Friends Are There was the first opening theme from Garfield and Friends. It was used in the first two seasons of the show.
Lyrics[]
Announcer[]
- Ladies and gentlemen, Garfield and Friends!
Vocals[]
- Friends are there...
- To help you get started, to give you a push on your way!
- Friends are there...
- To turn you around, get your feet on the ground for a brand new day!
- They'll pick you up when you're down!
- Help you swallow your pride, when something inside's gotta break on through, to the other side!
- Friends are someone you can open up to...
- When you feel like you're ready to flip!
- When you've got, the world on your shoulders...
- Friends are there to give you a tip!
- Friends are there when you need them, they're even there when you don't!
- For a walk in the park, or a shot in the dark! Friends are there...
Garfield[]
- I don't care!
Vocals[]
- But friends will care for you!
Characters[]
- Garfield
- Orson Pig
- Sheldon
- Roy Rooster
- Booker
- Wade Duck
- Announcer (voiced by Gary Owens)
Video[]
Trivia[]
- This is the only opening theme to feature original animation. Later openings would rely on clips from episodes of the show as well as the beginning and ending scenes of this opening.
- During the opening, the actions of Garfield and the U.S. Acres gang offer visual twists on the lyrics ("give you a push" = the animals push Garfield away, "turn you around" = the animals turn around the card with Garfield, "put your feet on the ground" = the animals jump to push their card atop Garfield's, "swallow your pride" = Garfield swallows the card with the animals, "something inside's gotta break on through" = Orson uses a hammer to break the screen that became a close-up on Garfield's stomach, "the world on your shoulders" = the card with the animals falls on Garfield's shoulders, etc.).
- The theme was replaced by "Ready to Party" in syndication.
- In an episode of The Garfield Show, the first verse of the song appears on mug.
- On "on demand" versions, alternate music is used; different cues play during two of the last lines.
- In the second season, the record player sounds clearer and the sound effects are louder, although the music is a little quieter.
- A remastered version of this intro was released in 2018 for streaming on Boomerang; the intro was re-animated using Flash instead of re-drawing every frame by hand.