Written by | Joe Raposo |
Date | 1970 |
Publisher | Jonico Music, Inc. Green Fox Music Inc. |
First | Episode 0047 |
"Somebody Come and Play" has been performed many times on Sesame Street.
The song was first used as an insert in Season 1, performed by composer Joe Raposo over a film of a lonely orangutan in the zoo. The original soundtrack was also used when the film was replaced in the late 1980s with snow leopards playing (EKA: Episode 2638). It was then sung by The Kids on The Sesame Street Book & Record.
It has appeared on albums performed by Big Bird and the Kids. This version (minus the Kids) was performed in the mid-1970s as Big Bird roamed the street looking for his friends. (EKA: Episode 0703)
Snuffy sang the song in Episode 3401. The song was used in two different segments for Season 30; one with Suzie Kabloozie (First: Episode 3786), and the other with Ernie, who was shown in a park with no one to play with. (First: Episode 3822)
Elmo sang it in Episode 4046 as he was looking for Rosita to meet for their playdate. Also, Elmo and Whoopi Goldberg sang a slightly modified version of the song while they played the violin and drum. (First: Episode 3971)
A re-written version of the song is used as the theme song for Play With Me Sesame.
A new version debuted in Season 42, featuring the kids of the PS22 chorus singing and playing with large, red balls. (First: Episode 4267)
The Sesame Street cast sang the song with Jimmy Fallon and the Roots at the 2013 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Releases
- Audio (The Kids version)
- The Sesame Street Book & Record (1970)
- People in Your Neighborhood/Somebody Come and Play (single, 1970)
- Somebody Come and Play (1974)
- 60 Favorite Songs from Sesame Street (1975)
- 25 Greatest Hits (1975)
- Somebody Come and Play/A Very Simple Dance (single, 1976)
- Look & Find: Big Bird's Big Chase (1986)
- The Best of Sesame Street (1987)
- Songs from the Street: 35 Years of Music (2003)
- Audio (Big Bird and the Kids version)
- Sing: Songs of Joe Raposo (1992)
- Sesame Street Celebrates! (1994)
- Platinum Too (1997)
- Video
- Making Friends (2012, PS22 version)
- Old School: Volume 3 (2012, original version)
- The Best of Elmo 3 (2015, Whoopi Goldberg version)