Elmo's Song

Written by	Tony Geiss
Date	1989
Publisher	Ephemeral Music Sesame Street Inc.
First	Episode 2710

Sesame Street Elmo's Song

Elmo, Big Bird and Snuffy sing "Elmo's Song."

"Elmo's Song" is a Sesame Street song from Season 21. Elmo writes his own song and sings it for Big Bird and Mr. Snuffleupagus, who then wish that they had their own songs. Elmo lets them insert their own names into the lyrics, resulting in "Big Bird's Song" and "Snuffy's Song." In those versions, the other two characters provide the backing vocals. The sketch ends with Elmo calling for Gordon and Gabi, so that they can have their own songs. Most releases cut this ending.

A variation of "Elmo's Song" is used as the opening theme for "Elmo's World." An instrumental version of the song is also used in the opening theme for Sesame Amigos.

Elmo and Cookie Monster performed a duet of the song in the CD-ROM game, Music Maker.

In 2018, an animated lyric video of the song was made and shared on the Sesame Street YouTube channel. The video stars Elmo, Big Bird, and Snuffy with Grover conducting. Audience members include Telly Monster, Ernie, Bert, Rosita, Abby Cadabby, and Cookie Monster. (YouTube) A side-by-side comparison with the original version was uploaded in 2020. (YouTube)

Elmo and Joseph Gordon-Levitt sang a verse of the song in Sesame Street's 50th Anniversary Celebration. It was later covered by Elmo and Lil Nas X in episode 103 of The Not-Too-Late Show with Elmo.

Releases

Audio

• Put Down the Duckie! (1990)
• Elmo's Favorite Sing-Alongs (1993)
• Platinum All-Time Favorites (1995)
• The Best of Elmo (1997)
• Big Bird's Sunny Day Camp Out (2000)
• Songs from the Street: 35 Years of Music (2003)
• Sesame Street Playground (2008)
• Elmo's Rainbow and Other Springtime Stories exclusive bonus CD (2010)
• Valentine's Collection (2012)
• All-Time Favorites 2 (2018)

Video

• Elmo's Sing-Along Guessing Game (1991, introduction and ending edited)
• The Best of Elmo (1994, ending edited)
• Elmo in Grouchland: Sing and Play (1999, both the original with added on-screen lyrics, and a new version with Elmo, Grizzy, and Pesties)
• Kids' Favorite Songs 2 (2001, a new version with Snuffy, Rosita, and Baby Bear)
• 40 Years of Sunny Days (2009)
• Best of Friends (2012)

Online

• Sesamestreet.org (sesamestreet.org)
• SesameStreet's YouTube Channel

Publications

• The Sesame Street Songbook (1992 and 2007 editions only)

Stage shows

• Concierto Rock (2016) at Parque Plaza Sésamo
• A Swingin' Sesame Street Celebration (2019) at Jazz at Lincoln Center