Full Official Lyrics to 'Meet the Flintstones' Matched with Classic Opening Scenes
By James H. Sterling
Q1: Why didn't the first two seasons use "Meet the Flintstones"?
A1: When the series launched in 1960, Hanna-Barbera commissioned Hoyt Curtin to write an instrumental score titled "Rise and Shine." It was not until the series proved to be a massive prime-time commercial success that the studio invested in a full 22-piece big band and vocal group to create the dedicated lyrical anthem for season three in 1962.
Q2: Who are the uncredited singers performing the theme?
A2: The five-part harmony was performed by the Randy Van Horne Singers, an acclaimed Los Angeles studio vocal group that also recorded themes for other Hanna-Barbera staples, including The Huckleberry Hound Show and The Jetsons.
Q3: Does the word "gay" in the final line have any hidden meaning?
A3: No. In mid-century American English, "gay" was universally understood to mean lighthearted, happy, or carefree. Writers William Hanna and Joseph Barbera simply utilized the term to convey a joyful evening of suburban leisure.
James Sterling reports on renewable energy developments, climate policy, ecological conservation, and green tech innovations around the globe.
