Opening Theme
North and South Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Theres a bunch of birds in the sky
And some deers just went running by
Oh the snows pure and white
On the earth rich and brown
Just another sunday morning in my quiet mountain town

The sun is shining and the grass is green
under the three feet of snow i mean
this is a day when its hard to wear a frown
all the happy people stop to say hello
(get outta my way)
Even though the temperatures low
Its a perfect sunday morning in my quiet little mountain town

Well good morning Stan
Mom, can i have eight dollars to see a movie
a movie, but i thought you were going ice skating
but this is gonna be the best movie ever...its a foreign film, from Canada
alright alright here ya go, but be back for supper
thanks mom

Oh what a picture perfect child
just like jesus he's tender and mild
he'd wear a smile while he wore a thorny crown
what an angel with a heart so sweet and sure
and a mind so open and pure
thank god we live in this quiet red-neck mountain town

Hi, is your son home
I think so, HEY (ow) KENNY, WAKE UP
Kenny damnit, come on! (ok mam)

Kenny, the terrance and philippe movie is out, you wanna come?
Where do you think your going
going to the terrance and philippe movie (kenny voice)
You can't! you have ta go to church
but mam (kenny voice)
well fine, go ahead and miss church, AND WHEN YOU DIE AND GO TO HELL YOU CAN ANSWER TO SATAN!
*pause* ok (kenny voice)

you can see your breath hanging in the air
you see homeless people but you just don't care
its a sea of smiles in which we'd be glad to drown
*Kenny sings*
thats right
Its sunday morning in our quiet little white bred red-neck mountain town

Ok Ike, lets try this one more time
*mumble in background*
ready ike? kick the baby
no kick the baby
KICK THE BABY!

Kyle, we're going to the terrance and phillipe movie
OH MY GOD DUDE!
Kyle, whats going on?
Nothing, we're going skating now
Oh, well take your little brother out with you
aw ma, he's not even my real brother, he's adopted
do as i say kyle
ok ok im sorry

look at those frail and fragile boys
it really gets me down
the world is such a rotten place
and city lifes a complete disgrace
thats why i moved to this red-neck mashugunna quiet mountain town

*bells rings*
Maaam, somebodys at the door
Maaam, somebodys at the door i said
Coming hun
ah i can't see the tv
(background) its been six weeks since suddam husain's was killed by a pack of wild bores and the world is still glad to be rid of him
Oh look eric, its your little friends

Cartman!
what are you guys doing here?
Weekend? yes yes!

Off to the movies we shall go
where we learned everything that we know
cause the movies teach us what are parents don't have time to say
and this movie's gonna make our lives complete
cause terrance and phillipe are sweet
(super sweet)
Thank god we live in the quiet little red-neck poe dunk white trash U.S.A





Can i have 5 tickets to terrance and philippe houses of fire please
*pause* NO

Overall Meaning

The opening theme song of "North and South" paints a vivid picture of the peacefulness and serenity of a quiet mountain town. The first verse describes the picturesque scenery of snow and lush earth, accompanied by the sight and sound of wildlife. The chorus reflects on the happiness and friendliness of the town's people, who would still say hello despite the frigid temperatures. There are two storylines in the song - one is a portrait of a perfect child who reminds the singer of Jesus. The other is a humorous conversation between a mother and her son, who wants to see a foreign film from Canada instead of going ice skating. The song suggests a paradoxical atmosphere where seemingly conservative local folks sing about a permissive and liberal community living in the same geographical area.


The lyrics of the opening theme song of "North and South" convey a contrast of wisdom and wit, respect and humor. Firstly, the song highlights the beauty of a peaceful and picturesque mountain town, where people care about each other and their welfare. Secondly, the song indirectly makes light of local conservative attitudes with a funny yet thought-provoking dialogue between a mother and son that dissects the limits of conservative values. Lastly, by juxtaposing the two images of conservative and non-conservative values in the same community, the song suggests that life itself is a paradox, and the only way to negotiate it is neither to take anything too seriously nor too lightly.


Line by Line Meaning

Theres a bunch of birds in the sky
Birds are flying in the sky.


And some deers just went running by
A group of deer ran by.


Oh the snows pure and white
The snow is white and pure.


On the earth rich and brown
The ground is rich and brown.


Just another sunday morning in my quiet mountain town
It's a peaceful Sunday morning in a small mountain town.


The sun is shining and the grass is green
The sun is shining and the grass is green despite the snow.


under the three feet of snow i mean
The snow is three feet deep.


this is a day when its hard to wear a frown
It's a happy day.


all the happy people stop to say hello
People are happy and greeting each other.


Even though the temperatures low
Despite the cold temperature.


Its a perfect sunday morning in my quiet little mountain town
It's a perfect peaceful Sunday morning in a small mountain town.


Well good morning Stan
A friendly morning greeting to Stan.


Mom, can i have eight dollars to see a movie
Asking his mother for eight dollars to watch a movie.


a movie, but i thought you were going ice skating
The mother thought he was going ice skating, not watching a movie.


but this is gonna be the best movie ever...its a foreign film, from Canada
He thinks the movie is going to be great because it's a foreign film from Canada.


alright alright here ya go, but be back for supper
The mother gives him the money, but reminds him to be back for supper.


thanks mom
Grateful response for the money.


Oh what a picture perfect child
A wholesome, perfect child.


just like jesus he's tender and mild
He's as gentle and kind as Jesus.


he'd wear a smile while he wore a thorny crown
He's kind and optimistic, even when suffering.


what an angel with a heart so sweet and sure
He's an angel with a kind and confident heart.


and a mind so open and pure
His mind is open and pure.


thank god we live in this quiet red-neck mountain town
Thankful to live in a peaceful, small mountain town.


Hi, is your son home
Asking if the son is home.


I think so, HEY (ow) KENNY, WAKE UP
Calling out to Kenny to wake up.


Kenny damnit, come on! (ok mam)
Encouraging Kenny to come along.


Kenny, the terrance and philippe movie is out, you wanna come?
Asking Kenny if he wants to watch the movie.


Where do you think your going
Asking where they're going.


going to the terrance and philippe movie (kenny voice)
Kenny wants to go to the movie.


You can't! you have ta go to church
She says he can't go because he has to go to church.


but mam (kenny voice)
Kenny argues with his mom.


well fine, go ahead and miss church, AND WHEN YOU DIE AND GO TO HELL YOU CAN ANSWER TO SATAN!
She allows him to go but threatens him with eternal damnation.


*pause* ok (kenny voice)
Kenny reluctantly agrees.


you can see your breath hanging in the air
It's cold enough to see your breath.


you see homeless people but you just don't care
You see homeless people, but ignore them.


its a sea of smiles in which we'd be glad to drown
Everyone is smiling.


thats right
Agreement with the previous line.


Its sunday morning in our quiet little white bred red-neck mountain town
Describing the peaceful, small mountain town on a Sunday morning.


Ok Ike, lets try this one more time
Trying to kick Ike again.


*mumble in background*
Background noise.


ready ike? kick the baby
Encouraging Ike to kick the baby.


no kick the baby
Correcting Ike to kick the baby.


KICK THE BABY!
Urging to kick the baby.


Kyle, we're going to the terrance and phillipe movie
Going to the movie.


OH MY GOD DUDE!
Excited exclamation.


Kyle, whats going on?
Asking what's happening.


Nothing, we're going skating now
Lying about going skating instead of watching the movie.


Oh, well take your little brother out with you
Asking him to bring his little brother along.


aw ma, he's not even my real brother, he's adopted
Complaining that his little brother is adopted.


do as i say kyle
Telling him to do what she says.


ok ok im sorry
Apologizing to his mom.


look at those frail and fragile boys
Observing weak and fragile boys.


it really gets me down
It's depressing.


the world is such a rotten place
The world is a bad place.


and city lifes a complete disgrace
City life is a mess.


thats why i moved to this red-neck mashugunna quiet mountain town
The reason for moving to the small mountain town.


Maaam, somebodys at the door
Someone is at the door.


Maaam, somebodys at the door i said
Repeating that someone is at the door.


Coming hun
Responding that she's coming.


ah i can't see the tv
Having trouble seeing the TV.


(background) its been six weeks since suddam husain's was killed by a pack of wild bores and the world is still glad to be rid of him
A news report playing in the background describing the death of Saddam Hussein.


Oh look eric, its your little friends
Noticing Eric's friends.


Cartman!
Calling out to Cartman.


what are you guys doing here?
Asking why they're here.


Weekend? yes yes!
Confirming it's the weekend.


Off to the movies we shall go
Going to the movies.


where we learned everything that we know
Movies have taught them a lot.


cause the movies teach us what are parents don't have time to say
Movies teach them things their parents don't have time to.


and this movie's gonna make our lives complete
The current movie is going to make their lives complete.


cause terrance and phillipe are sweet
Terrance and Phillip are awesome.


(super sweet)
Exaggerating how great Terrance and Phillip are.


Thank god we live in the quiet little red-neck poe dunk white trash U.S.A
Thankful for living in a peaceful small town in the United States.


Can i have 5 tickets to terrance and philippe houses of fire please
Asking for five tickets to the movie.


*pause* NO
Answering 'no' to the request.




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

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Comments from YouTube:

Lost In Limbo

The music from North & South is so powerful. I watched the series back in the late 80s and rewatched it again about a year ago. It was just as good. An amazing story that I would advise everyone to see.

starre36

I love that tune. Have never forgotten it either! I am always catching myself humming it now and then. SM

Erik Kunkle

I do not recommend the 3rd one. Just let your imagination take over after the 2nd one.

A. Barnard

And probably the only TV Mini-Series with such a loaded All Star Cast!

Brad W

Absolutely one of the best TV Miniseries ever made, and I remembered this theme since it first aired.

Leonardo Pacora

Una de las mejores series que vi en mi vida acá en peru la paso red global en 1988

Anthony Oliver

Demais esta série com a música de abertura magnífica! A História é cativante com atores excelentes que deixaram saudades... Muito bom mesmo! Wonderfull music  of operture with very good movie!

Martin Martinez

An unforgettable and well-made television series...
The pain that many actors have already died...

IH L

Roots, North and South and the Winds of War are my favorite TV miniseries from the 70s and 80s. North and South simply amazing. Patrick and James were outstanding.

Bmoreviewer

Reminds me of the days of the tv miniseries that lasted almost a week. Good tv dramas. Way better than the reality shows on now.

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