The DuckTales Theme was written and composed by Mark Mueller, and sung by Jeff Pescetto in Disney's 1987 original version of DuckTales. For DuckTales the Movie: Treasure of the Lost Lamp, a longer instrumental version of the song was created. For the 2017 reboot, Mueller re-arranged the music and lyrics slightly, and the song was re-recorded by Felicia Barton[1].
Several alternate version revival has opened specific episodes of the 2017 series, such as Halloween and Christmas specials.
Lyrics[]
1987 Version[]
DuckTales - Theme Song - Disney+ Throwbacks - Disney+
- Life is like a hurricane
- Here in Duckburg
- Race cars, lasers, aeroplanes
- It's a duck-blur!
- Might solve a mystery,
- Or rewrite history!
- DuckTales! (Woo-hoo!)
- Every day they're out there making
- DuckTales! (Woo-hoo!)
- Tales of derring-do bad and good
- LuckTales!
- D - D - D - Danger!
- (Lurks behind you)
- There's a stranger,
- (out to find you!)
- What to do?
- Just grab on to some...
- DuckTales! (Woo-hoo!)
- Every day they're out there making
- DuckTales! (Woo-hoo!)
- Tales of derring-do bad and good
- LuckTales! (Woo-hoo!)
- Not pony tales or cotton tales,
- no DuckTales! (Woo-hoo!)
Disney Afternoon Version (1991-1992)[]
This variant was resung by Jeff Pescetto in 1990 and was used for The Disney Afternoon.
DuckTales - Disney Afternoon Intro (1992)
- Life is like a hurricane
- Here in Duckburg
- Race cars, lasers, aeroplanes,
- It's a duck-blur!
- Might solve a mystery
- Or rewrite history!!
- DuckTales! (Woo-hoo!)
- Tales of derring-do bad and good
- LuckTales!
- D-D-D-Danger! Lurks behind you!
- There's a stranger out to find you!
- What to do? Just grab on to some
- DuckTales! (Woo-hoo!)
- Tales of derring-do bad and good
- LuckTales!
- Not PonyTales or CottonTales No,
- DuckTales! (Woo-hoo!)
1987 Extended Version[]
- Life is like a hurricane
- Here in Duckburg
- Race cars, lasers, aeroplanes
- It's a duck-blur!
- Might solve a mystery,
- Or rewrite history!
- DuckTales! (Woo-oo!)
- Every day they're out there making
- DuckTales! (Woo-oo!)
- Tales of derring-do bad and good
- Lucktales!
- When it seems they're heading for,
- the final curtain,
- Good deduction never fails,
- that's for certain!
- The worst of messes
- Become successes!
- D - D - D - Danger!
- (Lurks behind you)
- There's a stranger,
- (out to find you!)
- What to do?
- Just grab on to some...
- DuckTales!
- DuckTales! (Woo-hoo!)
- Every day they're out there making
- DuckTales! (Woo-hoo!)
- Tales of derring-do bad and good
- Lucktales!
- D - D - D - Danger!
- Watch behind you
- There's a stranger,
- out to find you!
- What to do?
- Just grab on to some...
- DuckTales! (Woo-hoo!)
- Every day they're out there making
- DuckTales! (Woo-hoo!)
- Tales of derring-do bad and good
- LuckTales! (Woo-hoo!)
- Every day they're out there making
- DuckTales! (Woo-hoo!)
- Tales of derring-do bad and good
- Lucktales!
- Not pony tales or cotton tales,
- no DuckTales! (Woo-hoo!)
- DuckTales! (Woo-hoo!)
- Every day they're out there making
- DuckTales! (Woo-hoo!)
- Tales of derring-do bad and good
- LuckTales! (Woo-hoo!)
- Not pony tales or cotton tales,
- no DuckTales! (Woo-hoo!)
2017 Version[]
Theme Song DuckTales Disney XD
- Life is like a hurricane
- Here in Duckburg
- Race cars, lasers, aeroplanes
- It's a duck-blur!
- Might solve a mystery
- Or rewrite history!
- DuckTales! (Woo-oo!)
- Every day they're out there making
- DuckTales! (Woo-oo!)
- Tales of derring-do, bad and good
- Lucktales! (Woo-oo!)
- D - D - D - Danger
- Lurks behind you
- There's a stranger
- Out to find you
- What to do?
- Just grab on to some...
- DuckTales! (Woo-oo!)
- Every day they're out there making
- DuckTales! (Woo-oo!)
- Tales of daring, bad and good
- Not ponytails or cottontails, no
- DuckTales! (Woo-oo!)
2017 Extended Version[]
Felicia Barton - DuckTales (From "DuckTales" Extended Version Audio Only)
- Life is like a hurricane
- Here in Duckburg
- Race cars, lasers, aeroplanes
- It's a duck-blur!
- Might solve a mystery
- Or rewrite history!
- DuckTales! (Woo-oo!)
- Every day they're out there making
- DuckTales! (Woo-oo!)
- Tales of derring-do, bad and good
- Lucktales! (Woo-oo!)
- When it seems they're heading for
- The final curtain
- Good deduction never fails
- That's for certain
- The worst of messes
- Become successes
- DuckTales! (Woo-oo!)
- Every day they're out there making
- DuckTales! (Woo-oo!)
- Tales of derring-do bad and good
- Lucktales! (Woo-oo!)
- D - D - D - Danger
- Lurks behind you
- There's a stranger
- Out to find you
- What to do?
- Just grab on to some...
- DuckTales! (Woo-oo!)
- Every day they're out there making
- DuckTales! (Woo-oo!)
- Tales of derring-do bad and good
- DuckTales! (Woo-oo!)
- Every day they're out there making
- DuckTales! (Woo-oo!)
- Tales of daring, bad and good
- Not ponytails or cottontails, no
- DuckTales! (Woo-oo!)
2017 Short Version[]
A 30 second variant used for the following episodes:
The Great Dime Chase!, The Town Where Everyone Was Nice!, Friendship Hates Magic!, Challenge of the Senior Junior Woodchucks!, Double-O-Duck in You Only Crash Twice!, They Put a Moonlander on the Earth!, The Split Sword of Swanstantine!, New Gods on the Block!
Lyrics
- Life is like a hurricane
- Here in Duckburg
- Race cars, lasers, aeroplanes
- It's a duck-blur!
- Might solve a mystery,
- Or rewrite history!
- DuckTales! (Woo-oo!)
- Every day they're out there making
- DuckTales! (Woo-oo!)
- Tales of derring-do, bad and good
- Lucktales! (Woo-oo!)
2017 Christmas Version[]
A variant sung in the style of 1950s Christmas songs, in the season 2 episode Last Christmas!.
Holiday Theme Song DuckTales Disney Channel
Lyrics
- Life is like a candy cane
- Here in Duckburg
- Snowflakes, presents, Santa's sleigh
- It's a duck-blur!
- Might make bells jingle
- Or trap Kris Kringle!
- DuckTales!
- Christmas Eve, we're out there making
- DuckTales! (Woo-oo!)
- Tales of Christmas Past and Yuletide
- Lucktales!
2017 Halloween Version[]
A variant sung in the style of a classic monster movie, with lyrics mostly unchanged from the standard 30-second theme, used in the season 3 episode The Trickening!.
Halloween Theme Song 👻 - DuckTales
Lyrics
- Life is like a hurricane
- Here in Duckburg
- Race cars, lasers, aeroplanes
- It's a duck-blur!
- Might solve a mystery
- Or rewrite history!
- DuckTales! (Woooo!)
- Every day they're out there making
- DuckTales! (Woooo!)
- Tales of derring-do, bad and good
- Lucktales
- DuckTales
2017 Glomgold Theme Song Takeover[]
This version is part of the Disney Theme Song Takeover series on Disney Channel's YouTube account. It was used as the opening theme song in the episode GlomTales!
Glomgold Theme Song Takeover 💸 - DuckTales - Disney Channel
Lyrics
- Life is like an evil scheme
- Here on GlomTales
- Sharks and bombs and Scrooge's screams
- It cannae GlomFail
- Cannae top my grand plan
- To beat that Scotsman
- GlomTales!
- Technically I'm Scottish as well
- GlomTales!
- Uhh-Scrooge stinks, Scrooge stinks, Scrooge stinks, Scrooge stinks
- GlomTales!
- [What's next? Oh yeah!]
- C-C-C-CG, it's so fancy
- Once Scrooge sees this, there's no chance he
- Cannae compete with the glory of
- GlomTales!
- Bravest, strongest, and most modest
- GlomTales!
- Okay, we ran out of budget
- But kids six to ten will love it
- GlomTales!
Launchpad Theme Song Takeover[]
This version is part of the Disney Theme Song Takeover series on Disney Channel's YouTube account.
Launchpad Theme Song Takeover ✈️ - DuckTales - Disney Channel
Lyrics
- Life is like an aeroplane
- Here in Duckburg
- Airplanes, airplanes, aeroplanes
- It's a duck-blur
- Might fly an airplane
- Or crash an airplane
- Airplanes-er, DuckTales! Ugh!
- Now I'm on a boat with Dewey
- DuckTales! (Woo-oo!)
- Hey a scooter, whoops, ka-blooey!
- DuckTales! Woah!
- I'll catch up in a second or two
- [You guys, look out! Some guy's behind you!]
- Even worse here comes the key change
- DuckTales! (Woo-oo!)
- Jump in a plane for the refrain
- DuckTales! (Woo-oo!)
- We ducks have tails, I just got that
- That's why the name of the show is
- DuckTales! (Woo-oo!)
Clips used in the 1987 series intro[]
| Corresponding lyric | Clip description | Source episode |
|---|---|---|
| N/A | Scrooge and the nephews | Intro only |
| Life is like a hurricane... | Scrooge running from a tidal wave in his Money Bin | "Earth Quack" |
| ...here in Duckburg | Launchpad's helicopter flying over Duckburg | "Robot Robbers" |
| Race cars... | The Beagle Boys taking off in their car | "Hero for Hire" |
| ...lasers... | Dewey firing the furniture-mover ray | "The Money Vanishes" |
| ...aeroplanes, it's a... | Launchpad diving his plane | "Top Duck" |
| ...duck-blur | Scrooge gets zapped while Gyro watches | "Armstrong" |
| Might solve a mystery... | Scrooge and the nephews going down a dark stairway | "Hotel Strangeduck" |
| ..or rewrite history | Gyro as a knight (episodes 1-65) | "Sir Gyro de Gearloose" |
| Bubba carries a giant egg but slips and drops it (episodes 66-100) | "Marking Time" | |
| DuckTales! Woo-hoo! Everyday... |
Scrooge going for a swim | "Earth Quack" |
| ...they're out there making DuckTales! |
A shark chases the ducks' submarine and Webby kisses it | Intro only |
| Woo-hoo! | Huey, as a matador, runs from... (episodes 1-65) | "Send in the Clones" |
| Bubba throwing up his arms (episodes 66-100) | "Marking Time" | |
| Tales of derring... | ...a Beagle Boy who changed into a dragon (episodes 1-65) | "Send in the Clones" |
| Bubba clubs one of Mung Ho's troops (episodes 66-70) | "The Duck Who Would Be King" | |
| Gizmoduck surviving an explosion (episodes 71-100) | "Frozen Assets" | |
| Fenton pointing a musket (episodes 71-100) | "Liquid Assets" | |
| ...do-bad and... | A giant Beagle Boy holding Scrooge in his hand | "Earth Quack" |
| ...good luck tales! | Magica laughing while Poe rests on her finger (episodes 1-70) | "Send in the Clones" |
| Gizmoduck gives the nephews a lift (episodes 71-100) | "Full Metal Duck" | |
| N/A | Scrooge and Huey battling the Beagle Boys in a bakery | Intro only |
| D-d-d-danger! Watch behind you! | Huey climbing to escape the Beagle Boys (episodes 1-65) | "Send in the Clones" |
| Bubba running from the T-Rex (episodes 66-100) | "Marking Time" | |
| There's a stranger out to find you! | The nephews awaken a mummy and it chases them | Intro only |
| What to do, just grab on to some... | Scrooge and El Capitan running and jumping to escape the collapsing floor | "Too Much of a Gold Thing" |
| DuckTales! Woo-hoo! | The Beagle Boys' robot mechs do a high-five (episodes 1-65) | "Robot Robbers" |
| Fenton springing up in the chair (episodes 70-100) | "Liquid Assets" | |
| Tootsie licking Webby's face (episodes 66-100) | "Bubba Trubba" | |
| Everyday they're out there making DuckTales! Woo-hoo! |
Huey, Gyro, and Little Bulb watching as Scrooge swims after a dollar in space but then an alien grabs it | Intro only |
| Tales of derring do-bad and... | Scrooge riding a mine cart underground | "Earth Quack" |
| ..good luck tales! | A tiger hugs Huey, Dewey and Louie | Intro only |
| Woo-hoo! | Webby ducks inside a picnic basket | "Dinosaur Ducks" |
| Not pony tales or cotton tales, no, | Scrooge and Glomgold climbing up to grab a lamp | "Master of the Djinni" |
| DuckTales! Woo-hoo! | Scrooge and the nephews in the Money Bin under the logo | Intro only |
Trivia[]
- Teen Titans GO! parodied the 1987 version of the song in the episode "Missing"
- In Disney XD's reuploads of DuckTales 2017 Season 1 and Disney +'s Throwback upload of the 1987 intro, the captions say "not phonytails" instead of ponytails.
- In Disney XD's reuploades of DuckTales 2017 Season 1 the captions also say "We Might Solve a Mystery" instead of "Might Solve a Mystery".
- In Disney +'s Throwback upload of the 1987 intro the caption also say "Woo!" instead of "Woo-oo!" or "Woo-hoo!".
- Season 3 is the longest season to go without using the regular intro. They used the short version for Challenge of the Senior Junior Woodchucks! and Double-O-Duck in You Only Crash Twice!, before using the regular version in The Lost Harp of Mervana!.
- The DuckTales (2017) Glomgold Theme Song Takeover (video) includes a short scene in which lawyers confront Glomgold for copyright infringement, revealing that the song is owned by McDuck Enterprises.
- The visuals of the 2017 version was originally much different. One earlier version involved the family chasing the #1 dime around the globe while another involved the characters jumping in and out of photos in a Duck photo album. These two concepts were combined in the finalized version.[2]
- Della was added to the intro in Season 3.
- The German Intro of the 1987 series implies that both Pluto and Goofy would appear in this version despite being not the case.[3] The latter would appear in the 2017 version.
- The song has been compared to Hall & Oates’ “You Make My Dreams Come True” due to similarities in rhythm and bassline.[4]
External links[]
- The Story of the DuckTales Theme, History’s Catchiest Single Minute of Music by Darryn King (Vanity Fair, August 9, 2017) – Paywalled
- Important: The Definitive History of the 'Duck Tales' Theme Song by Guy Benson (Townhall, August 11, 2017), discussing and quoting extensively from the Vanity Fair article
References[]
- ↑ Hollywood Reporter: DuckTales Theme Song Gets an Update for Disney XD Reboot|=Hollywood Reporter
- ↑ https://mobile.twitter.com/FrankAngones/status/1244301831062220801
- ↑ Quote: "Pluto und Goofy, alle sind bei dir." (Pluto and Goofy, everyone is with you)
- ↑ Guy Benson (2017-08-11). Important: The Definitive History of the 'Duck Tales' Theme Song.