Who wrote The Dukes of Hazzard theme song

The Theme For The Dukes

On January 26, 1979, The Dukes of Hazzard aired for the first time on CBS. The series, featuring cousins Bo, Luke, and Daisy Duke, ran until February 8, 1985, and was one of the most popular shows of its time.

In the show, Bo and Luke race around Hazzard County in their Dodge Charger, named The General Lee. They go on many adventures throughout the series, and often find themselves in sticky situations involving the crooked county commissioner Boss Hogg and Sheriff Roscoe P. Coltrane.

Just as iconic as the show itself is its opening theme song, titled “Theme from The Dukes of Hazzard (Good Ol’ Boys),” which was written and recorded by country singer, Waylon Jennings.

How Waylon Got Involved

In 1975, Jennings served as the narrator for the film Moonrunners, which The Dukes of Hazzard was later based on, since both had the same creator.

When it was time to work on The Dukes of Hazzard, Jennings was selected once again to serve as a narrator for the show. In addition, he also wrote the show’s theme, recording two versions.

One of the versions was used as the theme for the show, while the other was made available for commercial use.

There are a few differences between the two versions of the song. For example, the show theme includes a banjo, while the commercial version of the song does not. Also, the lyrics to the show theme’s third verse are different, saying “Fightin’ the system like two modern-day Robin Hoods.”

More Differences Between The Versions

In the commercial version of the song, Jennings makes a reference to himself and his appearance in the show, singing, “I’m a good ol’ boy. You know my momma loves me. But she don’t understand, they keep a showin’ my hands and not my face on TV.”

This is in reference to Jennings’ appearance in the opening shot of the show theme version, where he can only be seen below the neck. 

Jennings went on to release the commercial version of the song as a single off of his 1980 album, Music Man. Because The Dukes of Hazzard was still running at that time, people recognized the song, and it quickly shot up to the top of the charts.

Today, the theme song to The Dukes of Hazzard is just as memorable as the show itself. You can listen to both Jennings’ commercial version of the song below. Which version of the song do you like best?

Songfacts®:

• Jennings was the narrator in the 1975 movie Moonrunners, where he was credited as "The Balladeer." When CBS created a TV show based on the movie, they asked Jennings to reprise his role as narrator (again credited as "The Balladeer") and write the theme song. He came up with an outlaw-Country theme that fit the story of Bo and Luke Duke, who were good-hearted rebels from the fictional Hazzard county in The Dukes of Hazzard. Jennings appeared in all 121 episodes of the show until it ended in 1985.

• The single version of this song was a bit different from the one used in the TV show, leaving out the line "Fightin' the system like two modern day Robin Hoods" and adding "You know my momma loved me, but she don't understand they keep showing my hands and not my face on TV," which is a reference to a shot in the show's open that shows Jennings playing guitar from the neck down. >>

  Suggestion credit:
  Julian - Oakland, AR, for above 2

Good Ole' Boys is the theme song of The Dukes of Hazzard TV series. It was written by Waylon Jennings who also was the balladeer of the show. The song was later released as a single of Waylon Jennings. The song has been covered by many members of the cast.

Lyrics

Dukes of Hazzard Intro 2

Just the good ole' boys, Never meanin' no harm
Beats all you never saw, been in trouble with the law since the day they was born
Straightenin' the curves, Flattenin' the hills
Someday the mountain might get 'em, but the law never will

Makin' their way the only way they know how
That's just a little bit more than the law will allow
Just the good ole' boys, Wouldn't change if they could
Fightin' the system like a true-modern day Robin Hood.

Variations of Opening

During the 2nd season of The Dukes of Hazzard, there were a couple of on-set conflicts between the cast, namely James Best and the producers and Ben Jones and the producers. Both actors were written out of the show temporarily at different points.

This led the producers to erase all evidence of them from the intros to the episodes they would not be in.

Here are 4 such variations of the season 2 intro:

1. Intro without Ben Jones - extra footage was added to fill time for his spot, such as a patrol car crash, an exploding outhouse, and the General's smoking tires. The outhouse and smoking tire would remain with the intro for the rest of the series.
2. Intro without James Best - Many changes in footage to remove all trace of Rosco. New footage of Daisy, Boss Hogg, Uncle Jesse, and Enos is shown, as well as a new ending jump.
3. Intro with James Best replaced by Dick Sargent, as Sheriff Grady Byrd, and the aforementioned new footage.
4. Intro with James Best replaced by James Hampton as Sheriff Buster Moon, and the aforementioned new footage.

There's also the end credits that replaced Roscos' giggle with Boss Hoggs' "Them Dukes, Them Dukes!!"

Season 5 (Coy and Vance)

• Season 5 (1982-1983) episode 19 Intro with Bo,Luke,Coy and Vance

Variations of Song

The Dukes of Hazzard Soundtrack

In the first version of the song on the soundtrack there is a narration by Boss Hogg that occurs in the background of the song.

"Howdy Folks, my name is Hogg. J.D. Hogg that is. Jefferson Davis Hogg that is, and let's just say that I run Hazzard County. You know how to get to Hazzard County don't you? Just head South from anywhere in the good Old U.S. of A and you'll run right smack into my neck of the woods. And if you're looking to do business, uh, any kind of business down here, I'm the one to see. Just ask for Boss. I'll be waitin' to hear from ya, I'm open ta anything"

"Well, let me tell ya. Today is the day of the great race here in Hazzard County, that's right. And you know what? I'm gonna win (laughs). Well the only thing I am worried about is those dang blasted Duke boys, Bo and Luke. Because, they drive a car...that's called...uhg, I just hate to say that name. It's called, the General Lee."

Waylon Jenning's Full Version

In Waylon Jenning's Full version of the song, he adds an additional verse

"I'm a good ole boy, You know my mama loves me. But she don't understand they keep a-showin' my hands and not my face on T.V.'

2006 Music Video

In 2006, John Schneider, Tom Wopat, and Catherine Bach made a music video that was included in the season 7 box set of the D.V.D. The video starts with three children playing with toy cars, the General and Dixie before the three comment on the cars and ends with the three getting into a recreated General Lee and John Schneider driving them away. The song is slightly adjusted in the finale verse to include a tribute to Waylon.

"Just some Good Ole Boys (Just some good ole boys), And cousin Daisy makes three. You know we sure miss old Waylon but we had ourselves a heck of a time on T.V.'

Videos

Dukes of Hazzard opening credits (Willie Nelson)

2005 movie

Who sang the original Dukes of Hazzard theme song?

Who wrote The Dukes of Hazzard?

Who was the narrator of The Dukes of Hazzard?

Is Waylon Jennings still alive?