What was the theme song of The Wonder Years?

The theme song of The Wonder Years was “With a Little Help from My Friends,” performed by Joe Cocker. The song played over the show's opening and became closely associated with Kevin Arnold's memories of growing up.

The song was written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney and first recorded by the Beatles for their 1967 album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. The series used Joe Cocker's more soulful 1968 cover rather than the Beatles' original recording. Cocker's version had a larger, more dramatic sound that suited the show's emotional mixture of nostalgia, awkwardness, humor, and coming-of-age reflection.

The opening sequence changed over the course of the series. Early seasons used home-movie-style footage of Kevin, his family, Paul, and Winnie, while the sixth-season opening incorporated historical images from the 1960s and early 1970s. The title is sometimes confused with other period songs featured in episodes, but Cocker's rendition was the program's signature opening theme.