The theme songs that refuse to leave your head

Welcome to this week’s edition of Show Tunes, where we bring you the stories behind your favorite TV theme songs.

Today, we’re stopping off at none other than Zombie Island to revisit the unforgettable opening of the 1969 animated classic: Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!

If you're pretending you don't know this theme song, reach for the Scooby Snacks and jog on, mate. Jog. On.

Written by David Mook and Ben Raleigh, this tune is short, punchy, and impossible to forget. Its bouncy guitar riff, paired with that unmistakable '60s vocal harmony, sets the tone perfectly for the mischievous mystery-solving gang we know and love. Mook and Raleigh were influenced by surf rock bands like The Beach Boys and The Ventures, blending that laid-back guitar energy with just the right hint of spooky playfulness. The result? A song that’s fun, slightly eerie, and never takes itself too seriously, just like the show.

The theme’s minor-key chords give it that ghostly edge, but it’s still lighthearted enough for Saturday morning cartoons. They even managed to turn a catchphrase: Scooby-Doo, where are you?” into a singalong hook that’s now inseparable from the franchise. There are earworms, and then there are EARWORMS.

The story behind the song's creation is surprisingly low-key. Hanna-Barbera, the show's production company, asked David Mook to write lyrics with freelance songwriter Ben Raleigh. The brief? They were handed a diagram of Scooby-Doo and told to come up with something catchy. That’s it. According to Mook’s wife, Rose Marie, the pair whipped up the theme in a single day, with Mook penning the lyrics and Raleigh composing the music. The first version of the theme was performed by Larry Marks for Season 1.

It could have all gone very differently. Another, completely separate instrumental theme had been written by the studio’s musical director, Ted Nichols, but at the last minute, the producers went with the one that included the now-iconic chant: “Scooby-Dooby-Doo!”  Ironically, that line was a last-minute addition too.

Over 50 years on, the theme is still going strong alongside countless adaptations, spin-offs, and even live-action films (though some have felt the harsh sting of diminishing returns). It’s become a cultural touchstone and beyond the nostalgia, the song offers real comfort. I used to watch Scoobz, Shaggy, and the gang as a kid, and now I’ve rewatched them with my own children. Lazy weekends, snacks in hand, glued to the TV—it’s a vibe.

© IMDB

There are even wild fan theories out there claiming Scooby-Doo was inspired by Frank Sinatra. Whether that’s true or not (unlikely, but fun to imagine), there’s no denying the musical legacy this theme has left. It’s been covered by The Ramones, Phish, Primus, sampled by Snoop Dogg, Outkast, A Tribe Called Quest and remixed countless times using modern production styles.

It’s part of our pop culture DNA now.
And while different Scooby-Doo series have come and gone, nearly all of them nod to this original tune in some way. The chorus lives on and continues to burrow deep into our brain boxes.

So, what do we think? Has Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! earned its place in the history books of TV theme songs.

Surely it has.

With its global impact, timeless charm, and that hook that refuses to die, it’s not just a great TV theme, it’s one of the greats.
 
Thanks for joining me on this trip down memory lane. Until next time, keep humming those iconic tunes. And remember: they would’ve gotten away with it if it weren’t for those pesky kids.

That’s it for this edition. Join us next time as we dig into another TV theme or find out more on Show Tunes.