Ziggy Marley Reveals Untold Story Behind Arthur Theme Song

For many Americans, the opening notes of a familiar children’s programme still evoke memories of after school television and simple lessons about growing up. Few, however, realised that the voice behind that enduring theme belonged to a Grammy winning reggae artist.

Ziggy Marley has now shared details about his role in creating the song that became the theme for the long running PBS series Arthur, along with the unexpected outcome of its success.

The track traces back to 1996, when Marley and his group, the Melody Makers, were working on music connected to Muppet Treasure Island. Among the recordings was a song titled “Hey What a Wonderful Kind of Day,” which was later reworked into “Believe in Yourself” and selected as the opening theme for Arthur.

Despite the song’s wide reach and decades long presence on television, Marley said he did not receive royalties from its use on the show. Reflecting in an interview with Zach Sang, he described how its cultural impact only became clear to him much later.

“I tell you the truth… it’s just more recently I’ve been understanding the impact,” Marley said, noting that fans frequently mention the song when he travels.

He added that many listeners were unaware of his involvement. “A lot of people didn’t know I sing the song. A lot of people don’t realize it,” he said. That changed following a PBS fundraiser performance, when online reactions revealed widespread surprise. “People were like, ‘What? That’s you!’” he recalled.

Marley described the original opportunity as informal. “Somebody just said, ‘PBS wants a thing.’ And I was like, ‘Yeah, yeah, let’s go,’” he said. At the time, there was little indication the song would become one of the most recognisable themes in children’s television.

Looking back, he acknowledged that the agreement did not match the song’s eventual success. “I would have done a better contract if I knew what would happen,” he said, adding that its terms would have been different.

Even so, Marley pointed to the song’s message as its most lasting contribution. Focused on self belief and kindness, it has continued to resonate with audiences across generations. During the interview, Sang remarked, “You were able to cram almost 20 life lessons into one single song.”

The theme found new life in 2017, when Chance the Rapper performed a reimagined version alongside Marley and Stephen Colbert, bringing it to younger audiences.

Beyond the music, Arthur itself has marked cultural milestones, including a 2019 episode featuring a same sex wedding that sparked both praise and controversy.

For Marley, the enduring value lies less in financial reward and more in the connection the song continues to create with listeners.

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