Ballad of Jed

Probably one of the public domain episodes which doesn't feature the original theme music.

The first episode starts with a narration "This is Beverly Hills, California and here come The Beverly Hillbillies", then goes into the usual part shown and heard after the opening ballad. The usual instrumental after the lyrics and title. However, there was never the sung ballad or visuals in the first episode.
Only the part with the usual titles and stars and music that you usually see and hear after the lyrics.

Starting with the second episode, you see the usual ballad opening also.

Now, I do seem to remember in the latter seasons, it usually opening with just the usual opening titles and usual music, but without the ballad.

I don't think the ballad was cut for syndication because I seem to remember those later seasons opening like that during the original network run. (Technically, the commercial lyrics of the ballad was sung, but that's different as it was a commercial iirc.

However, if anyone else who remembers the last two seasons in it's original run can confirm if that's correct or not.

Anyways, whether you hear the sung ballad or not, it should still all be the original usual music you're hearing.

If not, then it's probably some sort of copyright problem or something with your local station or the source they're getting the show from.

You should at least be hearing the usual standard music after they say "The Beverly Hillbillies" and show the opening credits.

Hey davidsfrench, When I hear the theme song, I think about the words that I read on a bathroom wall. I won't go into the entire lyrics scribbled on that wall but I'll give you a taste:

- "The kin folks said JED STICK YOUR DICK IN THERE"...

A know it's crass but that's what I sing instead of the actual lyrics.

BTW, it was 35 years ago when I first read those lyrics...I think they've been scrubbed off by now. 

"He went out with a bang, not a whimper."
Nick