About a month and a half ago I wrote an essay about the greatest TV theme songs. Even though I listed over twenty of them, many of you recommended even more. So here's Part Two of what might become an ongoing series of blog posts about the lost art of television show tunes. (All of these were suggested by you, the reader, so thank you, and keep 'em coming!)
Baretta - "Don't go to bed with no price on your head. Don't do it. Don't do the crime if you can't do the time. Keep your eye on the sparrow when the going gets narrow. Don't roll the dice if you can't pay the price. Don't do it. Don't run your feet down a dead-end street. Keep your eye on the sparrow when the going gets narrow. Don't do me dirt or you're gonna get hurt. Don't do it. Don't run away 'til you hear what I say. Keep your eye on the sparrow when the going gets narrow. Ain't gonna fight with no thief in the night. Won't do it. I'm gonna go where the cold wind don't blow. Keep your eye on the sparrow when the going gets narrow."
The Fall Guy - "Well, I'm not the kind to kiss and tell, but I've been seen with Farrah. I'm never seen with anything less than a nine, so fine. I've been on fire with Sally Field, gone fast with a girl named Bo, but somehow they just don't end up as mine. It's a death defyin' life I lead, I take my chances. I die for a livin' in the movies and TV. But the hardest thing I ever do is watch my leadin' 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 made Redford such a star. I never spend much time in school but I 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 end 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."
Family Guy - "It seems today that all you see is violence in movies and sex on TV. But where are those good old fashion values on which we used to rely? Lucky theres a family guy! Lucky there's a man who positively can do all the things that make us laugh and cry! He's a Family Guy!"
Family Ties - "I bet we been together for a million years, and I bet we'll be together for a million more. Oh, it's like I started breathing on the night we kissed, and I can't remember what I ever did before. What would we do baby without us? What would we do baby without us? And there ain't no nothing we can't love each other through. What would we do baby without us? Sha la la la."
Frasier - "Hey baby, I hear the blues a-callin', tossed salad and scrambled eggs. Oh my. Mercy. And maybe I seem a bit confused, yeah maybe, but I got you pegged! Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha! But I don't know what to do with those tossed salads and scrambled eggs. They're callin' again. Good night, Seattle, we love you. What is a boy to do. Good night. Frasier has left the building. Thank You!"
Friends - "So no one told you life was going to be this way. Your job's a joke, you're broke, you're love life's DOA. It's like you're always stuck in second gear. Well, it hasn't been your day, your week, your month, or even your year. But, I'll be there for you when the rain starts to pour. I'll be there for you like I've been there before. I'll be there for you, cause you're there for me too."
Have Gun Will Travel - "Have Gun Will Travel reads the card of a man. A knight without armor in a savage land. His fast gun for hire heads the calling wind. A soldier of fortune is the man called Paladin. Paladin, Paladin, where do you roam? Paladin, Paladin, far, far from home. He travels onto wherever he must. A chess knight of silver is his badge of trust. There are campfire legends that plains men spin of the man with the gun, of the man called Paladin. Paladin, Paladin, where do you roam? Paladin, Paladin, far, far from home. Far from home, far from home."
Here Come the Brides - "The bluest sky you've ever seen in Seattle. And the hills the greenest green in Seattle. Like a beautiful child growing up free and wild. Full of hopes and full of fears, full of laughter, full of tears, full of dreams to last a year in Seattle. When you find your own true love you will know it by his smile, by the look in his eyes. Some scent pine trees in the air or some stand around and stare. Look out everyone, here come the brides."
Maude - "Lady Godiva was a freedom rider. She didnt' care if the whole world looked. Joan of Arc with the Lord to guide her. She was a sister who really cooked. Isadora was the first bra burner and you're glad she showed up. (Oh yeah) And when the country was falling apart Betsy Ross got it all sewed up. And then there's Maude. And then there's Maude. And then there's Maude. And then there's Maude. And then there's Maude. And then there's Maude. And then there's that old compromisin', enterprisin', anything but tranquilizing, right on Maude."
Mister Ed - "A horse is a horse, of course, of course, and no one can talk to a horse of course. That is, of course, unless the horse is the famous Mister Ed. Go right to the source and ask the horse. He'll give you the answer that you'll endorse. He's always on a steady course. Talk to Mister Ed. People yakkity-yak the street and waste your time of day, but Mister Ed will never speak unless he has something to say. A horse is a horse, of course, of course, and this one'll talk 'til his voice is hoarse. You never heard of a talking horse? Well listen to this: 'I'm Mister Ed.'"
The Nanny - "She was working in a bridal shop in Flushing, Queens, 'til her boyfriend kicked her out in one of those crushing scenes. What was she to do, where was she to go? She was out on her fanny. So over the bridge from Flushing to the Sheffield's door, she was there to sell make-up but the father saw more. She had style, she had flair, she was there. That's how she became the Nanny. Who would have guessed that the girl we described was just exactly what the doctor prescribed? Now, the father finds her beguiling, watch out C.C., the kids are actually smiling, such joie de vivre. She's the lady in red when everybody else is wearing tan. The flashy girl from Flushing, the Nanny named Fran."
The Patty Duke Show - "Meet Cathy who's lived most everywhere, from Zanzibar to Barclay Square. But Patty's only seen the sight a girl can see from Brooklyn Heights -- What a crazy pair! But they're cousins, identical cousins all the way. One pair of matching bookends, different as night and day. Where Cathy adores a minuet, The Ballet Russes, and crepe suzette, our Patty loves to rock and roll, a hot dog makes her lose control -- What a wild duet! Still, they're cousins, identical cousins, and you'll find, they laugh alike, they walk alike, at times they even talk alike -- You can lose your mind when cousins are two of a kind."
Rawhide - "Rollin', rollin', rollin', keep movin', movin', movin', though they're disapprovin', keep them doggies movin' -- Rawhide! Don't try to understand 'em, just rope and throw and grab 'em, soon we'll be living high and wide. Boy my heart's calculatin'. My true love will be waitin', be waiting at the end of my ride. Move 'em on, head 'em up, head 'em up, move 'em out, move 'em on, head 'em out -- Rawhide! Set 'em out, ride 'em in, ride 'em in, let 'em out, cut 'em out, ride 'em in -- Rawhide! Rollin', rollin', rollin', rollin', rollin', rollin', rollin', rollin', rollin', rollin', rollin', rollin' -- Rawhide! Rollin', rollin', rollin', though the streams are swollen, keep them doggies rollin' -- Rawhide! Rain and wind and weather, hell-bent for leather, wishin' my gal was by my side. All the things I'm missin', good vittles, love, and kissin', are waiting at the end of my ride."
South Park - "I'm goin' down to South Park, gonna have myself a time, friendly faces everwhere, humble folks without temptation, I'm goin' down to South Park, gonna leave my woes behind. Ample parking day or night, people spouting, 'Howdy, Neighbor!' I'm headin' down to South Park, gonna see if I can't unwind. (Mumble mumble mumble mumble, mumble mumble mumble mumble.) So come on down to South Park, and meet some friends of mine."
Spongebob Squarepants - "Are ya ready kids? Aye Aye, Captain! I can't hear you! Aye Aye, Captain!
Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, who lives in a pineapple under the sea? Spongebob Squarepants! Absorbent and yellow and porous is he. Spongebob Squarepants! If nautical nonsense be somethin' you wish. Spongebob Squarepants! Then drop on the deck and flop like a fish! Spongebob Squarepants! Ready? Spongebob Squarepants! Spongebob Squarepants! Spongebob Squarepants! Spongebob Squarepaaaaaaaaants! Argh, argh, argh, argh, argh!"
Three's Company - "Come and knock on our door. We've been waiting for you, where the kisses are hers and hers and his, three's company too. Come and dance on on our floor. Take a step that is new. We've a loveable space that needs your face, three's company too. You'll see that life is a frolic and laughter is calling for you. Down at our rendezvous, three's company, too!"
Stay tuned for Part Three, and let me know of any others that come to mind.
More Great TV Theme Songs
Written By Unknown on Sunday, January 8, 2012 | 8:46 PM
Labels:
Music,
Television,
Theme Songs,
TV
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