"I was really honored": Barenaked Ladies vocalist Ed Robertson talks about recreating The Big Bang Theory theme song for its finale

When The Big Bang Theory ended its 12-year run in May 2019, fans weren't just saying goodbye to Sheldon and the gang. The show's catchy theme song got a special farewell too. Ed Robertson from Barenaked Ladies, who wrote The History of Everything back in 2007, got a call from the show's creators. Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady asked him to rework the tune for the final episode.

Robertson later shared:

"I was really honored that they asked me to participate in the finale."

And just like that, the song that haunted millions of viewers for over ten years transformed into something softer. The original bubbled with quirky pop energy, but this version felt like sharing takeout with old friends in Apartment 4A --- warmer, quieter, yet still reaching for the stars!

The Big Bang Theory theme song had a universe inside it, thanks to Barenaked Ladies

For those who haven't caught it on late-night TV,The Big Bang Theory theme song isn't an average TV tune. Officially The History of Everything, it squeezes the entire story of the universe (all 14 billion years) into 20 seconds.

The lyrics name-drop cosmic concepts like inflation and galaxy formation, yet somehow became a primetime earworm. You know the one:

"Our whole universe was in a hot, dense state, then nearly 14 billion years ago expansion started..."

The song’s roots trace back to Bill Bryson’s book A Short History of Nearly Everything, which simplified science for regular readers.

Visually, the sequence raced through history (from tiny organisms to space travel) before settling on the group eating takeout in Leonard and Sheldon’s apartment. Over 12 seasons, the theme became as iconic as the show itself.

The Big Bang Theory fans argued over details (like whether Raj wore his hat), and the band later played the full song at Comic-Con to roaring applause.

Ed Robertson’s tribute to The Big Bang Theory

Returning to the theme song decades later wasn't just another job for Ed Robertson. When Variety caught up with him, the Barenaked Ladies frontman described the experience as "spontaneous, and (...) [playful]" --- the same energy he remembers from creating the OG track years ago.

Robertson said:

"It was a really fun and collaborative day in the studio, getting notes back and forth from Chuck (...) Our association with the show is something we’re all very proud of."

That sense of pride shone through during the farewell celebrations. The Barenaked Ladies brought the song to The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, giving it a proper sendoff on national television.

The timing couldn't have been better for the band!

They released an acoustic version of Lookin' Up, put out their digital-only EP Fake Nudes: Naked, and announced a major 44-city tour with Hootie & The Blowfish. For frontman Ed Robertson and his bandmates, it felt like hitting two birds with one stone: a career highlight that synced with their own projects.

A farewell worthy of a scientific sitcom

In the end, the acoustic version felt like a full-circle moment for The Big Bang Theory's fans. The song that once explained cosmic beginnings now seemed to wrap up the TV universe viewers had loved for years.

Robertson later shared that his goal wasn't reinvention. He wanted to honor The Big Bang Theory's unique nerdy humor and heartfelt friendships --- the very things that made physics relatable and camaraderie shine.

While scientists tell us the universe keeps expanding, that night's finale gave fans a rare, perfect sense of closure!

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NEXT: Young Sheldon sets up Sheldon’s future on The Big Bang Theory

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