You know that feeling when a song just clicks? You hear those first few notes and suddenly you're standing on a busy street corner in Minneapolis, ready to take on the world. That’s the magic of "Love Is All Around." For a lot of people, the mary tyler moore theme music isn't just a TV intro. It is a 56-second anthem about starting over.
Honestly, it’s kind of wild how much weight those lyrics carry. Most sitcom songs back then were catchy but shallow. This one? It felt real.
The Rockstar Behind the Records
People usually assume a "TV composer" wrote the theme. Someone in a suit, maybe. In reality, it was Sonny Curtis. If that name sounds familiar, it's because he was a legit rock legend before he ever touched a TV script.
He was a childhood friend of Buddy Holly. He literally played in The Crickets. He wrote "I Fought the Law"—yeah, the one The Clash made famous.
When Sonny got the call to write for a new show about a single woman moving to the big city, he didn't have much to go on. He was handed a four-page treatment. Basically a "here’s the vibe" document. He sat down and wrote the song in about two hours. Think about that. One of the most recognizable pieces of music in history was finished before lunch.
The Lyrics That Changed with Mary
One thing most people miss is how the lyrics actually evolved. They weren't static. In the first season, the song is a bit... hesitant? It asks, "How will you make it on your own?" It feels like a concerned friend wondering if this girl from the Midwest is going to get eaten alive by the big city.
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By the second season, the producers realized Mary Richards had already "made it." She was doing fine. So, they changed the opening lines. They swapped the worried questions for the iconic, "Who can turn the world on with her smile?"
It shifted from doubt to celebration.
The ending changed too. Originally, it was "You might just make it after all." By the end of the series, that "might" became a definitive "gonna." You're gonna make it. That subtle tweak mirrored the entire journey of women in the 70s workplace. It was a vote of confidence every Saturday night.
Why It Stuck
The mary tyler moore theme music worked because it wasn't overly produced. They actually wanted Andy Williams to sing it. Can you imagine? It would have been way too polished. Sonny Curtis ended up singing it himself, mostly because he told the producers they couldn't have the song unless he got to perform it.
His voice has this dusty, Texas-born warmth. It sounds approachable.
The song has been covered by everyone. Joan Jett did a punk-rock version that absolutely rips. Sammy Davis Jr. gave it a Vegas swing. Even the Twin Cities' own Hüsker Dü covered it as a tribute to their hometown. It’s one of those rare tracks that survives any genre because the core message is so universal.
The Hat Toss and the High Note
You can't talk about the music without the visual of Mary throwing her tam in the air. That moment at the intersection of 7th and Nicollet is peak television. But it’s the orchestral swell right at that moment—the "Love is all around, no need to waste it"—that makes your hair stand up.
It’s about agency. Taking the town. Taking the chance.
Funny enough, Sonny Curtis passed away recently, in late 2025. It’s a huge loss for the music world, but man, what a legacy to leave behind. He gave us the soundtrack for being brave when you're scared.
What to Do Next
If you’re feeling a bit stuck or just need a hit of nostalgia, do these three things:
- Listen to the Season 1 vs. Season 2 versions. Pay attention to the shift from "How will you make it?" to "Who can turn the world on?" It’s a masterclass in how small lyrical changes can alter the entire mood of a show.
- Check out Sonny Curtis’s original rockabilly work. Seeing the guy who wrote the MTM theme jamming with Buddy Holly puts the song in a whole new historical context.
- Watch the Joan Jett cover. If you think the song is just "soft," her version will completely change your mind about the grit hidden in those chords.
The song is a reminder that even if the world is "awfully big," you've got the looks, the charm, and the sheer will to make it. After all, you’re most likely to succeed.