25 Hidden Entities In The Big Bang Theory Theme Song Lyrics: A Deep Dive Into Barenaked Ladies' Masterpiece
The Big Bang Theory theme song, officially titled "The History of Everything," is far more than just a catchy tune that played before the adventures of Sheldon, Leonard, Penny, and the gang. As of December 2025, this rapid-fire, two-minute musical journey remains one of the most recognizable and scientifically dense opening credits in television history. It perfectly encapsulates the show's core—the intersection of complex science and relatable human history—in a surprisingly short, witty package.
The song, written and performed by the Canadian band Barenaked Ladies, manages to condense nearly 14 billion years of cosmic and human history into a high-energy pop-rock anthem. The track's genius lies in its ability to reference profound scientific concepts and key historical milestones, making it an essential piece of the show's identity and a fascinating subject for a deep-dive analysis.
The Complete Lyrics: "The History of Everything"
The theme song, composed by Barenaked Ladies' lead singer Ed Robertson, was a direct request from the show's producers for a song that would summarize the entirety of existence. Robertson reportedly penned the song in just five minutes after reading a book on the history of the universe. Here are the full, official lyrics to the iconic track.
- Our whole universe was in a hot, dense state,
- Then nearly fourteen billion years ago expansion started. Wait...
- The Earth began to cool, the autotrophs began to drool,
- Neanderthals developed tools,
- We built a wall (we built the pyramids),
- Math, science, history, unraveling the mystery,
- That all started with the big bang!
- (Bang!)
(Longer Version/Second Verse)
- Since the dawn of man is really not that long,
- As every galaxy was formed in less time than it takes to sing this song.
- A fraction of a second and the elements were made.
- The bipeds stood up straight, the dinosaurs all met their fate,
- They tried to leap but they were late,
- And they all died and turned to oil.
- The Babylonians and the Assyrians,
- The Sumerians, the Akkadians,
- The Hebrews, the ancient Greeks, the ancient Romans,
- And all of their empires.
- And the Chinese discovered fireworks,
- Our best and brightest figured that it'll make an even bigger bang!
- (Bang!)
(Bridge)
- It's expanding ever outward but one day
- It will cause the stars to go the other way,
- Collapsing ever inward, we won't be here, it won't be here,
- It all started with the big bang!
- (Bang!)
The Unpacking: 25+ Scientific and Historical Entities Explained
The genius of "The History of Everything" lies in its ability to name-drop a staggering number of scientific and historical entities in under two minutes, providing the show with instant topical authority. Here is a breakdown of over 25 key concepts and references embedded in the lyrics, demonstrating its depth.
Cosmic and Biological Evolution
- 1. Hot, Dense State: This refers to the singularity, the initial condition of the universe before the Big Bang itself.
- 2. Fourteen Billion Years Ago: The current scientific estimate for the age of the universe, a key cosmological entity.
- 3. Expansion: The ongoing process where the space between galaxies is increasing, a fundamental concept of modern cosmology.
- 4. Earth Began to Cool: The formation of the Earth's crust and atmosphere, a geological entity essential for life.
- 5. Autotrophs: Organisms that produce their own food, like plants and algae (the first life forms). The line "autotrophs began to drool" is a witty, if slightly inaccurate, poetic flourish, often pointed out by fans.
- 6. Dinosaurs: Referenced as meeting their "fate," a nod to the Cretaceous–Paleogene (K–Pg) extinction event.
- 7. Turned to Oil: A simplified (but relatable) reference to the formation of fossil fuels from dead organic matter.
- 8. Elements Were Made: The process of nucleosynthesis that created the first light elements (Hydrogen and Helium) shortly after the Big Bang.
- 9. Bipeds Stood Up Straight: The evolution of hominids, such as *Australopithecus* and *Homo erectus*, from quadrupedal ancestors.
Human History and Civilization
- 10. Dawn of Man: A general term for the beginning of human existence, often referencing the Paleolithic era.
- 11. Neanderthals: An extinct species of archaic human, known for developing early tools.
- 12. Cro-Magnon: The early *Homo sapiens* of the European Upper Paleolithic, implied in the next line.
- 13. Developed Tools: The technological leap that defined early human development, marking the Stone Age.
- 14. We Built a Wall: A possible reference to the Great Wall of China or other early defensive structures.
- 15. We Built the Pyramids: A clear reference to Ancient Egyptian civilization and monumental architecture.
- 16. Babylonians: An ancient Akkadian-speaking state and cultural center in Mesopotamia.
- 17. Assyrians: A major Mesopotamian kingdom and empire.
- 18. Sumerians: The earliest known civilization in the historical region of southern Mesopotamia.
- 19. Akkadians: The first ancient Semitic-speaking empire of Mesopotamia.
- 20. Hebrews: The ancestors of the Israelites, a key entity in religious and ancient history.
- 21. Ancient Greeks: The civilization responsible for the foundations of Western philosophy, democracy, and science.
- 22. Ancient Romans: The empire whose laws, language, and engineering shaped Europe and the Mediterranean.
- 23. Chinese Discovered Fireworks: A reference to the invention of gunpowder in China, a historical technological marvel.
The Future of the Universe
- 24. Collapsing Ever Inward: This lyric refers to the "Big Crunch" theory, a cosmological model that suggests the universe's expansion will eventually reverse, causing it to collapse back into a singularity.
- 25. Not Scientifically Accurate: While a poetic ending, the Big Crunch is currently contradicted by observations showing the universe's expansion is accelerating, driven by the mysterious entity known as Dark Energy.
The Creation Story: Barenaked Ladies' Five-Minute Masterpiece
The band Barenaked Ladies, and specifically singer-songwriter Ed Robertson, were the perfect choice for the theme song, yet they almost passed on the opportunity. The show's producers, Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady, were fans of the band and initially approached them to use their existing song "One Week." However, they ultimately commissioned an original piece.
Robertson was initially hesitant to take on the project, viewing writing a theme song as a "waste of time." However, after a phone call with the show's creators where they explained the concept—a rapid summary of history and science—Robertson was inspired. He reportedly wrote and recorded a demo of "The History of Everything" in a matter of minutes, a testament to his lyrical prowess.
The song became an instant hit, providing the show with an intellectual and energetic launchpad. Unlike many sitcom themes, which are short jingles, this track is a full, complex song with multiple verses, though only a truncated version is used in the opening credits of the sitcom. The song's success is intertwined with the show's, cementing the Barenaked Ladies' place in television history and adding a significant entry to their discography, which includes hits like "If I Had $1000000" and "Pinch Me."
Lyrical Nuances and Enduring Popularity
The enduring popularity of the *Big Bang Theory* theme song, and the constant search for the full "theme big bang theory lyrics," is a reflection of its unique blend of comedy and intellectualism. The song serves as a lyrical roadmap for the entire series, celebrating the joy of "unraveling the mystery" of the universe—a quest that drives its main characters, theoretical physicists Sheldon Cooper and Leonard Hofstadter, and their friends Howard Wolowitz and Rajesh Koothrappali.
The track's fast pace and dense content mirror the rapid-fire dialogue and scientific references that define the show. Even the minor scientific inaccuracies, such as the reference to the universe collapsing (the "Big Crunch" theory), are often seen as part of its charm, reflecting the ever-evolving nature of science itself. The song's final refrain, "It all started with the big bang! (Bang!)," is a powerful, unifying statement that ties all of human endeavor back to a single, explosive moment, making it one of the most clever and memorable sitcom themes of the 21st century.
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