A Man with a Gun, a Theme Song, and an Extra N
If you just want to listen to some different versions of the song, try this blog post about the Peter Gunn theme song. If you want more, stay and explore the different versions and covers spanning the past 50 years. Here's a list of what's you will find:
◊ The Original Theme ◊ Ten Video Versions or Peter Gunn ◊
◊ Guitar and Bass Tabs ◊ Sample Dozens of Versions ◊
◊ Vote for Your Favorite ◊ Learn the Words ◊
◊ Tell Me about Peter Gunn ◊
The Original Peter Gunn Theme by Henri Mancini
The Orchestral Hit that Started It All
The Jazz Sound From Peter Gunn
Amazon Price: (as of 01/01/2010)![]()
This is the original version, from which all others have sprung. Sure, Duane Eddy twanged it into a monster hit a couple of years later, but Mancini and his orchestra started the whole thing with the television theme show.
YouTube Videos of the Peter Gunn Theme
From the Famous to the Freestyle
Lyrics to Sarah Vaughan's Cover of Peter Gunn
Sarah Vaughan says, "Bye, Bye" to Peter Gunn

Sarah Vaghan first recorded Bye, Bye, the actual title of the song that adds lyrics written by Jay Livingston and Ray Evans to the Peter Gunn theme song, in 1964. Most versions don't include these lyrics, and some that do include both titles as most people don't identify the song as Bye, Bye
Every night your line is busy,
All that buzzin' makes me dizzy.
Couldn't count on all my fingers
All the dates you had with swingers.
Bye-bye.
Bye, baby.
I'm gonna kiss you goodbye
And walk right through that doorway.
So long.
I'm leaving.
This is the last time we'll meet
On the street going your way.
Don't look surprised
You know you've buttered your bread.
So now it's fair you should stare
At the back of my head.
If you write a letter to me
My former friend
Don't you end
With an R.S.V.P.
I'm goin' bye-bye
I'm moving!
Tomorrow I may be splittin'
To Britain or Norwas
I'm sayin' bye-bye
Bye, baby!
Now that I've heard all that jazz
Whereas I've had it, I've had it
I'm through now with you now
So baby it's au revouir
Adios, ciao, ciao, goodbye
Listen to Full Versions of The Peter Gunn Theme
From Henry Mancini to The Cramps
Sample Cover Versions of Peter Gunn
From the 50s and 60s through Today
Which Version of Peter Gunn Do You Like Best?
Are you a Henry Mancini fan or did Art of Noise make the song?
Guitar and Bass Tabs for the Peter Gunn Theme Song
The guitar notes:

The bass notes:
Modern Interpretations and Other Uses
Peter Gunn's Theme Song Gets Updated
Recent posts about the Peter Gunn Theme Song
- Before “Happy Days” Jumped the Shark, Peter Gunn Walked the Seal
- As Peter leads this seal on a leash against a score of circus music into the police station, I feel like the drunk who, stunned by the sight, tells the captain, ?Book me?. Is this the tipping point for the series? Has Peter Gunn? jumped ...
- .:: Keypicking ::. • View topic - Peter Gunn, Nashville, and the Tube?
- Joined: Mon Apr 28, 2008 8:46 pm. Posts: 1720. Referrals: 2. Location: Houston Feedback: Post Peter Gunn, Nashville, and the Tube? What a mix - The Art of Noise and Duane Eddy....put some bourbon in your tea, eh? ...
- Thompson's Bank of Communicable Desire: The Official Thompson's ...
- There's nothing definitive about this list, obviously, nor any pretension to it: I just want to draw your attention to the music described below, all of which I think is worthy of close listening, and some of which perhaps doesn't get the .... 'The Pink Panther', 'A Shot in the Dark', 'Moon River', the 'Peter Gunn' theme... all are present and deliriously incorrect. The opening take on 'Days of Wine and Roses' sets the whole album up perfectly: it sounds like however many ...
- Sick Keyboard Drumming! James Bond + Peter Gunn Themes
- An arrangement of Henry Mancini's "Peter Gunn" theme and the "James Bond Theme", arranged, produced and performed (100% LIVE) by Brandon Bush (aka Harmony) using GROOVE BIAS drum sounds, by Impact Soundworks! All percussion you hear is ...
Tell Me about Your Peter Gunn Memories.

I'd love to know how you feel about Peter Gunn--when did you first hear the song? Did you watch the TV show? Play Spy Hunter as a kid? Share your favorite things about the Peter Gunn theme song and let me know if I've missed a great cover song or unusual take on the music. Thank you!
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- Rich007 Rich007 Nov 30, 2009 @ 10:36 am
- Awesome site you have here. You know your stuff and thanks for the info on Peter Gunn
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- CherylK CherylK Oct 16, 2009 @ 8:52 pm
- They don't write songs like this anymore...sad but true. Thanks for the memories!
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- Chertos Chertos Sep 20, 2009 @ 1:37 pm
- Please, help! What version of Peter Gunn Theme played in Waterworld?
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- fanfreluche fanfreluche Sep 11, 2009 @ 6:37 am
- Henri Mancini is a King and the Peter Gunn theme is a real classic.
Thanks for bringing back some memories:)
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- KimGiancaterino KimGiancaterino Apr 10, 2009 @ 12:17 am
- I love anything by Henry Mancini, and this theme is one of my favorites.
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- Tipi Tipi Mar 29, 2009 @ 4:03 pm
- I remember hearing about Peter Gun, but for the life of me I can't seeing the shows.
Hi, I'm Susie and I live in Fargo ND. A little birdie called CleanerLife let me know about you. Now isn't that the cool? - This is a nice lens! :)
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- bdkz bdkz Dec 6, 2008 @ 10:48 pm
- Nice lens!
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- Number1Athlete Number1Athlete Nov 4, 2008 @ 6:27 pm
- Nooooooo! i have the theme song stuck in my head!!!...oh well, great lens :)
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More History for the Peter Gunn Theme Song
The song was written as the accompaniment to a new style of detective show. It brought jazz into the middle-class home and caught the fancy of Americans who had never before paid much attention to the genre. If you'd like a fantastic history of how the Peter Gunn Theme influenced rock, punk, and electronic music since it was introduced, visit Rock'n'Soul.
Peter Gunn is an American private eye television series which aired on the NBC (produced by Revue Productions) and later ABC (produced by MGM Television) television networks from 1958 to 1961. The show's creator (and also writer and director on occasion) was Blake Edwards. A total of 114 thirty-minute episodes were produced.
The series is remembered most for its music, especially "The Peter Gunn Theme," which won an Emmy Award and two Grammys for Henry Mancini and has become a jazz-rock standard.
Did You Enjoy This Lens?
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