The A-Team Opening Narration & Theme
Behind the Music: Meaning & Story
The The A-Team theme song is arguably one of the most iconic military-style marches in television history. Written and composed by the legendary duo Mike Post and Pete Carpenter, the theme’s driving snare drums and triumphant brass section perfectly captured the show’s “action-packed” spirit. Because of its massive popularity during the 1980s, the theme was even released as a single on vinyl record, reaching the charts in several countries.
First screened in 1983 on NBC, The A-Team followed a group of ex-Green Berets—Colonel John “Hannibal” Smith, B.A. Baracus, “Face,” and “Howling Mad” Murdock—who operated as soldiers of fortune while on the run from the US Military. The opening narration, spoken by producer John Ashley, set the stage for every episode, explaining their status as heroes “wanted by the government” for a crime they did not commit.
Over 98 episodes, the team used their “crack U.S. Army skills” to defend those who couldn’t defend themselves, all while evading the relentless pursuit of Col. Decker. The music provided a sense of inevitable victory and high-octane fun, defining the 1980s action-adventure genre. Even decades after the show’s final episode in 1987, the theme remains a symbol of bravery, ingenious engineering, and the classic “I love it when a plan comes together” sentiment.