Confession: In addition to the fact that I don’t really know the real lyrics to the TGIF theme songs but always belt them out anyways, I also more often than not accidentally start singing the second verse of the Family Matters song right after the first verse of the Full House song. This is because they are basically the same song; probably the most important and most under-appreciated thread tying the TGIF quadrumvirate together is the fact that all of the theme songs were written and mostly performed by the same guy:
Jesse Fredrick.
Here are some facts I have learned about Jesse Frederick:
- He joined Twitter in ~2016, around the time that he wrote the new Fuller House theme song with Carly Rae Jepsen, tweeted a bit, then retreated and has tweeted three times since: one Proud Dad tweet about his kid graduating from college, and two retweets of Jimmy Fallon. Terrific.
- He apparently co-wrote all of these songs with a composer named Bennett Salvay who if you ask me is not getting enough credit here. Salvay clearly needs to work on his self promotion, case in point the man hasn’t tweeted since 2011!
- He is not the one singing on the Perfect Strangers song. That one was sung by some guy named David Pomeranz.
- He has a self-titled 1971 album, which you can listen to on Spotify if you want to, but I will tell you that I am listening to it right now and it sounds *nothing* like the sweet sweet TV theme songs he went on to write in the ‘80s. I don’t like it but it kind of sounds like Van Morrison so check it out if you’re into that kind of thing.
- Someone else also decided to do a deep dive into Jesse Frederick and did a much better job than me so I’ll pass the baton now.
Bonus: The whole towel/tower thing last night got me wondering how many other TGIF lyrics I’m singing totally wrong, so I decided to figure it out. In appreciation of Jesse Frederick’s craft, below are his actual lyrics (according to online lyrics sites which I should mention can NEVER be fully trusted), with a side-by-side comparison to what I’m singing.
| Show | Supposed lyrics, according to The Internet | Actual lyrics, according to Me |
| Full House | What ever happened to predictability? The milkman, the paper boy, the evening TV? How did I get delivered here? Somebody tell me please This old world’s confusing me Clouds as mean as you’ve ever seen Ain’t a bird who knows your tune Then a little voice inside you whispers Kid, don’t sell your dreams so soon! Everywhere you look, everywhere you go There’s a heart (there’s a heart) a hand to hold onto Everywhere you look, everywhere you go There’s a face of somebody who needs you Everywhere you lookWhen you’re lost out there and you’re all alone A light is waiting to carry you home Everywhere you look Everywhere you look Shoo-bit-a-ba-ba-bow |
What ever happened to predictability? The milkman, the paper boy, evening TV How did I get delivered here? Somebody tell me please This whole world, confusing me Love and tradition [oh wait no] Clouds as mean as you’ve ever seen And the world can be so cruel Till a little voice inside you whispers Kid don’t sell your dreams so soon Everywhere you look [everywhere you look] There’s a heart [there’s a heart] A hand to hold on to Everywhere you look [everywhere you look] There’s a place with somebody who needs you Everywhere you look When you’re lost out there and you’re all alone The light is waiting to carry you home Everywhere you look Everywhere you look Shoo-bida-bop-badow |
| Family Matters | It’s a rare condition, this day and age To read any good news on the newspaper page Love and tradition of the grand design Some people say it’s even harder to find Well then there must be some magic clue inside these gentle walls Cause all I see is a tower of dreams Real love burstin’ out of every seam As days go by We’re gonna fill our house with happiness The moon may cry We’re gonna smother the blues with tenderness When days go by There’s room for you Room for me For gentle hearts an opportunity As days go by It’s the bigger love of the family |
It’s a rare condition, this day and age To read any good news on a news paper plate Love and tradition in the grand design Some people say it’s even harder to find Well then there must be some magic clue Inside these tears of woe Cause all I see is a towel of dreams Real love burstin’ out of every seam As days go by We’re gonna fill our house with happiness The moon may cry We’re gonna smother the blues with tenderness As days go by There’s room for you Room for me [mumble mumble] opportunity As days go by It’s the bigger love of the family |
| Perfect Strangers | Sometimes the world looks perfect, Nothing to rearrange. Sometimes you just get a feeling Like you need some kind of change. No matter what the odds are this time, Nothing’s going to stand in my way. This flame in my heart, Like a long lost friend Gives every dark street a light at the end. Standing tall, on the wings of my dream. Rise and fall, on the wings of my dream. The rain and thunder The wind and haze I’m bound for better days. It’s my life and my dream, Nothing’s going to stop me now. (Nothing’s going to stop me) It’s my life and my dream, Nothing’s going to stop me now. Nothing’s going to stop me now. |
Sometimes the world looks perfect Nothing can be arranged Sometimes you just get a feeling Like you need some kind of change No matter what the odds are this time Nothing’s gonna stand in my way But a dream in my heart And a long lost friend Everyone sees the light in the end Standing tall on the wings of my dreams Rise and fall on the wings of my dreams Through rain and thunder Wind and haze I’m bound for better days It’s my life And my dreams Nothings gonna stop me now It’s my life and my dreams Nothing’s gonna stop me now |
| Step by Step | [Verse 1: Jesse Frederick] The dream, wide broken Seemed like all was lost What would be the future Could you pay the cost You wonder, Will there ever be a second time around? [Verse 2: Teresa James] When the tears are over And the moment has come Say “My Lord, I think I found someone” And no one would be better To be putting it together For the second time around We got the woman and man We got the kids in a clan Only time will tell If all these dreams fit under one umbrella Step by step Day by day A fresh start over A different hand to play The deeper we fall The stronger we stay And we’ll be better The second time around |
Patrick Duffy: A dream wide broken Seemed like all was lost But to see the future You gotta pay the cost You wonder Will there ever be a second time around Suzanne Somers: Whoa-whoa when the tears are rolling And the moment has come Say my lord I think I’ve found someone But couldn’t it be better [indiscriminate mumbling] For the second time around We got the [more mumbling] We got the keys in a can [Lots more mumbling] [Basically I give up] Step by step Day by day A fresh start over A different hand to play People we fall and stumble each day But we’ll be better The second time around |