The Partridge Family Theme Song Lyrics: C’mon Get Happy
Behind the Music: Meaning & Story
The The Partridge Family theme song, titled “C’mon Get Happy,” is arguably one of the most recognizable TV intros of the 1970s. While the first season featured a different track (“When We’re Singin'”), “C’mon Get Happy” became the permanent anthem from Season 2 onwards. Composed by Wes Farrell and Danny Janssen, the song perfectly encapsulated the upbeat, optimistic spirit of the show, which followed a widowed mother and her five children as they formed a pop band.
Created by Bernard Slade, the series premiered in the United Kingdom on 17 September 1971. A central part of the show’s identity was the family’s iconic, Mondrian-inspired colorful bus, which they used to travel the country between performances. Although the show portrayed a family band, lead singer David Cassidy and his stepmother Shirley Jones were the only cast members who actually sang on the studio recordings, backed by the legendary “Wrecking Crew” of session musicians.
Over its 96-episode run, the show became a cultural powerhouse, leading to chart-topping albums and even an animated spin-off, Partridge Family 2200 A.D., in 1974. Despite ending its run on 23 March 1974, the legacy of the theme song continues. Its infectious melody and message of spreading “a whole lot of lovin'” remain a nostalgic touchstone for the golden age of musical sitcoms.
