The mid-70s were a rich time for TV theme songs, with 1976 giving us our third straight year with such a tune reaching #1.
John Sebastian’s ‘Welcome Back’ was the first non-instrumental theme to accomplish the feat. Sebastian, former leader of the Lovin’ Spoonful, wrote the song for the sitcom Welcome Back Kotter, which starred Gabe Kaplan as the titular Gabe Kotter, who returns to his Brroklyn high school as a teacher.
The show ran for four years and was a breakthrough for John Travolta, who appeared in Saturday Night Fever and Grease while appearing weekly as one of the “Sweathogs” in Kotter’s classroom.
This great song gave Sebastian his only solo hit, and his second #1 if you factor in his output with the Lovin’ Spoonful (‘Summer in the City’ was a chart-topper for the band, and they reached #2 twice).
Your dreams were your ticket out
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’ve turned around
Who’d have thought they’d lead you
(Who’d have thought they’d lead you)
Back here where we need you
(Back here where we need you)
Yeah, we tease him a lot
Cause we got him on the spot
Welcome back
Welcome back
Welcome back
Welcome back
Welcome back
Welcome back
Welcome back
We always could spot a friend
Welcome back
And I smile when I think
How you must have been
Future, Metro Boomin & J. Cole
And I know what a scene
You were learning in
Was there something that
Made you come back again
And what could ever lead you
(What could ever lead you)
Back here where we need you
(Back here where we need you)
Yeah, we tease him a lot
Cause we got him on the spot
Welcome back
Welcome back
Welcome back
Welcome back
Welcome back
Welcome back
And I know what a scene
You were learning in
Was there something that
Made you come back again
And what could ever lead you
(What could ever lead you)
Back here where we need you
(Back here where we need you)
Yeah, we tease him a lot
Cause we got him on the spot
Welcome back
Welcome back
Welcome back
Welcome back
Welcome back
Welcome back
Yeah, we tease him a lot
Welcome back, welcome back
‘Cause we got him on the spot
Welcome back, welcome back
Yeah, we tease him a lot
Cause we got him on the spot
Welcome back
Welcome back
Welcome back
Welcome back
Welcome back
Welcome back
Welcome back
Welcome back
Welcome back
Welcome back
Meet Me In Montauk 
Another show and song I loved as a kid!
such a great show!