TheStar Trektheme vocal is conversant to reasonably much anyone who lived in the free world ( and probably elsewhere , too ) in the late 20th century . The melodic phrase is play during the show ’s opening recognition ; a slightly long translation is played , attach to by still from various sequence , during the end cite . The opening Sung dynasty is predate by William Shatner ( as Captain Kirk ) doing his now - legendary monologue drill , which begins : " blank space , the final frontier … "
The show ’s conversant air was write by respected picture show and TV composer Alexander Courage , who suppose theStar Trektheme’smain inspirationwas the Richard Whiting song " Beyond the Blue Horizon . " In Courage ’s contract it was stipulated that , as the composer , he would receive royal family every sentence the show was aired and the topic call play . If , somehow , Star Trekmade it into syndication — which , of course , it ultimately did — braveness stand up to make a destiny of money . And so did the soul who wrote the lyrics .
WAIT… THERE WERE LYRICS?
Gene Roddenberry , the show ’s creator , spell lyrics to the motif song .
Why would Roddenberry even bother ?
The lyric were never even meant to be heard on the show , but not because the meshing ( NBC ) nixed them . Roddenberry nixed them himself . Roddenberrywanteda piece of the compose net , so he write the hokey language solely to incur a " conscientious objector - author " credit .
As one of the composer , Roddenberry receive 50 per centum of the royal house … cutting Alexander Courage ’s share in half . Not surprisingly , Courage was furious about the deal . Though it was sound , he admitted , it was unethical because Roddenberry had contribute nothing to why the music was successful .
Roddenberry was unapologetic . According to Snopes , he once declared , " I have to get some money somewhere . I ’m certain not gon na get it out of the earnings ofStar Trek . "
In 1969 , afterStar Trekofficially got the axe , no one ( Courage and Roddenberry included ) could possibly have imagined the show ’s dandy popularity and staying power .
Courage , who only worked on two shows inStar Trek ’s opening time of year because he was busy working on the 1967Dr . Doolittlemovie , vowed he would never return toStar Trek .
He never did .
THE WORDS
If you ’re looking for an far-out karaoke issue , here are Roddenberry ’s lyrics , as provide bySnopes :
