for other uses, see The People in Your Neighborhood (disambiguation)
 | |
| Written by | Jeff Moss |
| Date | 1969 |
| Publisher | Festival Attractions, Inc. |
"The People in Your Neighborhood" has been performed on Sesame Street many times, sung by many different characters. The song focuses on occupations, with each variation focusing on different jobholders, usually portrayed by Anything Muppets. During its first few performances, the Anything Muppets were given job-specific costumes before they sang their verses. By the end of season 1 this was replaced by the singer bantering with the Muppets, usually accompanied with groan-worthy jokes and puns.
Bob originated the song and performed the majority of versions on the show. It has also been performed by other human cast members, such as David, Maria, or Olivia. Occasionally, Muppet characters like Ernie or Placido Flamingo would perform a special variation of the tune. The version heard on most album releases is the postman and firefighter version recorded for the original cast album.
Bob also sang this song with celebrities such as Martina Navratilova, Barbara Walters and Ralph Nader in Sesame Street, Special, as well as in Episode 4031. The song was also performed in the Sesame Street Live shows A Sesame Street Mystery: The Case of the Missing Rara Avis and Elmo Makes Music.
Versions[]
| Picture | Singers / First Appearance | Description | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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Bob and the Anything Muppets Episode 0023 |
Postman (Jim Henson) and Fireman (Frank Oz)
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Bob and the Anything Muppets Episode 0045 |
Garbage Man (Jim Henson) and Barber (Frank Oz)
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Bob and the Anything Muppets Episode 0067 |
Grocer (Jim Henson) and Doctor (Frank Oz)
| ||
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Bob and the Anything Muppets Episode 0106 |
Dentist (Jim Henson) with his patient (Daniel Seagren)[1] and Bus Driver (Frank Oz)[2] | ||
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Bob and the Anything Muppets Episode 0208 |
Baker (Jim Henson) and Shoemaker (Jerry Nelson) | ||
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Bob and the Anything Muppets Episode 0276 |
Teachers (Frank Oz and Jerry Nelson) and Newsdealer (Jim Henson)
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Bob and the Anything Muppets Episode 0436 |
Cleaner (Frank Oz) and Shoemaker (Jerry Nelson) | ||
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Bob and the Anything Muppets Episode 0696 |
Butcher (Jim Henson) and Zookeeper (Richard Hunt) | ||
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David and the Anything Muppets Episode 0718 |
Librarian (Jim Henson) and Plumber (Richard Hunt)
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Bob and the Anything Muppets Episode 0817 |
Oil Man (Richard Hunt) and Street Cleaner (Frank Oz) | ||
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Bob and the Anything Muppets Episode 0852 |
Moving Man (Jim Henson) and Hot Dog Man (Frank Oz) | ||
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Bob and the Anything Muppets Episode 0892 |
Fisherman (Richard Hunt) and Farmer (Jerry Nelson) | ||
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Bob and the Anything Muppets Episode 0901 |
Florist (Frank Oz) and Electrician (Jerry Nelson) | ||
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Bob, Grover, and an Anything Muppet Episode 0903 |
Crossing Guard (Richard Hunt) and Waiter (Grover) | ||
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Maria and the Anything Muppets Episode 0939 |
Pilot (Jerry Nelson) and Nurse (Fran Brill)
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Bob and the Anything Muppets Episode 0951 |
Lifeguard (Fran Brill) and Carpenter (Jim Henson) | ||
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Bob and the Anything Muppets Episode 0965 |
TV Repairman (Jim Henson) and Clock Maker (Jerry Nelson) | ||
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Bob, Linda, and the Anything Muppets Episode 0996 |
Elevator Operator (Frank Oz) and Pharmacist (Jerry Nelson)
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Bob and the Anything Muppets Episode 1019 |
Exterminator (Richard Hunt) and Window Washer (Jim Henson) | ||
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Olivia and the Anything Muppets Episode 1028 |
Veterinarian (Jerry Nelson) and Taxi Driver (Jim Henson) | ||
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Gordon and the Anything Muppets Episode 1061 |
Park Attendant (Jim Henson) and Garage Mechanic (Jerry Nelson) | ||
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Olivia and the Anything Muppets Episode 1161 |
Babysitter (Jim Henson) and Photographer (Olga Felgemacher) | ||
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Maria and the Anything Muppets Episode 1173 |
Painter (Olga Felgemacher) and Milkman (Jim Henson) | ||
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Maria and the Anything Muppets Episode 1183 |
Motorman (Jim Henson) and Telephone Repairman (Frank Oz) | ||
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Bob and the Anything Muppets Episode 2146 |
Dentist (David Rudman), with his Patient (Kevin Clash), and Bus Driver (Jim Henson) (remake) | ||
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Bob (in 1700s outfit) and the Anything Muppets Episode 2294 |
Candlemaker (Richard Hunt) and Saddler (Kevin Clash) with George Washington (Jim Henson) and a Horse (Martin P. Robinson) | ||
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Ben Stiller, Telly Monster, and the Anything Muppets Episode 3812 |
Cable Guy (Joey Mazzarino), Letter Carrier (Stephanie D'Abruzzo), and Cheese (Ben in costume) (written by Joey Mazzarino)
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Jon Batiste, Elmo, Abby, Rosita, Zoe, and the Anything Muppets Episode 5202 |
Sanitation Worker (Stephanie D'Abruzzo), Grocer (Abby), Doctor (Rosita), Nurse (Zoe), and Crossing Guard (Martin P. Robinson) | ||
Street Scenes/Stories | ||||
| Picture | Singers / Episode | Description | ||
 |
Olivia, David, and a Fat Blue Anything Muppet (Kevin Clash) Episode 2023 |
Photographer and Storekeeper; sung in front of Hooper's Store.
Brief clip included in the timeline from The Street We Live On, but incorrectly cited as 1974 (as Olivia wouldn't first appear until 1976). | ||
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Hoots the Owl and the Anything Muppets Episode 2619 |
Night Watchman, Baker, Actress, Firefighter and Policeman | ||
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Young Bob and the Anything Muppets Episode 2621 |
Fire Fighter (Martin P. Robinson) and Letter Carrier (Camille Bonora) | ||
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Bob and a Grouch Episode 2648 |
The Break-It Grouch | ||
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Bob Episode 2687 |
Archaeologist | ||
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The Anything Muppets Episode 2736 |
Doctor (Camille Bonora) and Astronaut (David Rudman) | ||
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Big Bird, Gina, Ms. Camp, Lulu, and a Horse Episode 4008 |
Veterinarian, Horse, and Letter Carrier | ||
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Chris and an Anything Muppet Episode 4136 |
Gym Teacher, Salesperson (Joey Mazzarino), Dancer, and a job at Hooper's Store (lyrics by Joey Mazzarino) | ||
Specials and Other | ||||
| Picture | Singers / Production | Description | ||
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Bob, Barbara Walters, Martina Navratilova and Ralph Nader Sesame Street, Special |
News Correspondent, Tennis Player, and Consumer Advocate | ||
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Yoav, Jeremy Miller, and the Natives of Israel Shalom Sesame: Chanukah |
Miller, Blacksmith, and Olive Crushers (lyrics by Louise Gikow) | ||
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Roberta Flack and the Muppets The Rosie O'Donnell Show |
Postman (Joey Mazzarino) | ||
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Human Cast Elmopalooza |
Gordon, Susan, Bob, Gina, and Mr. Handford sing a brief portion of the song as part of a medley. | ||
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Maria, Abelardo Montoya, Lola, Pancho, Multimuppet, and Multimonstruo Plaza Sésamo Episode 918 |
Postman and Fireman | ||
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Santino Fontana, Elmo, and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir |
Clarinetist, Dancer, Choir | ||
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Rosita and Grover Tiny Desk Concerts |
Musicians, Reporter, Producer | ||
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Rosita, Elmo, Mr. Johnson, and Abby Cadabby A Swingin' Sesame Street Celebration |
Grocer, Doctor, Orchestra | ||
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Nile Rodgers, Grover, and Ernie Sesame Street's 50th Anniversary Celebration |
Grocer and Doctor | ||
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Elmo, Abby Cadabby, and Grover Caring for Each Other |
EMT, Grocer, Doctor/Nurse, and Pharmacist Chorus changed from "people in your neighborhood" to "heroes in your neighborhood." | ||
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AJR and the Anything Muppets Not-Too-Late Show episode 207 |
"Heroes In Your Neighborhood" variation with a sanitation worker (Stephanie D'Abruzzo), grocer (Tyler Bunch), and doctor (Jennifer Barnhart), with lyrics by Andrew Moriarty | ||
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Alan, Elmo, and Ji-Young See Us Coming Together |
Bus Driver, Hula Dancer, Teachers A different version was made for a YouTube video. (YouTube) | ||
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Ernie and Bert Elle |
The last song Ernie and Bert sing during a game of "Song Association." | ||
Variations[]
"The Computers in Your Neighborhood."
- Ernie once sang a variation of this song titled "The Insects In Your Neighborhood." Placido Flamingo sang a similar variation in Episode 2754.
- In Episode 2395, Mr. Snuffleupagus portrays the stegosaurus in a play written and narrated by Big Bird, and he sings "A Stegosaurus is a Person in Your Neighborhood" each time he enters and exits.
- Olivia performs a bird-themed version of the song at Birdland in Episode 2442.
- Placido Flamingo also sang another variation of this song in Episode 2587, "The Bugs in Your Neighborhood," along with Bob in a spider outfit and a Muppet bumblebee (Camille Bonora).
- In Episode 3367, Ruthie makes good use of a fish given to her by Wolfgang the Seal by putting hats on them (namely construction worker and nurse hats) and singing a little something called "The Fish in Your Neighborhood."
- In Episode 3661, Big Bird gives a tour of the street to a family potentially moving in. He sings a variation of the song, naming the different "Places in Our Neighborhood."
- In Episode 3805, Bob sang a variation of this song about the letter Z being "A Letter in your Alphabet."
- "The Computers in Your Neighborhood" was sung by Elmo in Episode 3880. The song asks where computers can be found, and Elmo learns from Farley and Mrs. Turow that they are in libraries and schools. (YouTube)
- On the program Let's Get Ready!, a dalmatian sings a variation called "Who Helps You When There's an Emergency?" to Grover and Rosita, backed by some kids off-camera. They sing about the work of the teacher, the fireman, and the doctor.
- The song was incorporated in a Sesame medley at the 2009 Daytime Emmy Awards, where the cast sings about soap opera actors, cooking show hosts, talk show hosts and game show hosts.
- At the Jim Henson's Musical World concert, Bob and the Sesame Street cast sang the song which featured a new verse about the conductor.
- Murray Monster and Ovejita find people in the neighborhood in a series of tune-ins in Season 43. Murray sings a rap tune inspired by the titular song, while the original song appears as background music during the segments.
- During The Jim Henson Retrospectacle Live in Concert, another version of the song was performed by Bret McKenzie (representing a composer), two Anything Muppets (as a writer and director) and Grover (as a puppeteer).
- A rap version sung by Daveed Diggs, Grover, Cookie Monster, and Big Bird was sung in a 2021 DoorDash commercial.
Other uses[]
- The song was used as the introduction for a series of segments by William Wegman, featuring his Weimeraner dogs.
- The song was used as the score during the opening of the street story in Episode 4301.
- The tune was also used as a part of the score in One World, One Sky: Big Bird's Adventure as Hu Hu Zhu takes a tour of Sesame Street.
- The song inspired an insert used in Episode 4920, in which Elmo, Abby Cadabby and Rosita take the "People in Your Neighborhood Challenge." The three sing the chorus of the song during the beginning of the segment.
Non-Muppet performances[]
- Bob McGrath performed this on Bob's Favorite Street Songs, with a Dixieland band replacing professions, and Bob explaining the instruments within it.
- In 2015, members of the news team of NJTV, New Jersey's public TV network, sang this song in a promo for the network.
- In 2017, a commercial for the Jordan Peele directed film Get Out used a slow sung version. (YouTube)
Notes[]
- When Ralph Nader performed the song with Bob during his special guest appearance in Sesame Street, Special, Nader insisted on singing the grammatically correct "the people whom you meet each day," rather than the original "the people that you meet each day." The producers agreed to this change, but in the end the original lyric was used.[3]
- Lyrics to this song were included in The Sesame Street Book & Record, The Sesame Street Song Book, Sesame Street Unpaved and The Sesame Street Book of People and Things.
- This song was once referenced in The Electric Company. When Big Bird visits Fargo North and gets help translating his scrambled message, he then asks Fargo how to get to Sesame Street. Fargo tells him to find a bus driver, to which Big Bird answers "I know the bus driver. He's a person in my neighborhood."
Releases[]
- Audio
- The Sesame Street Book & Record (1970)
- People in Your Neighborhood/Somebody Come and Play (single, 1970) (includes two extra verses, with a garbage man and a grocer)
- 60 Favorite Songs from Sesame Street (1975)
- 25 Greatest Hits (1975)
- Five People in My Family/People in Your Neighborhood (single, 1976)
- What Time Is It on Sesame Street? (1977)
- The People in Your Neighborhood (1980)
- Platinum All-Time Favorites (1995)
- Songs from the Street: 35 Years of Music (2003)
- All-Time Favorites 1 (2018)
- Publications
- Sesame Street Songbook Vol. 1
- The Sesame Street Songbook (1971, 1992 and 2007 editions)
- Songs of Sesame Street (1977)
See also[]
Sources[]
- ↑ Behind the scenes photo
- ↑ Behind the scenes photo
- ↑ Borgelnict, David Sesame Street Unpaved page 150