Welcome back, To that same old place that you laughed about.
Well the names have all changed since you hung around,
But those dreams have remained and they're turned around.
Who'd have thought they'd lead ya (Who'd have thought they'd lead ya)
Back here where we need ya (Here where we need ya)
Yeah we tease him a lot cause we've got him on the spot, welcome back,
Welcome back, welcome back, welcome back.
Optional: Welcome back, we always could spot a friend.
Welcome back, and I smile when I think how you must have been.
And I know what a scene you were learnin’ in;
Was there something that made you come back again?
And what could ever lead ya / back here where we need ya?Chorus
"Welcome Back" is the theme song of the 1970s American television sitcom Welcome Back, Kotter. Written and recorded by former Lovin' Spoonful frontman John Sebastian, it reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for one week in May 1976, after only five weeks on the chart, and also topped the adult contemporary chart (the show itself had become an instant ratings success upon its premiere the previous autumn). It also reached No. 93 on the country chart.
TV producer Alan Sacks wanted a Lovin' Spoonful-like theme song for a new ABC sitcom entitled Kotter. He mentioned this to his agent, who happened to also represent John Sebastian. Sebastian was unable to rhyme anything with "Kotter" except "otter," so he chose a different approach. The producers liked the song, and changed the title of the show to reference the song title. The show is famous for launching the career of John Travolta.
