The theme song for the television show “The Big Bang Theory” was written and performed by the Canadian alternative mainstay band Barenaked Ladies. Composed by Ed Robertson and performed by the band, the song, simply titled “Big Bang Theory Theme,” rapidly became iconic and synonymous with the popular sitcom.
The song’s lyrics are known for their impulsive and humorous tone, consider the nerdy and conventional characters of the show. It touches upon logical concepts such as the Big Bang Theory itself, as well as various manner of geek culture, including comic books, video games, and science novels.
Originally, the theme song was meant to be a full-length trail with verses and a chorus. However, the producers of the show choose to use only a section of the song for the opening credits, leading to the creation of the individual 15-second intro that became inextricable from the show’s identity.
In spite of its shortness, the “Big Bang Theory Theme” by Barenaked Ladies has left a lasting effect, becoming one of the most prominent TV theme songs of its era and earning the band widespread identification for their donation to popular culture.
Lyrics
Our whole universe was in a hot, dense state
Then nearly fourteen billion years ago expansion started, wait
The earth began to cool, the autotrophs began to drool
Neanderthals developed tools
We built a wall (we built the pyramids)
Math, science, history, unraveling the mysteries
That all started with the big bang (bang)
Since the dawn of man is really not that long
As every galaxy was formed in less time than it takes to sing this song
A fraction of a second and the elements were made
The bipeds stood up straight, the dinosaurs all met their fate
They tried to leap but they were late
And they all died (they froze their asses off)
The oceans and Pangea, see ya wouldn’t wanna be ya
Set in motion by the same big bang
It all started with the big bang
It’s expanding ever outward but one day
It will pause and start to go the other way
Collapsing ever inward, we won’t be here, it won’t be heard
Our best and brightest figure that it’ll make an even bigger bang
Australopithecus would really have been sick of us
Debating how we’re here, they’re catching deer (we’re catching viruses)
Religion or astronomy (Descartes or Deuteronomy)
It all started with the big bang
Music and mythology, Einstein and astrology
It all started with the big bang
It all started with the big bang