When Terry Bush co-wrote and sang maybe tomorrowthe musical theme of The smallest wandererhe thought it was just another gig: a catchy tune for a TV show about a wandering German shepherd. Forty-five years later, that “little tune” still strikes a chord, appears on playlists and has even been known to play at closing time in English pubs.
“I can’t believe the effect it’s had on people, and it still has to this day,” said Bush, now 82. “It still humiliates me greatly.”
CTV News caught up with Bush at his home in Ajax, Ontario, where he sat at the piano and, for the first time in years, sang the lyrics loved by millions:
“There’s a voice that keeps calling me. In the future, that’s where I’ll always be.”
A campaign for recognition
Recently, fans and fellow musicians have been calling for Bush and The smallest wanderer be recognized with a star on the Canadian Walk of Fame. A petition on change.org has gathered more than 5,000 signatures and more are added every day.
“It’s an honor,” Bush said simply. “An honor.”
In the late 1970s, Bush was a successful jingle writer when a friend approached him asking him to write a theme song for CTV’s reboot of The smallest wanderera character who originally appeared in a 1958 American film of the same name. The show followed a heroic dog who helped people before always moving on to his next adventure.
“He explained the concept: the dog going from city to city,” Bush recalled. “I said, sure.”
Bush teamed up with copywriter John Crossen, who wrote the now-iconic lyrics. In just 20 minutes, Bush strummed the melody on his guitar.
“I felt very satisfied with it. I thought, ‘That’s a nice little country song.’ It’s good'”.
The song that almost wasn’t
But the road to television fame was not easy. The first version of the issue failed among CTV executives. The second did the same. At one point, producers even considered a New York-produced jazz track. But in the end, Bush’s song, reworked a few more times, got the green light.
“So I made the song and I thought, that’s going to be the end, right? “It’s nice,” I thought. And I moved on to the next jingle. “Never, not even in my wildest imagination, did I think it would become what it was.”
A global success
After six successful seasons and years of reruns, Bush later learned The smallest wanderer It had aired in dozens of countries, including Japan and the United Kingdom, where its theme song became a cultural phenomenon.
“It was so popular. [on the BBC] that when the pubs closed for the night, they played the song,” Bush said with a smile.
The song even ended up in commercials, including an award-winning ad for a British bank.
‘Canada’s Batman’
Leading the fight for a star on Canada’s Walk of Fame in Toronto is Canadian history enthusiast Craig Baird.
After learning that Batman was going to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Baird had an epiphany. the thought The smallest wanderer He is “a kind of Batman of Canada.”
“He travels from city to city, helping people and fighting crime in his own way,” said Baird, the podcast host. Canadian history Ehx.
He points out that other staple programs on Canadian television such as SCTV and Children in the hallway He already has stars and believes The smallest wanderer It has also earned its place.
“If not the show, at least Terry Bush. His song is loved by generations of Canadians,” says Baird.
Musician and guitar teacher David Glabais agrees. During a recent performance at Massey Hall, he even saluted Bush, urging the audience to sign the petition.
“I think a lot of us can relate to that,” Glabais says. “That song about traveling on the road is just part of the Canadian story.”
Baird says the 2025 inductees have already been announced, but he’s hopeful the star will appear in the future.
“Our goal is 2026.”