Thank You for Being a Friend

"Thank You for Being a Friend" is the opening theme song to The Golden Girls and The Golden Palace. The song was written and originally recorded by Andrew Gold in 1978. The shorter versions used for the TV series were recorded by Cynthia Fee.

Megan Garber wrote an article about the history of the song for The Atlantic in 2015: https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2015/09/the-history-of-the-golden-girls-theme-song/405169/

Lyrics
Thank you for being a friend Traveled down the road and back again Your heart is true you're a pal and a confidant

And if you threw a party Invited everyone you knew You would see the biggest gift would be from me And the card attached would say Thank you for being a friend

Clips used in the opening credits
All clips were used during the scenes from Season 1 to Season 7.

Version 1

 * Dorothy, Rose, and Blanche hugging, from The Engagement
 * All four golden girls going to the house, deleted scene
 * Blanche having a baby, from Job Hunting
 * Three golden girls in the house, deleted scene
 * Dorothy, Blanche, and Rose at the table, from Job Hunting
 * Dorothy biting her hand, deleted scene
 * Dorothy at the table, from The Engagement
 * Dorothy cares, deleted scene
 * Dorothy and Rose hugging, from The Engagement
 * Four golden girls having a party, from Guess Who's Coming to the Wedding
 * Three golden girls outside the house, from Break-In
 * Blanche leaving, Rose runs away, Dorothy slamming the door, from The Engagement
 * Rose at the door, deleted scene
 * Blanche looks at the long sleeve, deleted scene
 * Blanche walks away with her night gown, from Job Hunting
 * Blanche in the Pilot, from The Engagement
 * Dorothy opening the door and Sophia arrives, from The Engagement
 * Dorothy and Sophia shaking hands together, from Guess Who's Coming to the Wedding
 * Sophia talking, deleted scene
 * Three golden girls outside, from The Engagement

Version 2

 * Dorothy, Rose, and Blanche hugging, from The Engagement
 * All four golden girls going to the house, deleted scene
 * Blanche having a baby, from Job Hunting
 * Three golden girls in the house, deleted scene
 * Dorothy, Blanche, and Rose at the table, from Job Hunting
 * Dorothy biting her hand, deleted scene
 * Dorothy at the table, from The Engagement
 * Dorothy cares, deleted scene
 * Dorothy and Rose hugging, from The Engagement
 * Three golden girls having fun, jumping, deleted scene
 * Three golden girls outside the house, from Break-In
 * Blanche leaving, Rose runs away, Dorothy slamming the door, from The Engagement
 * Rose at the door, deleted scene
 * Blanche looks at the long sleeve, deleted scene
 * Blanche walks away with her night gown, from Job Hunting
 * Blanche talking in the episode, deleted scene
 * Dorothy opening the door and Sophia arrives, from The Engagement
 * Dorothy and Sophia shaking hands together, from Guess Who's Coming to the Wedding
 * Sophia talking, deleted scene
 * Three golden girls outside, from The Engagement

Version 3

 * Dorothy, Rose, and Blanche hugging, from The Engagement
 * All four golden girls going to the house, deleted scene
 * Blanche having a baby, from Job Hunting
 * Three golden girls in the house, deleted scene
 * Dorothy, Blanche, and Rose at the table, from Job Hunting
 * Dorothy biting her hand, deleted scene
 * Dorothy at the table, from The Engagement
 * Dorothy cares, deleted scene
 * Dorothy and Rose hugging, from The Engagement
 * Three golden girls having fun, jumping, deleted scene
 * Four golden girls singing "Miami, Miami, You've Got Style", from Big Daddy's Little Lady
 * Blanche leaving, Rose runs away, Dorothy slamming the door, from The Engagement
 * Rose at the door, deleted scene
 * Blanche looks at the long sleeve, deleted scene
 * Blanche walks away with her night gown, from Job Hunting
 * Blanche talking in the episode, from Sophia's Choice
 * Sophia arrives, Blanche, Rose, and Dorothy scared, from The Way We Met
 * Dorothy and Sophia shaking hands together, from Guess Who's Coming to the Wedding
 * Sophia talking in Season 5, deleted scene
 * Three golden girls outside, from The Engagement