TV theme songs. We hear them all the time, but do we really take a moment to hear what these lyrics are saying? Some are insightful, some are entertaining, some are downright relatable. They’re the words that go along with the opening credits, sure, but they mean so much more than that.
They are the words that have stuck by us through thick and thin (because honestly, we rely on TV to process the day oftentimes) and they are the words that make us think of our favorite series, including what they have taught us and what they mean to us. That said, here are the 10 best lyrics in TV theme songs.
“If Nautical Nonsense Be Something You Wish”
Yes, nautical nonsense is always something we wish. Twenty years strong, SpongeBob SquarePants has been entertaining kids for quite some time, and its theme song is naturally a significant part of pop culture. SpongeBob and Patrick are always up to something.
Whether it be annoying Squidward, wreaking havoc around Bikini Bottom, or just blowing bubbles, nautical nonsense is essentially what the show is, and what we love. The theme song is nostalgic for any kid that grew up watching the show, and as soon as we hear it, it sends us back to our childhoods.
“They’re Creepy And They’re Kooky/Mysterious And Spooky”
Easily one of the most recognized theme songs of all time, The Addams Family is certainly one for the books. The family is noted for being highly unusual and downright weird sometimes, but we love them all the same.
We notice this theme song being played quite often around Halloween, as it’s naturally a recognized tune that goes hand-in-hand with the spooky holiday. It’s easy to memorize and hard to get out of your head once you’ve heard it.
“Math, Science, History, Unraveling The Mysteries/That All Started With The Big Bang! Hey!”
This is one of our favorite sitcoms of all time, and we were sad to see it end last year. The Big Bang Theory follows a group of friends in California that are incredibly smart, but oftentimes find themselves in awkward situations, much to our amusement.
They loved anything sci-fi and videogame related, and they all relied on and were there for one another. The theme song suits the personality of the show perfectly, and it stands out from all other theme songs, which is a big deal given how many other sitcoms are already out in the universe.
“Now This Is A Story All About How/My Life Got Flipped Turned Upside Down”
Will Smith became famous overnight with The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. A series following Will as he moves from the East Coast to the upscale Bel-Air neighborhood to reside with his aunt, uncle, and cousins, it was funny, heartfelt, and probably one of the best series to come out of the ’90s.
The theme song was easy to sing along to, the rap too fun to not give a try. It’s one of those songs you’ll look up on YouTube after reading this so you can indulge in some ’90s nostalgia.
“It’s Gonna Take Some Time To Realign/But If You Look Inside, I’m Sure You’ll Find/Over Your Shoulder You Know That I Told You/I’ll Always Be Pickin’ You Up When You’re Down/So Just Turn Around”
We all love Drake and Josh. Of course, we’d recognize their theme song anywhere. These specific lyrics are a meaningful reminder of their bond as brothers, but it’s also meaningful to the audience, especially if they have a relationship with someone resembling Drake’s and Josh’s.
This theme song seemed to play all the time (at least, it did if you were usually tuned into Nickelodeon). It’s a nice set of lyrics to have on hand, especially if you want to tell someone how much they mean to you and that you have their back, no matter what.
“Sometimes You Want To Go/Where Everybody Knows Your Name/And They’re Always Glad You Came”
Cheers easily has one of the most recognized theme songs out there. It’s a song that makes you feel good, relating to you through your woes and offering a remedy for the hard and long days that come with being out in the world, or just any day in general.
Sometimes you do want to go where everyone’s happy to see you, where you can chill and just have a good time without worrying over any stressors you’re dealing with. You can just be you and shed the darkness of the world as soon as you enter the door. That’s why we love Cheers, and its theme song.
“Love Is All Around, No Need To Waste It/You Can Never Tell, Why Don’t You Take It/You’re Gonna Make It After All”
The Mary Tyler Moore Show was revolutionary in the time it aired. It showed a young, independent woman focusing on her career over marriage and children, having plenty of experiences, misadventures and laughs over the course of seven seasons. The theme song’s lyrics were encouraging and inspiring, offering not just Mary but the listening audience the push they needed to pursue their dreams and to not be afraid while doing it.
The lyrics are very 1970s, but they apply today. There may be scary things in the world, but there’s also plenty of love to go around, so take your chances and have faith that everything will turn out alright.
“Everything Is Not What It Seems/When You Can Get All You Wanted In Your Wildest Dreams/You Might Run Into Trouble If You Go To Extremes/Because Everything Is Not What It Seems”
In true Disney fashion, a life lesson is embedded within these clever lyrics. There’s a double meaning. Sure, it applies to the Russo family of wizards, given they’re taught not to abuse their powers and to do things on their own, but it also applies to just about anything in life.
If you take too much for granted and get everything you want, it could run out if not used properly and then you’re back to where you started from. It could even mean that there are things out in the world we don’t understand, so don’t jump in before you’ve done your homework. Whatever it is, we certainly love Wizards of Waverly Place and Selena Gomez’s rendition of the theme song.
“I Don’t Have The Answers/I Don’t Have A Plan/All I Have Is You/So Baby Help Me Understand”
Mad About You is a classic 1990s sitcom about a couple in New York, just making their way through life day-by-day. The lyrics are basically covering how much they love one another, which is sentimental and happy. Many relationships don’t work out, but the ones that do are meant to last and it’s always nice to hear happy lyrics expressing as much.
Even if you’re not an Oracle carrying all the answers, you can always rely on your significant other for answers, or at least some clues, as to what comes next. That’s what Paul and Jamie did.
“So No One Told You Life Was Gonna Be This Way”
You’re probably already singing the rest of the lyrics. Friends is one of those shows that gets stuck in your head, theme song included because it’s so popular and relatable. The opening line is one of the biggest truths you’ll find in adulthood. You’ll encounter all kinds of situations, good and bad, exciting and scary, thrilling and downright freaky, usually without much warning.
Life is a rollercoaster for a reason, and there’s nothing that can truly prepare you for the ride, so you just take it and do your best. That’s why we love this lyric. From one simple lyric comes a lifetime of truth.
