The Government Cheese soundtrack includes songs by The Chambers Brothers, Sly Stone and Can. This info article contains composer and music supervisor details for Paul Hunter and Aeysha Carr’s Apple TV+ series. Visit the Soundtracks of Television section for more soundtrack song time codes and track listings.

Government Cheese stars David Oyelowo as Hampton Chambers, an ex-convict who invents a self-sharpening power drill. Simone Missick co-stars as Astoria Chambers, the protagonist’s wife who feels surprised by her husband’s sudden return to their Los Angeles home. The storyline follows Hampton as he gets mixed up with a crime family from Montreal. Composers Alan Demoss (A Family Affair) and Siddhartha Khosla (This Is Us) scored the Apple TV+ series; a music supervisor isn’t credited. In addition, Pharrell Williams recorded the theme track, “Get Down.” Here’s every song in Government Cheese.

Read More at VV — Soundtracks of Television: ‘The Studio’

Government Cheese Soundtrack: Every Song in Season 1, Episode 1 “The Gospel of Kenny Sharp”

• “Time Has Comedy Today” by The Chambers Brothers (00:00): Hampton exits a solitary confinement cell at Chino State Prison. The Government Cheese soundtrack song continues as inmates cheer. The track plays again at 00:09 and during the episode’s end credits at 00:41.
• “Going Down” by Moloch (00:03): An inmate speaks to Hampton. He tells a story about prisoners named Kenny Sharp and Willie B (Tommy Rice). The Government Cheese music accompanies an attack sequence.
• “Hot Fun In the Summertime” by Sly Stone (00:12): Hampton gets released from Chino State Prison. He travels on a bus during a transition sequence. Hampton arrives at his home and reunites with his wife, Astoria.
• “Don’t Crowd Me” by Keith Kessler (00:14): Hampton enters the room of his son, Harrison (Jahi Di’Allo Winston). The Government Cheese soundtrack song plays from a speaker system. Harrison smokes a pipe.
• “People They Don’t See” by The Free Rein (00:25): Hampton travels with Bootsy (Bokeem Woodbine). Music plays from a speaker system. Bootsy informs Hampton about the Prevost brothers from Montreal who own the valley.

Read More at VV — Soundtracks of Television: ‘Dope Thief’

Government Cheese Soundtrack: Every Song in Season 1, Episode 2 “Trial and Error”

• “Sennerin” by Lars-Luis Linek (00:00): The Government Cheese soundtrack song plays during the opening sequence. A man narrates about the Prevost brothers. The family matriarch gives birth to her seventh boy and abandons her family.
• “Hallucination” by Bruno Leys (00:02): The Prevost brothers get raised by their father. They recognize their power as a group. The Prevost brothers vow to escape poverty.
• “Song My (My Lai)” by Baba Scholae (00:03): A 1965 sequence begins. The Prevost brothers kill a man. Jean-Guy (Louis Cancelmi) gets arrested.
• “Vitamin C” by Can (00:15): Astoria finishes a phone call. Hampton’s Bit Magician invention gets approved by Rocketcorp. Manfred talks about Hampton’s scotch gift.

Read More at VV — Soundtracks of Television: ‘Prime Target’

Government Cheese Soundtrack: Every Song in Season 1, Episode 3 “Two Doors”

• “One Step Around” by Aretha Franklin (00:00): The Government Cheese soundtrack song accompanies the opening sequence. Hampton and Astoria watch fireworks while resting on top of a vehicle. Music plays from a speaker system.
• “Soul Nitty Gritty” by The Dontels (00:04): A restaurant sequence begins. The tune plays from a speaker system. Astoria chats with her lover.
• “You’re All I Need” by Carl Henderson (00:18): Hampton enters a restaurant crawl space. He observes his wife. The track plays in the background.
• “Sinnerman” by Gospel Supremes (00:23): Hampton enters a home. He uses a yellow phone to call Bootsy. The Government Cheese music scores the episode’s final moment and end credits.

Read More at VV — Soundtracks of Television: ‘Before’

Government Cheese Soundtrack: Every Song in Season 1, Episode 4 “A Long Road Home”

• “Smokey” by Richard Freitas (00:00): The Government Cheese soundtrack song scores the opening black and white bar sequence. A man plays a piano. A male enters with a Native American woman and says, “Come on, Moon.”
• “I Want to Be Free” by Harry Krapsho (00:02): Harrison turns on a radio. He listens to a news report. The track continues during a 1966 transition sequence.
• “Soul Fire” by South Street Soul Guitars (00:07): Einstein (Evan Ellison) cleans a washing machine. He works on a pool project. Hampton meets Einstein’s girlfriend, Minnie (Fiona Rose Dyer).
• “TBA” by TBA (00:17): Harrison participates in a movie shoot. The Government Cheese soundtrack song sets in as people help with his costume and props. Harrison says, “The headband isn’t even a part of Indian culture.”
• “Trouble on Double Time by Free (00:26): Hampton works on a drill project. He listens to a radio. The Government Cheese music scores the episode’s final moments and end credits.

Read More at VV — Soundtracks of Television: ‘Disclaimer’

Government Cheese Soundtrack: Every Song in Season 1, Episode 5 “Father Facts, Figures, and Failures”

• “Best Things in Life” by The Dreamliners (00:06): Hampton enters his vehicle. The Government Cheese soundtrack song continues as he begins a trip to Lake Piru with Harrison. The track plays again at 00:14.
• “WoWo” by The Souls (00:33): Bootsy hides from the police with Hampton. He says, “I still got it!” Bootsy compliments Hampton’s “tuck and roll.”
• “Lonely People” by Eddy Arnold (00:35): Hampton drives a vehicle. He returns to Lake Piru. The Government Cheese music fades as Hampton finds Harrison sleeping.

Read More at VV — Soundtracks of Television: ‘Bad Monkey’

Government Cheese Soundtrack: Every Song in Season 1, Episode 6 “Parable of Drawing in the Net”

• “TBA” by TBA (00:08): Hampton enters a boat. The Government Cheese soundtrack song continues as he navigates Lake Piru with Harrison. The track drops during a wide shot.
• “TBA” by TBA (00:11): Hampton fishes with Harrison. The track plays from a speaker system. The Government Cheese music briefly amplifies at 00:15.

Read More at VV — Soundtracks of Television: ‘Your Friends & Neighbors’

Government Cheese airs weekly on Apple TV+. New episodes premiere every Wednesday through May 28, 2025. This article about the Government Cheese soundtrack will be updated as the series progresses.