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Peopleinyrnbhood
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
PIYNPostmanandFireman
Bob and the Anything Muppets
Episode 0023
Postman (Jim Henson) and Fireman (Frank Oz)
Peopleneighborhood-garbagemanbarber
Bob and the Anything Muppets
Episode 0045
Garbage Man (Jim Henson) and Barber (Frank Oz)
PIYNGrocerDoctor
Bob and the Anything Muppets
Episode 0067
Grocer (Jim Henson) and Doctor (Frank Oz)
PIYN-0106
Bob and the Anything Muppets
Episode 0106
Dentist (Jim Henson) with his patient (Daniel Seagren)[1] and Bus Driver (Frank Oz)[2]
PIYN-BakerShoemaker
Bob and the Anything Muppets
Episode 0208
Baker (Jim Henson) and Shoemaker (Jerry Nelson)
Teachersinyrnbhd

Newsdealerinyrnbhd
Bob and the Anything Muppets
Episode 0276
Teachers (Frank Oz and Jerry Nelson) and Newsdealer (Jim Henson)
PIYN-CleanerShoemaker
Bob and the Anything Muppets
Episode 0436
Cleaner (Frank Oz) and Shoemaker (Jerry Nelson)
PIYN-ButcherZookeeper
Bob and the Anything Muppets
Episode 0696
Butcher (Jim Henson) and Zookeeper (Richard Hunt)
PIYN-LibrarianPlumber
David and the Anything Muppets
Episode 0718
Librarian (Jim Henson) and Plumber (Richard Hunt)
PIYN-OilCleaner
Bob and the Anything Muppets
Episode 0817
Oil Man (Richard Hunt) and Street Cleaner (Frank Oz)
PIYN-MovingHotDog
Bob and the Anything Muppets
Episode 0852
Moving Man (Jim Henson) and Hot Dog Man (Frank Oz)
PIYN-FishFarmer
Bob and the Anything Muppets
Episode 0892
Fisherman (Richard Hunt) and Farmer (Jerry Nelson)
PIYN-FloristElectrician
Bob and the Anything Muppets
Episode 0901
Florist (Frank Oz) and Electrician (Jerry Nelson)
PIYN-CrossingWaiter
Bob, Grover, and an Anything Muppet
Episode 0903
Crossing Guard (Richard Hunt) and Waiter (Grover)
PIYN-PilotNurse
Maria and the Anything Muppets
Episode 0939
Pilot (Jerry Nelson) and Nurse (Fran Brill)
PIYN--LifeguardCarpenter
Bob and the Anything Muppets
Episode 0951
Lifeguard (Fran Brill) and Carpenter (Jim Henson)
PIYN-TVClock
Bob and the Anything Muppets
Episode 0965
TV Repairman (Jim Henson) and Clock Maker (Jerry Nelson)
PIYN-ElevatorOperatorandPharmacist
Bob, Linda, and the Anything Muppets
Episode 0996
Elevator Operator (Frank Oz) and Pharmacist (Jerry Nelson)
PIYN-ExterminatorWindows
Bob and the Anything Muppets
Episode 1019
Exterminator (Richard Hunt) and Window Washer (Jim Henson)
PIYN-VetTaxi
Olivia and the Anything Muppets
Episode 1028
Veterinarian (Jerry Nelson) and Taxi Driver (Jim Henson)
Neighborhood park attendant and mechanic
Gordon and the Anything Muppets
Episode 1061
Park Attendant (Jim Henson) and Garage Mechanic (Jerry Nelson)
PIYN-BabysitPhoto
Olivia and the Anything Muppets
Episode 1161
Babysitter (Jim Henson) and Photographer (Olga Felgemacher)
PIYN-MilkmanPainter
Maria and the Anything Muppets
Episode 1173
Painter (Olga Felgemacher) and Milkman (Jim Henson)
PIYN-Unknown
Maria and the Anything Muppets
Episode 1183
Motorman (Jim Henson) and Telephone Repairman (Frank Oz)
Dentistsinyrnbhd
Bob and the Anything Muppets
Episode 2146
Dentist (David Rudman), with his Patient (Kevin Clash), and Bus Driver (Jim Henson)
(remake)
PIYNWasington
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)
Ben-Cheese
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)
HeroInYourNeighborhood
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
People in Your Neighborhood - Olivia and David
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).

PIYNNight
Hoots the Owl and the Anything Muppets
Episode 2619
Night Watchman, Baker, Actress, Firefighter and Policeman
2621i
Young Bob and the Anything Muppets
Episode 2621
Fire Fighter (Martin P. Robinson) and Letter Carrier (Camille Bonora)
2648f
Bob and a Grouch
Episode 2648
The Break-It Grouch
2687c
Bob
Episode 2687
Archaeologist
2736-PIYN
The Anything Muppets
Episode 2736
Doctor (Camille Bonora) and Astronaut (David Rudman)
4008scene1
Big Bird, Gina, Ms. Camp, Lulu, and a Horse
Episode 4008
Veterinarian, Horse, and Letter Carrier
4136g
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
Martinanavratilova
Bob, Barbara Walters, Martina Navratilova and Ralph Nader
Sesame Street, Special
News Correspondent, Tennis Player, and Consumer Advocate
Shalom6-11
Yoav, Jeremy Miller, and the Natives of Israel
Shalom Sesame: Chanukah
Miller, Blacksmith, and Olive Crushers
(lyrics by Louise Gikow)
RosieSS18
Roberta Flack and the Muppets
The Rosie O'Donnell Show
Postman (Joey Mazzarino)
Elmopalooza - People in Your Neighborhood
Human Cast
Elmopalooza
Gordon, Susan, Bob, Gina, and Mr. Handford sing a brief portion of the song as part of a medley.
PlazaSesamoPIYN
Maria, Abelardo Montoya, Lola, Pancho, Multimuppet, and Multimonstruo
Plaza Sésamo
Episode 918
Postman and Fireman
MoTabConcert2014-08
Santino Fontana, Elmo, and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir
Christmas with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir
Clarinetist, Dancer, Choir
PIYN-TinyDesk
Rosita and Grover
Tiny Desk Concerts
Musicians, Reporter, Producer
PIYN-Jazz
Rosita, Elmo, Mr. Johnson, and Abby Cadabby
A Swingin' Sesame Street Celebration
Grocer, Doctor, Orchestra
SS50thSpecial-PIYN
Nile Rodgers, Grover, and Ernie
Sesame Street's 50th Anniversary Celebration
Grocer and Doctor
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."
NTL-Neighborhood
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
Noimage-landscape
Alan, Elmo, and Ji-Young
See Us Coming Together
Bus Driver, Hula Dancer, Teachers

A different version was made for a YouTube video. (YouTube)
Noimage-landscape
Ernie and Bert
Elle
The last song Ernie and Bert sing during a game of "Song Association."

Variations[]

Folge2313-5

"The Computers in Your Neighborhood."

  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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 score during the opening of the street story in Episode 4301.
  • 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[]

  • 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]
  • 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
Publications

See also[]

Sources[]

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