Cool McCool Theme Song Lyrics
Behind the Music: Meaning & Story
The Cool McCool theme song is a groovy, jazz-infused masterpiece that perfectly introduced the hip spy aesthetic of the mid-1960s to a younger audience. Written by Bob Kane (famous for co-creating Batman) and Al Brodax, the song’s lively brass and rhythmic spelling of the protagonist’s name made it an instant earworm during its original run on NBC.
Premiering in 1966, the show was a parody of the James Bond and “Man from U.N.C.L.E.” craze. Cool McCool was portrayed as an ultra-suave, yet often bumbling secret agent who received his missions from “Number One.” The lyrics name-drop several of his recurring villains—The Owl, The Rattler, and Madcap—while introducing his gadget-heavy, slapstick-filled world. His catchphrase, “Danger is my business,” became a hallmark of the series.
Though the show only ran for 20 episodes (broken into 60 segments), it left a lasting impact on animation history as a pioneer of the spy-spoof genre. The theme song, with its “Double-O” wordplay and high-energy chorus, remains a favorite for collectors of 1960s television music, evoking the colorful, Mod-era style of the decade.