Bear McCreary (born February 17, 1979) is an American musician and composer… Read Full Bio ↴Bear McCreary (born February 17, 1979) is an American musician and composer of film, television, and video games scores based in Los Angeles, California. He is best known for his work on the re-imagined Battlestar Galactica television series and for the TV series Outlander and The Walking Dead. He has also scored for the PlayStation 4 video game God of War.

McCreary won an Emmy for his main title of Da Vinci's Demons. His most recent Emmy nomination was in 2015 for Outstanding Music Composition for a Series for season one of Outlander.

McCreary was born in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and spent most of his formative years in Bellingham, Washington. He is the son of author Laura Kalpakian and professor Jay McCreary of University of Hawaii. His brother, Brendan McCreary, is also a musician. Bear has directed and produced several music videos for Brendan's band, Young Beautiful in a Hurry. He graduated from Bellingham High School in 1997.

He is a classically trained pianist and self-taught accordionist. He studied under the renowned film score composer Elmer Bernstein during which time he reconstructed and reorchestrated Bernstein's 1963 score for Kings of the Sun. Their collaboration allowed for the complete score to be available as a soundtrack album for the first time in 40 years.

McCreary credits composers Jerry Goldsmith, Elmer Bernstein, Danny Elfman, Ennio Morricone, John Williams, Shirley Walker as being key to his growing up adoring film music. They were his heroes while he was growing up. Contemporary composers continue to inspire his growth and is a self-avowed fan of Hans Zimmer.

A Good Lighter
Bear McCreary Lyrics

We have lyrics for these tracks by Bear McCreary:

All Along the Watchtower There must be some way out of here Said the…
Comin' Thro' the Rye O, Jenny's a' wet, poor body Jenny's seldom dry She draggled…
Dance of the Druids A Righ na gile A Righ na greine A Righ na rinne A…
Gaeta's Lament Alone she sleeps in the shirt of man With my three…
gaetas lament Alone she sleeps in the shirt of man With my three…
God of War Útlægr Guð Smán föður Von móður Þraut barnsins Útlægr Guð S…
God of War Ragnarök Útlægr Guð Smán föður Von móður Þraut barnsins Útlægr Gu…
godzilla Godzilla! Mosura! Sore! Sore! Sore! Sore! Go! Go! Go! Godzil…
Lords of Kobol .lyricbox{display:none !important;}…

The Dragon Eldur Kemur Ofan Báll Gleypandi Allt á Skeraa Loft Leður Væn…
The Summit Fylg minni Rödd Er þér lýsir um nótt Hann þarf þinn styrk þú…
Wander My Friends Siúlaigí a chairde, siúlaidh liom Mar cheo an tsléibhe ua…

The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos

TRACKS

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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@Phoenix-214

4y↑1

@@andrewwaldock "Wander my friends, wander with me

Like the mist on the green mountain, moving eternally
Despite our weariness
We'll follow the road
Over hill and valleys
To the end of the journey

Come on my friends and sing with me
Fill the night with joy and sport
Here's a toast to the friends who have gone from us
Like the mist of the green mountain
Gone forever"

-The translated Gaelic lyrics of "Wander My Friends," a song based on this exact leitmotiff.

All comments from YouTube:

@ellis2888

1y↑15

almost 20 years and this show,these tracks will be part of my life forever.
My grandpa used to watch this show with me,it was his favorite and the day he died i got the chance to choose a song for his departure and guess what?
This was that song
I will forever remember him while listening this gem
Thank you Bear for creating a masterpiece like this.

@MerchantIvoryfilms

10y↑206

Lee: You know, sometimes it feels like the whole ship thinks Starbuck would do better
Adama: I don’t
Lee: How can you be so sure?
Adama: Because you’re my son

@richardched6085

7y↑24

Merchant Ivory LEE: And if it were me down there instead of Starbuck?
ADAMA: If it were you down there... We would never leave.

@jamesharding3459

5y↑16

William Adama, for all his faults, is a good commander, a great father, and a better man.

@198EE4

3y↑4

@@richardched6085 that line still gets me

@JessFromMead

7y↑106

"I'll bring it back...."
"You damn well better. Its a good lighter..."

@faisalothman8077

4y↑4

OMG. I thought he was talking about the ship. I heard 'fighter'.

@jamesharding3459

@@faisalothman8077 I went back, and it could definitely be heard either way. If that was deliberate, it was bloody genius!

@sayyadinaatreides5322

10y↑149

I swear to God I start crying whenever I hear this song. Stupid Bear McCreary, too damn good at his job.

@mdarcy785

9y↑3

Well quite!

@jordanday2334

9y↑5

Yes. This brings a tear to my eye now and when i watched the series. Loved the series BTW. Great soundtrack too

@davidbush9274

3y↑3

It is enough to make a Cylon shed a tear.

@MrLawrence0071

2y↑1

That was one of the best series and sound tracks I have ever heard. Till this day.

@jamesharding3459

5y↑43

Serving long after she paid her dues to the Colonial Fleet in blood, toil, and tears, she fought on, guarding her people to the very end. Here’s to Galactica, the best damn ship in the fleet! And the best in Sci-Fi, period. An honorable mission, a fine crew, and a service record to put the Enterprise to shame - gods bless, Galactica!

@eclypse1513

3y↑3

Ame- So say we all

@ptdeep51

9y↑65

Seriously, there are at least 10 songs in the series that I will automatically start tearing up or phantom salute someone. So powerful! I can picture the entire scene on Pegasus!

@TomOostenrijk

10y↑126

This is the most powerful piece of music in the sries, and my personal favourite.

It's a good lighter!

@56bturn

9y↑4

You heard its other version, Wander my Friends?

@TomOostenrijk

9y↑2

I saw some of the live orchestra performances That solo is just awesome

@JoaoSoares-rs6ec

5y↑1

That's two of us

@Ryan-fr4vt

7y↑22

"This old girl has still got another fight left in her" William Adama

@JLuVeeGee

13y↑7

I loved how the Adama theme had this great scotch/gaelic "homey" feel. I thought it was perfect for the characters and kind of brought everything back to an olden days sea faring sailing vessel feel.

@witchywoman2008

9y↑110

"We're bringing our family back together."

@JediNg135

9y↑7

witchywoman2008 This ends, now.

@Nickotak

9y↑1

JediNg135 So say we all!

@poiuz78

9y↑1

JediNg135 So say we all!

@56bturn

witchywoman2008 There's a variation of this piece for that, isn't there?

@kerianhalcyon2769

9y↑2

+JediNg135 There is only one way that I and my crew can sleep at night, and it's your fault I have to do it.

9 More Replies...

@stefanski48

10y↑95

"To Galactica! Best ship in the fleet!" ~ Admiral Adama

@cerberussc2929

6y↑4

SO SAY WE ALL!

@AceUrbis

5y↑1

So say we all!

@PhoenixT70

To Galactica, the best ship in the fleet!
To the man and women of Galactica!
To the Admiral!
Who commands the men and women of Galactica!
To absent friends.
-Lee Adama (Major, Colonial Fleet Ret.)

@Onigirli

4y↑2

"This was a hell of a ship once" - Kelly during the Mutiny arc

@marckrieger3277

3y↑1

Well she was the only battlestar in the fleet at this point...

1 More Replies...

@cerberussc2929

6y↑19

My gods, I frakin loved this show, 2017 people! I'm still here! Watching this! THAT IS HOW GOOD IT WAS!!
SO SAY WE ALL!!

@thedavecorp

6y↑2

Varient54 Did you see CAPRICA?

@jamesbarnes8854

6y↑1

Varient54 So say we all

@RiderAerix

5y↑2

Boy I’m here 2019 watching it with my dad and brother. We (me and my brother) have been going in blind and my god... it’s so good

@CTPinball

So say we all!!!!

@PhoenixT70

So say we fraking all!

3 More Replies...

@tywhite3

13y↑3

I never realized how much this show meant to me until I finished watching it today. I was heartbroken it was over. I feel complete though, and quoting Kara, this song makes me feel happy and sad at the same time. Those are the best songs.

@lyncho6969

14y↑5

i want this played at my funeral . its such a beautiful piece of music

@johnclamshellsp1969

49w↑1

Whos still here in 2023? So say we all folks.

@Willsr14

13y↑6

When i listen to this, I have a feeling of overwhelming beauty. Something that is far too great for me, and also that frustration of knowing the location of this beauty and wanting to have it then show it to all the world.. but not being able to, like a brick wall. A feeling that i can only find a cure for in my girlfriend... i hope we can listen to this together sometime :)

@seph1r0th400

15y↑4

This track, along with "Wander My Friends", "Reuniting the Fleet" and "Admiral and Commander" are my favourites. So say we all!

@Huseyin-cn8kz

7y↑23

to galactica, best ship in the fleet.

@mdarcy785

7y↑2

Bleda YALICI to Galactica

@VPhenomV

13w

This tune makes me cry every single time I listen to it... it's just so powerful

@mikemiller7926

24w

I tear up every time I hear this song. Great scene. Great episode. Great show. Thanks for posting!

@dudeawesomelolrofl

10y↑52

If you put this song at the end of any finale show it jut makes it unbearably sad

@sarumannoob

10y↑8

add this song to titanic and it makes it better :D (the movie)

@stefanski48

10y↑6

If you put this song at the end of any finale show it jut makes it better

@Onigirli

4y↑2

There's nothing sad about it, it's an uplifting tune. Now that one music they used right after Adama got shot in the first finale (and re-used in other moments like when Lee is floating in space watching the Resurrection Ship get destroyed), THAT's a truly unbearably sad theme.

@andrewwaldock

4y↑1

It's uplifting but in a somber way. There is a melancholy quality to it but ultimately this song and the derivations of it (Admiral & Commander being my favorite) kind of fills you with resolve...like if you were facing a tough decision or situation it is the music version of making a decisive choice and sticking to it. That's how I feel, anyway.

@Phoenix-214

4y↑1

1 More Replies...

@NowhereMan789

10y↑17

The feels are so real

@josephrobbiano

5y↑1

21 seconds in and that flute kills me. Jaw clenching

@jediknight73

9y↑16

this show had a great music!!!

@viadur1337

8y↑1

great music for sure, but this show... way beyond that

@ryuketsu2043

11y↑1

There will never be another show with as well done as this. Between casting, writing, and music. Epic.

@friedmaniac

11y↑1

This song, in my opinion is the greatest from the entire show. It is what makes this one of the best shows there are. Just amazing. There is no better way to describe it.

@vivifleur9528

5y↑1

This song is like the soul of the series... Just melting

@Rossebma

4y↑3

"The soundtrack in the background matches the situation perfectly and later became known as a defining piece of Battlestar Galactica Music."
- Spacedock
(Not quote on quote)

@dustynmofos

44w

Rewatching and sad to admit I had forgotten how wrong this series would feel without Bear McCreary and his wonderful sounds. This track specifically just hits the heart.

@buauaua2

12y↑4

3 people never brought the lighter back! Seriously, how can one dislike this theme!? There are cylons among us, I tell you!

@Egobyte83

11y

Just toasted my dear old pops who passed away in 09. This is indeed a very gripping piece of music. I remember everytime i heard it in the show it was something about Lee and William Adama, and it always struck home with me.

@xxdoubleonothingxx

12y↑2

"dad, i'll bring it back." "you better, or i'll kick your ass. it's a good lighter." MY. HEART. <3

@nickpupino2028

6y↑1

I've never once watched Battlestar Galactica, but i heard this song and loved it. It's like a mix of Lord of the Rings (The Shire) and Titanic. Beautiful what effect music can have on us.

@anonymousanonymity2815

Watch it or I’ll kick your ass it’s a good frakkin show

@OnceWasARose

11y

Started rewatching Battlestar Galactica recently and this song played in the background to one of Adama's speeches. Made me remember why I loved this show originally. This song just brings it all home. :)

@viperhalberd

6y↑1

Needed this track to encourage me to light up a candle, just so I'd get out of bed and stop my room stinking. Thanks Bear.

@seph1r0th400

15y↑1

I know. That tune is the best one in the series. I makes me feel sad, hopeful, depressed, nostalgic, love and...far too many other tings

@oliverhoefner8639

8y↑4

Its a good dam masterpiece....

So say we all...

@GingaNinja106

12y

Fark This is a beautiful show,,,

@Raving

15y

I have never missed a TV show the way I miss this one.

@oliverhoefner8639

6y↑2

2018 i still listen and love it....

@emperorgizmo3014

A Good Lighter... or as I knew it at first. The Adama Family Theme, or my personal favorite. The Lee Adama Level Up music. 🙂

@Halogamething

1:08 this played in my head when Galactica flew away to the sun. A good ship that served and protected humanity until the end

@SmugCanadian

12y

I really miss this show

@theversatileartist6446

9y↑1

One of my favorites of all time, incredible.

@BSGNEXUS

13y

we will always live on in one form or anther and thats what this show sort of shows us i mean from being 12 great and powerful planets united under one flage to a fleet of ships that should have never lasted as long as they did it's brillent

@Evangelion81

13y

Like no other TV Show BSG gives us the message to soldier on, never to give up and face all problems that may occur in our life´s. Cause the Night is always darkest before the Sunrise and what ever you may think, the light will come back again and a new Day will arise. This message is what makes BSG so exceptional and will give it´s actors and creator´s a piece of immortality.

@jhavlina

13y

Amazing music...I miss this show

@ConorDoesItAll

9y↑20

Adama: You best bring it back to me. Or else ill kick your ass.

ME : I love this show ....

@1312Ernest

13y

Very nice series!very nice music

@evilclown9911

13y

Listening to this song honestly lifts my spirits

@cletusvandamme366

I am beyond in love with this piece of music :)

@BobAteAChicken500

11y

This song is so beautiful I have downloaded every version, every adaptation, every allusion to the melody!!

@ghanimajade

15y

Bear McCreary ROCKS!!

@slash667

13y

@starwarsfreak225 gods tell me about it. no tv show has ever touched me this deep. i really think this is the best tv show ever produced. from the actors, the story, and especially the soundtrack, everything is just about perfect. nothing left to be wished for, just plain good.

@matthewgrenier3422

11y↑1

When I listen ths song I always crie :P cauze this show was so good OMG I'm crying again frak!!

@mrgregdunn

I listen to this every night on a loop while I sleep.

@Maxiemax

14y

@JediNg135 You know, normally if i heard somebody say a show brought them to tears, id roll my eyes and think "god get a grip". But Roslins last scenes in the last episode actually made me get a tear or two! This is saying something to the strength of BSG because nothing, EVER, makes me cry!

@mbrennan27

13y

best show of all time

@McNea1234

14y

BSG has a soul, unlike Star Trek, SG1/Atlantis, and other scifi shows it connected to all of us on a spiritual level

@CarbonDoggie

10y↑30

The Theme of William Adama. :)

@Lukaseka95

10y↑4

So say we all!

@panzerleader49

This is powerful but 'Kats Sacrifice' make me cry real tears every FRAKKIN time... curse you Bear McCreary

@Google-Experts

Absolut great composition.

@localfive0

14y

I am a fan of both Star Trek and BSG. With that said, I need to quote Scotty on this song: this song definately, "Brought a tear to me eye."

@CTPinball

I'm still listening to this in 2019 and this song it's still fracking good

@wildkrrd

14y

@JediNg135 Yeah... You hit that one on the money. I still get a lump in my throat when I watch the last act in "Flight of the Pheonix." Just incredibly emotional television. You don't see it very often.

@Andreass277

12y

Favourite moments of whole series are with this beutiful theme. Lee destroying ore station or sacrifiing Pegasus and saving the fleet. Thats when a good show makes you start caring.

@hpfan0695

13y

This song gives me goosebumps everytime i hear it

@TheStarkiller96

My heart that stuff was made to touch hearts and souls :D

@mihailucut9810

6y↑1

This song activated me!

@Aaro4LM

12y

Amazing.

@eclypse1513

Can't stop crying, don't wanna stop crying

@PhoenixT70

This show wasn't about evil robots, or men at war.
It was about a father and his son making peace.
So say we all.

@pabloy5499

This is seriously the best song in the series

@georgehaze

12y

Every time that I hear it and it's been a few years now.

@JediNg135

13y↑1

@tywhite3 Agreed. I think my eyes welled up a little during the scene that this piece was introduced. Absolutely perfect.

@andreas956

This is easily the best song of them all in the Battlestar Galactica series.

@moreblack101

13y

BAttlestar Galactica was a show compiled of deep emotional meaning. Today Japan was struck by tidal waves and massive earthquakes. It is said by prophets in our world, that this is the beginning of our end. I believe that like in BSG, that despite all fears and when all hope looks be lost, We Can never give up. There is but one race and that is the human race.So say we all...

@oliverhoefner8639

Masterpiece

Soundtrack
Acter
Movies

@MerchantIvoryfilms

11y↑1

Adama: I don’t. Lee: How can you be so sure? Adama: Because you’re my son. That is the best line in the whole series ^^

@AIRburst95

7y↑3

Forever Goose Bumbs

@F4Wildcat

14y

Remaking an existing serie. it is the most difficult things their is in making a serie. Battlestar galactica was one of the few serie's wich where better then the origenal The music is one of those things aswel. My dad was a fan of the old BSG series. And he said=This is how i wanted to see it end.

@Calebv319

10y↑9

So lucky to have finished this show before it got bounced from netflix

@laurentiucristian1

9y↑1

It's still on Netflix, in UK. I used a VPN to see it lol.

@HelloBrethrenGames

9y↑1

it will come back on netflix some day again

@OldDood

9y↑7

+Calebv319
You need to own the DVDs. They are better. Extended Cuts of some episodes that matter.
Like 'Pegasus' for example...
Do not get me wrong.
Amazon Prime and Netflix has their uses but owing the DVDs and/or Blu-Ray's is superior...

@shannoni86

8y↑1

+OldDood I just got them from Amazon for $82. The entire series including the miniseries.

@Debbiebabe69

Just buy them from a second hand store. Ive seen loads of copies around. And unlike ShitFlix, once you have the DVDs you are not at the mercy of some dodgy company whether you can watch your favourite show or not. And best of all its MUCH cheaper. Amazon prime is around £70 in the UK or $120 in the US per year, Shitflix is similar. How much did it cost me for the entire BSG series? £1 for series 1. £1 for series 2. £1 for a pack containing series 3, 4 AND the miniseries. So £3 for the ENTIRE set - which is roughly TWO DOLLARS in the USA. And like I said, I can watch it whenever I want - noone can 'pull' the series once you have it on real, physical, DVD.

@salvatoreconti975

32w

Grazie mille

@darthnettols

12y

frakking incredible song from a frakking incredible series..was so sad when it ended

@godmathias

11y

No kidding man. Seriously left a hole when it finished.

@dnniscoenraad

11y

BSG has the potential to give me a heartattack sometimes but when this tune comes on you know they wont decide to fuck with your mind then. love this track! super soothing

@erentheca

12y

The choice to make Joseph Adama a civil liberties attorney and not a military commander (as they originally planned on doing) was a stroke of genius. It added a layer of genuinity to this scene, reinforcing the feel that these were real people, they came from a real culture.

@Dein_vater_ichbin

ohh shit best amazon series i see i love it!!!!!

@Crlarl

11y

The force will be with you, always.

@groherzogtummapping867

Don't you insult BSG with a reference to mere Star Wars!

@splatoonistproductions5345

The good lighter lit the way home

@cookiemousie

13y

lol no way bsg brings me to tears every time the music is so awesome it is way better then star trek or stargate

@astralislux

11y

What a frakking great series.

@JediNg135

15y

Yeah all at the same time. Its awesome!

@JediNg135

14y

I agree. I suppose those shows have their place, but they certainly couldn't bring me to the tears practically like BSG managed to do, the scene in which this piece was first used for example. Amazing show. Amazing soundtrack

@bucklebill2

9y↑6

Clear Skies...

@hellhoundactual8201

7y↑2

Part this with Part III's "You never really did talk much, did ya?" When John's talking to Haffas Hologram.

@Yklip91

15y

I got such a buzz when i heard this for the first time in the series

@kaycoocachoo

13y

@JediNg135 Plan on having this played at my wedding as well as the Colonial Anthem as our walk out processional.

@patiscool5553

"Sometimes you gotta roll the hard six"

@shanechapman3567

Best damn ship in the fleet galactica

@thedavecorp

8y↑1

And...favorited.

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