
And they all look just the same

And they all play on the golf course
And drink their Martinis dry
And they all have pretty children
And the children go to school
And the children go to summer camp
And then to the university
Where they are put in boxes
And they come out all the same

And the boys go into business
And marry, and raise a family
In boxes made of ticky-tacky
And they all look just the same
There’s a pink one and a green one
And a blue one and a yellow one
And they’re all made out of ticky-tacky
And they all look just the same

Listen (Malvina Reynolds’ original recording)

The theme song for Boston Legal was performed by Billy Valentine—this is supported in his site, where he answers FAQs asked by the show’s fans. He also did most of the show’s songs, in collaboration with composer, Danny Lux. The opening theme song is simply referred to as the “Boston Legal Theme Song.”

Additional

In the end of the theme song, Billy Valentine says “Outlaw!”

Boston Legal, which stars James Spader, Monica Potter, Rhona Mitra, Lake Bell, Mark Valley & William Shatner, is a spin-off of the series The Practice. It was created by David E. Kelley.

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