n - Smith ▁and ▁the ▁single ▁was ▁attributed ▁to ▁" The ▁M ash ". ▁During ▁an ▁appearance ▁on ▁The ▁Ton ight ▁Show ▁St arring ▁Johnny ▁Car son ▁in ▁the ▁ 1 9 8 0 s , ▁Robert ▁Alt man ▁said ▁that ▁while ▁he ▁only ▁made ▁$ 7 0 , 0 0 0 ▁for ▁having ▁directed ▁the ▁movie , ▁his ▁son ▁had ▁earned ▁more ▁than ▁$ 1 ▁million ▁for ▁having ▁co - written ▁the ▁song . ▁ ▁Several ▁instrument al ▁versions ▁of ▁the ▁song ▁were ▁used ▁as ▁the ▁theme ▁for ▁the ▁TV ▁series . ▁It ▁became ▁a ▁number ▁one ▁hit ▁in ▁the ▁UK ▁Singles ▁Chart ▁in ▁May ▁ 1 9 8 0 . ▁The ▁song ▁was ▁ranked ▁# 6 6 ▁on ▁A FI ' s ▁ 1 0 0 ▁Years ... 1 0 0 ▁Songs . ▁ ▁Track ▁listing ▁▁ 7 " ▁vin yl ▁ ▁West ▁Germany : ▁CBS ▁/ ▁ 5 0 0 9 ▁UK : ▁CBS ▁/ ▁S ▁CBS ▁▁ 8 5 3 6 ▁US : ▁Columbia ▁/ ▁J Z SS ▁ 1 5 3 3 2 1 ▁[ Prom o ▁only ] ▁US : ▁Columbia ▁/ ▁Z SS ▁ 1 5 3 3 2 1 ▁[ original ▁release ] ▁ ▁Chart ▁performance ▁ ▁T riv ia ▁ ▁Wel sh ▁alternative ▁rock ▁band ▁Man ic ▁Street ▁Pre ach ers ▁released ▁a ▁cover ▁version ▁of ▁" Su ic ide ▁Is ▁P ain less " ▁on ▁September ▁ 7 , ▁ 1 9 9 2 , ▁as ▁" Theme ▁from ▁M . A .