Love, American Style Theme Song Lyrics
Behind the Music: Meaning & Story
The Love, American Style theme song is a brassy, upbeat celebration of romance composed by Charles Fox with lyrics by Arnold Margolin. Fox, a legendary TV composer, also wrote the themes for Happy Days and Wonder Woman. The song’s patriotic puns—referencing “Red, White and Blue” and “the dawn’s early light”—mirrored the show’s title and its mod, psychedelic-inspired animation sequences.
Airing on ABC, the show was a unique anthology series that featured three short comedic segments per episode, often separated by quick blackout sketches performed by a resident comedy troupe. It was lighthearted, stylish, and captured the transition of American dating culture from the late 60s into the early 70s.
Perhaps its most significant contribution to television history is its role as a “pilot factory.” The segment “Love and the Happy Days” served as the unsold pilot that eventually became the massive hit Happy Days. Years later, an episode about a space alien would lead to the creation of Mork & Mindy. With 108 episodes across five seasons, the show remains a vibrant time capsule of the romantic comedy genre.