<Li> John Witherspoon as Officer Lawson in the episode "A Matter of Mothers" (season 6, episode 20) </Li> <P> Good Times was created by Eric Monte and actor Mike Evans . The series also features a character named "Michael Evans", after co-creator Mike Evans who portrayed Lionel Jefferson on the Norman Lear - produced series All in the Family and The Jeffersons . </P> <P> The gospel - styled theme song was composed by Dave Grusin with lyrics written by Alan and Marilyn Bergman . It was sung by Jim Gilstrap and Motown singer Blinky Williams with a gospel choir providing background vocals . </P> <P> The lyrics to the theme song are notorious for being hard to discern, notably the line "Hangin' in a chow line" / "Hangin' in and jivin"' (depending on the source used). Dave Chappelle used this part of the lyrics as a quiz in his "I Know Black People" skit on Chappelle's Show in which the former was claimed as the answer . The insert for the Season One DVD box set has the lyric as "Hangin' in a chow line". However, the Bergmans confirmed that the lyric is actually "Hangin' in and jivin' ." Slightly different lyrics were used for the closing credits, with the song beginning on a verse instead of the chorus . </P>

Who sang the theme song from good times