Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? (theme song)

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"Scooby-Doo, Where Are You?" is a song originally written by David Mook and Ben Raleigh, who provided the lyrics and music, respectively. It is the theme song for the 1969 series of the same name. It was sung by Larry Markes.

Over the years, the song has been remastered and used in other pieces of Scooby-Doo media, such as the recent film Scoob! in 2020.

History

Lyrics

Scooby-Dooby-Doo, where are you?
We got some work to do now.
Scooby-Dooby-Doo, where are you?
We need some help from you now.

Come on, Scooby-Doo, I see you,
pretending you got a sliver.
You're not fooling me, 'cause I can see,
the way you shake and shiver.

You know we got a mystery to solve,
so Scooby-Doo, be ready for your act.
Don't hold back!

And, Scooby-Doo, if you come through,
you're going to have yourself a Scooby Snack!

That's a fact!

Scooby-Dooby-Doo, here are you.
You're ready and you're willing.
If we can count on you, Scooby-Doo,
I know we'll catch that villain.

George A. Robertson Jr. version

George A. Robertson Jr. was the first person after Larry Markes to do his own take which was used for the second season of Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! in 1970. This was due to Robertson Jr. performing and writing other songs to be used within six of the seven episodes.

Third Eye Blind version

For the 1998 direct-to-video film, Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island, Third Eye Blind did a rock cover featured in the opening.

Billy Ray Cyrus version

For the 1999 direct-to-video film, Scooby-Doo! and the Witch's Ghost, Bill Ray Cyrus did his country cover featured in the opening. It was produced by John Kelton and Keith Stegall. Scott Innes was most happy.

Jennifer Love Hewitt version

For the 2000 direct-to-video film, Scooby-Doo and the Alien Invaders, Jennifer Love Hewitt did a pop cover featured in the opening.

B-52's version

In 2001, a cover of the theme song was used in the opening of the direct-to-video film, Scooby-Doo and the Cyber Chase, this time by new wave band The B-52's.

Shaggy version

The reggae artist Shaggy did a cover called "Shaggy, Where Are You?" that was used in the original animated opening of the 2002 live-action theatrical film Scooby-Doo, but in the final version, only a line is heard.

Krystal Harris version

For the 2003 direct-to-video film, Scooby-Doo! and the Legend of the Vampire, an uncredited rock band performed the song in the opening, while the credited Krystal Harris did yet another cover in the last scene of the film, but as the character of Velma Dinkley.

MxPx version

For the next live-action theatrical film in 2004, pop punk band MxPx did their spin.

David Poe version

For the 2019 TV series Scooby-Doo and Guess Who?, the theme song is referred to as "Scooby-Doo, Where Are You?" but features different lyrics, yet made to emulate the original. It was written by series creator, Chris Bailey, produced by Vivek Maddala, and performed by David Poe.

Scooby-Dooby-Doo, and Guess Who?
We know you're one in a million.
If we can count on you, Scooby-Doo,
To catch and unmask that villain.

Best Coast version

The rock duo Best Coast provided a cover for the animated theatrical film Scoob!

In popular culture

Main article: List of pop culture references to Scooby-Doo
  • In the In Living Color episode "Driving Miss Shott," Cephus and Ressie sing nursery rhymes and TV theme songs for tots, including "Scooby-Doo, Where Are You?" although they sing, "Scooby-Doo, Where Are You, we've been looking for you now." Cephus then asks Ressie where Scooby is, with Ressie responding that he could be in Bedrock, which segues them into singing "(Meet) The Flintstones" from The Flintstones.
  • In The Drew Carey Show episode "He Harassed Me, He Harassed Me Not," Oswald says that the office is spooky at night and is surprised at how easy it was to sneak past Old Man MacPhearson, which is a cause for Oswald and Lewis to sing the theme song until Drew tells them to shut up. A couple of times after that, Oswald talks in Scooby's voice.
  • In the Student Bodies episode "Snowed In," Mags and Flash bond over Scooby-Doo by singing the theme song, while almost forgetting the words, too. When their friends come in, who are surprised the two are getting along, are asked what the nature of Scooby and Scrappy's relationship is, and why a hot girl like Daphne is hanging around a loser like Shaggy, but Romeo's only answer is that she is hot, before their friends leave them singing the theme song again.
  • In the Arthur segment "The Rat Who Came to Dinner," the theme song is parodied in Mr. Ratburn's favorite old show Spooky-Poo.
  • In third episode of series 1, the second episode of series 3, and the third episode of series 7 in the BBC Radio 4 program Dead Ringers, part of the Larry Markes incarnation of the theme song is used for sketches involving Shaggy, Scooby, and Velma.
  • In the Baby Looney Tunes episode "The Wheel Deal," Bugs and his friends take their bikes apart to make a new one for Tweety, with the first choice being one that resembled the Mystery Machine, accompanied by a "Scooby-Doo, Where Are You?" jingle, but the third time is not the charm, and a dissatisfied Bugs commentated, "I'm about to give up the ghost here."
  • In the Two and a Half Men episode "Above Exalted Cyclops," Alan sings the theme song while painting a toy model of Polar Light's Mystery Machine.
  • In the film 127 Hours, Aron gives directions to two lost women while hiking, who in return invite him to a party they are attending the following night, with one of them saying there is going to be a giant inflatable Scooby-Doo. Afterwards, Aron continues his hiking, but gets his arm trapped beneath a boulder for five days, during which he hallucinations going to the party he never went to, seeing a truck carry a giant inflatable lite up Scooby, playing the George A. Robertson, Jr. version of the theme song, which he sings along to.
  • In the Futurama episode "Saturday Morning Fun Pit," there is a parody of Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! called Bendee-Boo and the Mystery Crew with a similar-sounding theme song and similar-looking opening sequence.
  • In the QI episode "Phenomena" (from series P, episode 13), Alan Davies' buzzer makes the sound of the theme song.
  • In the Black Mirror episode "Loch Henry," Stuart sings "Scooby-Dooby-Doo, where are you?" when investigating a cellar where murders have been committed.

Jeopardy!

Main article: Jeopardy!
  • December 14, 2000: In the "What's the Question" category for $400, the question was, "It's the question asked of Scooby Doo in the title & theme of his first TV series," with the answer being, "What is 'where are you?'"
  • April 16, 2003: In the "On the Phone" category for $600, the question was, "By our informal estimate, this question from the "Scooby-Doo" [Where Are You!] theme song also begins 70% of cell phone calls," with the answer being, "What is 'where are you'?"
  • July 23, 2012: In the "Classic Cartoons" category for $1000, the question was, "The theme to this cartoon says, "You're not fooling me 'cause I can see the way you shake and shiver"," with the answer being, "What is Scooby-Doo?"

References