A friend told me this and initially I could not believe it. Apparently royalties for writing a tune are different depending on whether there are lyrics or not. the composer (Alexander Courage, in this case) gets all the royalty money if there are no lyrics. If there are lyrics, the composer of the tune and the composer of the lyrics split the royalties. To claw back some of the money, Gene Roddenberry wrote lyrics to the opening theme of Star Trek, even though they were never sung, (and apparently they were so awful, Roddenberry wanted to keep them secret).
Here is Roddenberry's masterpiece:
Beyond
The rim of the star-light
My love
Is wand’ring in star-flight
I know
He’ll find in star-clustered reaches
Love,
Strange love a star woman teaches.
I know
His journey ends never
His Star Trek
Will go on forever.
But tell him
While he wanders his starry sea
Remember, remember me.
I must say, the is quite a schmuck move by Roddenberry.
Here is Roddenberry's masterpiece:
Beyond
The rim of the star-light
My love
Is wand’ring in star-flight
I know
He’ll find in star-clustered reaches
Love,
Strange love a star woman teaches.
I know
His journey ends never
His Star Trek
Will go on forever.
But tell him
While he wanders his starry sea
Remember, remember me.
I must say, the is quite a schmuck move by Roddenberry.
