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 cause the stars 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, Encarta, 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!
Behind the Lyrics: Meaning & Story
The Big Bang Theory theme song, officially titled “The History of Everything,” made its debut alongside the hit CBS sitcom in 2007. Performed by the Canadian rock band Barenaked Ladies, the song provides a rapid-fire history of the universe, perfectly matching the intellectual energy of the show’s lead characters.
The series premiered on September 24, 2007, in the US and reached the UK on February 14, 2008. Over 12 seasons and 279 episodes, the theme song became a global anthem. Lead singer Ed Robertson reportedly wrote the song after reading Simon Singh’s book Big Bang, and the band continues to perform the full version at their live concerts.
As the show concluded in 2019, it left an incredible legacy, including the successful spin-off Young Sheldon. The theme’s blend of scientific facts and humorous asides remains a fan favorite, encapsulating the show’s mission to make “geek culture” mainstream.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who wrote the Big Bang Theory theme song?
The song was written and performed by Ed Robertson and the band Barenaked Ladies.
Is there a longer version of the theme song?
Yes! While the TV show uses a 15-second snippet, the full commercial version is approximately 1 minute and 45 seconds long and includes verses about the fate of the universe and Pangea.
