The Waltons theme song

[Deleted]

While watching the series from season to season, I noticed the theme song they used at the beginning of each episode changed slightly from season to season. Is there any reason the show wanted this to happen, or is it something the writer of the song just wanted to do with the song? 

I know this is a stupid question, but I am just curious about it.

[flossieskid]

Gosh, I didn’t notice the difference in the theme song. I’ll have to review the beginnings more intently. I always listened for the different “good nights” we heard from several Walton family members at the end of every episode. Wasn’t there always the same few musical notes after the final “good night”? But, I always thought it odd that, although they lived with the family and their bedroom was also upstairs, I never did hear Grandpa or Grandma say “good night” - or am I mistaken? Maybe their bedtime was 8pm and everyone else stayed up to at least 9?!?

[goodnight]

They did say good night. Maybe not everytime. But there was one episode where Grandpa was tickling Grandma. And she says good night with as much dignity as she can manage. Does anyone else recall this?

[Easton]

The theme music was composed by Jerry Goldsmith who also composed music for such films as Star Trek, Rambo, Gremlins, Poltergeist, and many, many others.

In Season 1, the theme featured the zither. It's distinctly different from the Second Season opener:

Here is Season 2. Not only is the opening sequence dramatically different, so is the music. There is no introduction. It jumps immediately into the theme. To me, it sounds much less 'Hillbilly' (if you will excuse the expression):

[Deleted]

Jan 29, 2023 9:50:46 GMT -5 Easton said:

The theme music was composed by Jerry Goldsmith who also composed music for such films as Star Trek, Rambo, Gremlins, Poltergeist, and many, many others.

In Season 1, the theme featured the zither. It's distinctly different from the Second Season opener:

Here is Season 2. Not only is the opening sequence dramatically different, so is the music. There is no introduction. It jumps immediately into the theme. To me, it sounds much less 'Hillbilly' (if you will excuse the expression):

Jerry Goldsmith seemed to tweak the theme music a little for each season. You are right though that the st and 2nd season you can really hear the difference. 

[Kyle]

I always love hearing the variations. Lorimar did this with most/all of its shows back then. Dallas, Knots Landing, Falcon Crest, and Eight is Enough all got new orchestrations/arrangements every or almost every year. I think it was to signify to the viewers that a new season had started.

Season 4 is my favorite arrangement. The melody sounds smoother and less staccato. The last note of each stanza is more drawn out (sorry, not a musician so i may not be describing it correctly). Season 9 is my least favorite - too much accordion and it sounds like they went down an octave for parts of it.

They did have the same few notes of music after the good nights but even those were tweaked occasionally throughout the years, though I don’t believe for every season.

[Deleted]

Jan 29, 2023 10:53:52 GMT -5 Kyle said:

I always love hearing the variations. Lorimar did this with most/all of its shows back then. Dallas, Knots Landing, Falcon Crest, and Eight is Enough all got new orchestrations/arrangements every or almost every year. I think it was to signify to the viewers that a new season had started.

Season 4 is my favorite arrangement. The melody sounds smoother and less staccato. The last note of each stanza is more drawn out (sorry, not a musician so i may not be describing it correctly). Season 9 is my least favorite - too much accordion and it sounds like they went down an octave for parts of it.

They did have the same few notes of music after the good nights but even those were tweaked occasionally throughout the years, though I don’t believe for every season.

I will have to listen to all of them again and rate them for best to worst. Some of them are pretty close in sound, but I can still hear a little difference in each season. 

[Kyle]

Seasons 7 and 8 may use the same recording. Those are the only seasons where I can’t tell the difference. 

There’s a Youtube poster called AllAboutTheWaltons who has posted all the intros, including the TV movies.

[Deleted]

Jan 29, 2023 11:27:15 GMT -5 Kyle said:

Seasons 7 and 8 may use the same recording. Those are the only seasons where I can’t tell the difference. 

There’s a Youtube poster called AllAboutTheWaltons who has posted all the intros, including the TV movies.

Thanks, I will have to check that out. 

[flossieskid]

Emmy, there are no “stupid questions “ - the fact that you noticed something that many have not is a testament to you being a devoted Walton fan! I am amazed there was so much knowledge about the theme song! Glad to know someone else confirmed the few short musical notes after the “good nights”. As my husband likes to joke when questioning my memory : “Honey, I think you slipped a cog!” His father was a blacksmith and a “cog” was explained as a spoke as part of a wheel and if you are missing one, the wheel is not complete and won’t turn properly. It means our brain is not functioning as well as it could. But it seems to me that very few members of the Forum suffer from memory loss. I am constantly astounded to see members can recall SO MUCH about The Waltons. I am in awe!! Bravo to all!

[Easton]

Jan 31, 2023 6:18:41 GMT -5 flossieskid said:

a “cog” was explained as a spoke as part of a wheel and if you are missing one, the wheel is not complete and won’t turn properly. It means our brain is not functioning as well as it could.

For future reference, a spoke and a cog are different things. Spokes are the support wires of a wheel (as in a bicycle wheel) which attach the axle to the outer rim, keeping the rim strong and true. Gogs are the teeth on the outside of gears which mesh with the teeth of other gears or special chains in order to perform works. On bicycles, the chain connects the drive wheels from the pedals to the drive wheels which propels the bike forward. In a mechanical clock, the cogs on the gears work together at different rates in order to move the hands on the dial.

A missing spoke may weaken a bicycle wheel, but it can still work. A missing cog on a gear, however, can bring the entire system to a halt.

[Johnny]

Jan 31, 2023 8:44:46 GMT -5 Easton said:

Jan 31, 2023 6:18:41 GMT -5 flossieskid said:

a “cog” was explained as a spoke as part of a wheel and if you are missing one, the wheel is not complete and won’t turn properly. It means our brain is not functioning as well as it could.

For future reference, a spoke and a cog are different things. Spokes are the support wires of a wheel (as in a bicycle wheel) which attach the axle to the outer rim, keeping the rim strong and true. Gogs are the teeth on the outside of gears which mesh with the teeth of other gears or special chains in order to perform works. On bicycles, the chain connects the drive wheels from the pedals to the drive wheels which propels the bike forward. In a mechanical clock, the cogs on the gears work together at different rates in order to move the hands on the dial.

A missing spoke may weaken a bicycle wheel, but it can still work. A missing cog on a gear, however, can bring the entire system to a halt.

More likely, a missing cog would cause the gears to stutter since it will continue to propel the mating gear when the next cog  moves into place. Slipping a cog is a different thing. The chain on a bicycle meeting the cogs on the gear mounted either on the rear wheel or the pedal, also propel a bike forward. As the chain wears, the distance between links lengthen. It can lengthen so much so, that a link will occasionally slip over the intended cog and onto the next one. This is slipping a cog and causes a stutter in the motion of the wheel and your ride. 

[Easton]

^ Yes, on a bicycle the gears and chain may stutter. But missing or bent cogs on the gears of a mechanical clock, which interact with each other, can bring the entire system to a halt. The clock won't work anymore.

[Johnny]

Jan 29, 2023 11:27:15 GMT -5 Kyle said:

Seasons 7 and 8 may use the same recording. Those are the only seasons where I can’t tell the difference. 

There’s a Youtube poster called AllAboutTheWaltons who has posted all the intros, including the TV movies.i 

I do hear the subtle instrumental changes made in the opening theme each season. As I listened to the one for the Thanksgiving Reunion, it is distinctly slowed down and I noticed it was written in a 3/4 tempo, like a waltz. When I went back to the earlier versions, I could then hear it too was in 3/4 time but much faster, so much so I had missed it all these years.

[Deleted]