The People in Your Neighborhood (song)
From Muppet Wiki
| Written by | Jeff Moss |
| Music by | |
| Lyrics by | |
| Date | 1969 |
| Source | |
| Publisher | Festival Attractions, Inc. |
"The People in Your Neighborhood" has been performed on Sesame Street many times, sung by many different characters. This song is about the various jobs that people have, with the jobs being different depending on the version of the song.
The version heard on most albums was sung by Bob and two Anything Muppets, a postman and a firefighter performed by Jim Henson and Frank Oz respectively. Another version was sung by David and some Anything Muppets.[1] David and Olivia sang this song in 1974.[2]
Bob also sang this song with celebrities such as Martina Navratilova, Barbara Walters and Ralph Nader in The 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.
Contents |
Versions
| Picture | Singer | Earliest Known Appearance | Featured People |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Bob and the Anything Muppets | | Postman and Fireman |
| | Bob and the Anything Muppets | | Garbageman and Barber |
 | Bob and the Anything Muppets | | Grocer and Doctor
|
| | Bob and the Anything Muppets | | Dentist and Bus driver |
| | Bob and the Anything Muppets | | Baker and Shoemaker |
 | Bob and the Anything Muppets | | Teachers and Newsdealer
|
| | | Butcher and Zookeeper | |
 | David and the Anything Muppets | | Librarian and Plumber |
| | | Oil man and Street Cleaner | |
| | | Pilot and Nurse | |
| | Maria and the Anything Muppets | | Fisherman and Farmer |
| | | Florist and Electrician | |
| | | Moving Man and Hot Dog Vendor | |
| | | Crossing guard and Waiter | |
 | Bob and the Anything Muppets | | Lifeguard and Carpenter
|
| | | Repairman and Clock maker | |
| | | Exterminator and Window washer | |
| | | Veterinarian and Taxi driver | |
| | | Park attendant and Garage mechanic | |
| | | Babysitter and Photographer | |
 | Bob and the Anything Muppets | | Dentist and Bus Driver (Remake)
|
 | Young Bob and the Anything Muppets | | Fire fighter and Mail carrier |
 | Bob (in 1700s outfit) and the Anything Muppets with a Muppet George Washington and a Horse | | Candlemaker and Saddler |
 | Bob | | Archaeologist |
 | Bob, Barbara Walters, Martina Navratilova and Ralph Nader | | News Correspondent, Tennis Player, and Consumer Advocate
|
 | Yoav, Jeremy Miller, and the Natives of Israel | | Miller, Blacksmith, and Olive Crushers |
 | Ben Stiller, Telly Monster, and the Anything Muppets | | Cable Guy, Letter Carrier, and Cheese |
 | Big Bird, Gina, Ms. Camp, Lulu and a Horse | | Veterinarian, Horse, and Letter carrier |
 | Chris and an Anything Muppet Salesman | | Gym Teacher, Salesperson, Dancer, and a job at Hooper's Store |
 | Maria, Abelardo Montoya, Lola, Pancho, Multimuppet, and Multimonstruo | Episode 918 | Postman and Fireman |
 | Bob, Linda, and the Anything Muppets | Elevator Operator and Pharmacist |
Trivia
- When Ralph Nader performed the song with Bob during his special guest appearance in The 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.
- Following Jeff Moss's death, Joey Mazzarino has written some of the newer verses.
Variations
- Ernie once sang a variation of this song entitled "The Insects In Your Neighborhood".
- Placido Flamingo sang a variation of this song, "The Bugs in Your Neighborhood", along with Bob in a spider outfit and a Muppet bumble bee. (SSvideo)
- In an episode from season 30, 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, which was released on video as Computer Caper. The song asks where computers can be found, and Elmo learns from Farley and Mrs. Turow that they are in libraries and schools.
- 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.
Audio releases
- 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)
- 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)
Video releases
- Sesame Sings Karaoke (version from Episode 4031 intercut with Ben Stiller's version)
- Old School: Volume 1 (in Episode 0276)
See also
Sources
- ↑ a clip was featured in People Profiles: Jim Henson
- ↑ A clip is featured in the timeline sequence of The Street We Live On
- ↑ Borgelnict, David Sesame Street Unpaved page 150
