The Story of Doctor Who's Most Iconic Song

In today's video we talk about Doctor Who's most iconic song (well maybe) the shepherd's boy by Murray Gold. This song first featured in the 50th anniversary with the 10th Doctor David tennant, 11th Doctor Matt Smith, War Doctor John Hurt, Clara Oswald Jenna Coleman & Billie piper as the moment. The song has featured aswell most notably in heaven sent, the Doctor falls, Twice upon a time and now most recently the 60th Anniversary!

[@RyansReflections7274]

This song has made me rethink my perspective on life after a very long battle with depression. The message of the song and the story behind it are beautiful. The way the song rises and falls whilst repeating like the doctor for 4.5 billion years. It’s a perfect reflection of the doctor and consequently us. When those days get too much I simply ask “how many seconds in eternity?”

[@lpc9929]

Hey Alexa hey Google

[@Dubble77D]

Hell yeah my guy. You're one hell of a bird.

[@lpc9929]

I am infertile from eating scented candles. The

[@Irrev77]

I've always considered 'The Shepherd's Boy' as 12's true theme. His existing one is fine, but THIS feels like it perfectly encapsulates Capaldi's Doctor. It's epic, it's triumphant, and it's full of hope.

[@lbricks7631]

Me when we go 5 years without hearing The Shepards Boy: "How many seconds in eternity?"

[@monofolk3948]

I always listen to The Shepherd's Boy when I'm doing my homework because it feels like an eternity.

[@TheMelonerProductions123]

Real

[@AceLocked]

Same lmao

[@ronandynan1228]

Personally I think that’s one hell of a comment

[@HC-lf2gn]

Haven't seen a more relatable comment, it feels like breaking a 20 feet azbantium wall

[@Kesteen]

You wait a moment, Doctor. Let's get it right. I've got a few things to say to you. Basic stuff first: Never be cruel, never be cowardly, and never ever eat pears! Remember, hate is always foolish, and love is always wise. Always try to be nice, but never fail to be kind. Oh, and: you mustn't tell anyone your name. No-one would understand it anyway, except... Children. Sometimes, if their hearts are in the right place, and the stars are too... Children can hear your name. But nobody else. Nobody else. Ever. Laugh hard, Run fast, Be kind. Doctor... I let you go.

[@nettieb7604]

I can’t believe I didn’t catch the shepherds boy motif in the Giggle!?!

[@serixskylark]

I heard it on a rewatch, and I swear I got a chill up my spine once I realized what it was- I hadn’t heard the shepherd’s boy in years at that point, it took me rewatching those seasons recently and then the special with a friend to recognize it. Very much worth it, though.

[@tribesman8424]

I may be yapping here but I'd argue that the shepherd's boy kind of represents the cyclical nature of the programme. The doctor realising he is trapped in a cycle of repeating the same actions over and over again in heaven sent is almost like him realising he is stuck in a tv show where he will inevitably have to continue suffering for people's entertainment and filling the same role in his story for god knows how many years to come. It's used in the doctor falls when he is yet again fighting the cybermen and listing all the times he's beaten them, over and over again, it's used in the giggle when the doctor is being whisked off to unit, literally wearing a face from his own tortured past, expected to help with humanity's latest plea for help as he has done time and time again, it's used in day of the doctor when the doctor is finding help and wisdom from two of his future selves whose idea to save gallifrey gives him back his faith in his future and lets him know that there is still a reason to keep living, and twice upon a time is a story literally all about the doctor getting sick of going through the same cycle of suffering and giving up. The episode basically asks "can the show keep going?" and by the end the message is an absolute YES, doctor who has so much potential and can live forever as long as it has its soul and creativity. Couldn't think of a more fitting track for him deciding to regenerate and start being the doctor all over again. Sam davis made a great video on TUAT just recently. Then again, it's entirely possible I'm just going insane over the funny blue box show

[@hoko433]

Honestly I love listening to Murray’s work and Shepard’s Boy tops it. 🔥

[@CharlotteProduces]

This Is Gallifrey was my all-time favourite song from Murray until The Shepherd’s Boy. You can tell it’s only been used sparingly and just the right amount as you said, because whenever you hear it (even a glimpse, like in The Giggle) you find yourself knowing that you’ve heard and loved it before, but it takes a second to work out which song it is

[@roguexxrenegade]

This song has been stuck in my head for the last near decade. Absolute masterpiece. Nearly cried hearing the motif used in The Giggle.

[@thomashall8701]

I love The Shepherd's Boy but I Am The Doctor is Doctor Who's most iconic song. It's the best despite how overused it is and the most often associated with the show in general.

[@dubbingsync]

Well it’s 11’s theme… it’s bound to get over used as was that little swelling violins section of A Good Man?

[@trystero1729]

as much as i love the shepherd’s boy, murray gold’s best work is the long song. even it’s two uses in the show sort of “rhyme” with each other: first alongside matt smith’s all-timer performance in the rings of akhaten (“rest now, my warrior”) and again during his regeneration, when the doctor who went to war at demon’s run, who returned to the war that had defined his last three incarnations to make his greatest mistake right, was laid to rest. god do i ever miss eleven

[@MichaelJohnson-kq7qg]

This. I'm a big fan of the Long Song, too - and I think most people don't remember it has lyrics when they hear the regeneration reprise, so they don't think about how the song literally describes regeneration, death and rebirth.

[@hotdog1214]

I concur, I prefer the Long Song as it really touches the soul, its beautiful. I found someone had looped it on KZbin for an hour and I listened to the whole thing - and it often gets stuck in my head as an earworm. Its a masterpiece. 😍😍

[@CheshireRu]

God, I miss 12th so much. Best era of NuWho. Real shame he did not get extended specials before his regeneration, like 10th and 11th did. Or better yet another season.

[@Bacbi]

We are lucky we got series 10 and twice upon a time. If Chibnail wasn't busy, Moffat would have left ending with the River Song episode. And he did Twice Upon because he didn't want the new christmas tradition to be ruined by him. Only for Chibnal to scrap it right away.

[@FahadAyaz]

And series 10 with Bill is one of my favourites!

[@HLR4th]

I was just listening to this today (kept hitting replay). Wonderful theme. Your right- it brought 12 full circle.

[@connormatthews9674]

mfw I find out The Shepherd's Boy didn't first appear in Heaven Sent but in Day of The Doctor instead: :O

[@evolutionhybrid7770]

The shepherds boy theme is my ultimate favourite filled with hope with the time war but heavens sent brought the meaning of getting over greif. This peace of music will always be my way for hope.

[@swiftbird4846]

It really is a gorgeous piece. Well covered.

[@VuddyProductions]

i hope this song keeps going alongside the rest of the show forever

[@themightythor1160]

HOLY SHIT I miss this in the giggle? Wtf

[@razorclaus9898]

Good video. Yes, this is probably the best piece of music in Doctor Who. I’d personally say that the Doctor’s theme generally is the Bad Wolf theme that plays a lot during the RTD era and plays a few times during the Capaldi era. My five favourite pieces of music would probably be: • Rose’s theme • Madame De Pompadour • Fear • The Shepherd’s Boy • Where there’s tears there’s hope

[@Surfboarder4]

We still need the S10 soundtrack, it has some great pieces. Unforgivable if it never releases.

[@sodorflubbs5000]

Murray Gold did the music for the 60th anniversary and did the music to The Church on Ruby Road. Apparently he’s also coming back to do more music for Russel T Davies. So we might get more of this.

[@oyindamolaeniola3395]

This song has been playing in my head for almost two weeeks now and I'm loving it! I even learnt to play a snippet of the song on the keyboard

[@stinchjack]

"never cruel or cowardly" was a phrase first penned by Moffat for The Curse of The Fatal Death

[@bojurie]

No it wasn't, Moff was honouring Terrance Dicks who was writer and script editor for the show in the 70s (debatably the best and is responsible for the majority of the character traits of the Doctor we know now) He famously described the Doctor as "Never cruel or cowardly and that he never gives up" So when it was used in the 50th it was a beautiful tribute to him and the show

[@stinchjack]

@@bojurie Terrance Dicks was certainly one of the gods of Doctor Who

[@Spoot401]

I always thought of this theme as being called "The Long Way 'Round". The musical idea representing the Doctor coming around to his greatest struggles and overcoming them.

[@kwiknkleen]

My 3 favorite pieces of music in Doctor Who is A Good Man?(12's theme), The Shepherd's Boy, and The Long Song. I can listen to them all day. Murray Gold is the new John Williams.

[@serixskylark]

I think one of my other favorite tracks aside from this one and doomsday is this is gallifrey, for the simple fact that it evokes such a longing, gut-wrenching sense of nostalgia mixed with urgency when the track later picks up- the start of that track though, is still one of my favorite pieces of music in the show. Edit: oh and of course I love the tenth doctor’s ending song and the 11th’s theme, but those are just incredibly iconic and pretty much a given, lol

[@Chord_]

So, when Moffat was writing the wall scene in Heaven Sent, he sent Murray a classical song that he thought Murray could use as a jumping off point. If you listen to them both, you can clearly hear where Shepherd's Boy came from, while still being its own thing. The problem is... I've completely forgotten what that piece was. Don't suppose anyone reading this happens to remember what it was?

[@thejither]

Moffat listened to Beethoven's 7th Symphony, second movement, on repeat, while writing the script. The editor, Will Oswald, used it as a temp track for the edit. And Murray used it as inspiration for the score of Heaven Sent as a whole. But probably _not_ for Shepherd's Boy. While other parts of Murray's score for the episode have very clear references to the 7th (e.g. the "soup scene"), Shepherd's boy probably owes both its structure (repeated themes with intensity built through orchestration, and an abrupt modulation at the very end) and rhythm to Ravel's Bolero (which doesn't mean Bolero was used - or would even have worked - as temp track for the montage - Shepherd's Boy still has a very different mood and effect).

[@Chord_]

@@thejither That's the one! Thank you!

[@karapluemer2531]

How did it only play a handful of times??? I feel like it was around so much more!

[@Lanosrep]

4 absolutely iconic and character defining moments and then... the doctor riding in a helicopter looking at stark tower... So much of the music in the 60th seemed fan servicey instead of being relevant. Like, why did we need the 11th Doctor's theme playing when Donna Noble gets her memories back? It makes no sense

[@AiRsTrIkExXzZ]

I remember rewatching day of the doctor and realising that the Shepard’s boy is used in it and thinking that’s pretty cool

[@evanmarney4621]

Great video

[@akshaytrayner1960]

Great essay

[@orbix2645]

Though I do think the title is misleading because this definitely isn’t the “most iconic” song in doctor who but besides that this video is great and I can tell it’s gonna blowup/ get blessed by the algorithm. Good work man🔥🔥🔥

[@SaammuelWho]

thanks man I appreciate it, yeah the title is definitely a bit bait but I do say that at the beginning and end. Appreciate the support 🙏

[@gmark007isGianmarcoMaioli]

Couldn’t agree more.

[@RealCoolstriker64]

I now see that scene on the final day of the time-war as the birth of the 12th Doctor.

[@ethantucker92838]

The Shepherd's Boy is my favorite piece of music of all time

[@jonaton7910]

I also think that my favorite version is The Doctor Falls version. Though, that’s only bc it builds upon the original one, which is VERY close to my fav 💯

[@optimistic5467]

For me my favorite theme is 10's unofficial theme the doctor forever But The doctor's theme from 2005 onwards, that has been the staple doctors theme has always been the most iconic song.

[@dwfan91-]

I personally disagree that the Shepherds Boy is a hopeful song, I see it more as tragic personally. Its reprise in The Giggle was a bit strange but the later inclusion of Hologram in the 14th Doctors regeneration scene made up for it. Great video I really enjoyed, Keep it up!

[@jcfawerd]

I still love “the long song”

[@orkisz007]

Isn't that rearranged "The Mad Man With A Box"?

[@bradugar]

this song feels like Twelve's 2nd Theme I just love it & think of him in the same way Doomsday is pretty much Roses 2nd Theme playing as early as her first episode when she enters the Tardis than fully extended version plays in the series 2 finale with it appearing next again in Partners in Crime when she walks away from Donna

[@lewishammett3271]

Wasn’t the first scene hidden in “this time there’s three of us” or something

[@NichtcrawlerX]

This piece has lyrics? I never noticed.

[@khepron]

💯

[@garrold7123]

3:30 first episode where the 12th doctor appeared? thats wrong. It was first used at the end of heaven sent

[@dannyboy7433]

Song for 10 is the goat

[@lpc9929]

The the bacteria. And. Hey Alexa hey Google. The the bacteria is universe

[@TheMaskedGamer]

This video should be labeled for massive spoilers.

[@davidaston5773]

You know despite my dislike of 'woke' Doctor Who or the boring in fighing - I AM PROUD to be and have been a Doctor Who fan. Never been to a convention, of any show, but this year, 2024, I will change that. Have I lived up to the Doctor's standards? NO. But, we all try. He/she is a hero. Never perfect but always with the heart(s) in the right place. At the end of the day, as long as we try to do what's best and have compassion, even for those who dislike us, we can at least say - "The Doctor would approve". To all my fellow Doctor Who fans = we are great. And, you all are ACE! David

[@thedavecorp]

Can we hear JUST the SONG somewhere?

[@messystudios8505]

I hope the song , or at least a subtlte rendition of it is used throughout the future series , but used very sparingly for the best impact. If it was used too often it would lose its emotional kick.

[@martinwood744]

Picky I know, but it's not a song. There's no singing in it. It's a tune. An instrumental.

[@rustybrooks8916]

That is good, but it's not my favorite one. That would be either "Always the Doctor" or "The Long Song". Say what you will about Moffat, I think that during his run the show had the best musical scores all throughout its life.

[@Pat12379]

What is the flux i didn't watch tge 13th doctors stiff

[@TempusVulpi]

Calling the Shepherd's Boy Doctor Who's most iconic song is SUCH a reach Don't get me wrong, I love the track, but /most iconic/ is crazy lol

[@DWN037]

"Most Iconic Song"? And it's not I Am The Doctor or the title theme?

[@SaammuelWho]

Addressed this twice in the video that the title extends the truth there like every title on KZbin but I also say in the video there's definitely more iconic songs including the theme but yk

[@omegafd6992]

i mean i totally disagree that its the most iconic, i mean the theme song for a start but if you dont count that doomsday or the 9th doctors theme are more iconic

[@SaammuelWho]

I mean I adress that it's definitely not the most iconic twice within the video and that the title is a little bit clickbait and that the theme is the most iconic but yk comment something without clearly watching the video 👍