Somebody Come and Play (song)

"Somebody Come and Play" is a Sesame Street song that originally appeared in the show's first season, sung by its composer Joe Raposo. It was then recorded for The Sesame Street Book & Record by The Kids, and has been remade multiple times on the show. The singer implores for a friend to play with and have fun before the day's end.
Raposo's wife, Pat Collins, stated that the song was inspired directly from his youth as an only child. Collins said she sees it “not as a song of regret or self-pity, but a song about an only child looking to toss the ball around before the sun goes down. It's about begging for pals to hang out with, kind of saying 'If this day goes by, maybe we won't have another quite like it.'”Davis, Michael. Street Gang: The Complete History of Sesame Street, pp. 257-258.
==Performances==
 	Joe Raposo sings the song over a film of orangutans in the zoo.
 	Sung by The Kids.
 	Big Bird sings the song as he roams Sesame Street looking for his friends, who appear in the yard and invite him to play. This version has been released on albums with added backing vocals by The Kids.
 	The original Joe Raposo recording plays over footage of snow leopards playing in winter.
 	Mr. Snuffleupagus sings the song in Episode 3401. This version was reused as an insert.
 	Suzie Kabloozie sings after her cat Feff escapes her clutches and runs off.
center	Ernie performs the song in an insert where he arrives, ready to play, to a deserted playground. As he sings, he is gradually joined by several woodland animals.
 	Elmo, Rosita, and the cast sing the song as a part of a medley in their 2000 Evening at Pops concert.
center	Elmo encourages Whoopi Goldberg to "play" a musical instrument with him, and they perform a special version of "Somebody Come and Play."
 	A re-written version of the song is used as the theme for Play with Me Sesame, sung by hosts Ernie, Bert, Grover and Prairie Dawn.
 	Elmo sings the song in Episode 4046 as he searches for Rosita. The two perform a slow, sad reprise when they give up looking for each other, and then, they sing another verse when they reunite.
 	Abby Cadabby sang the song for an appearance on A Capitol Fourth in 2009.
center	A new version of the song debuted in Season 42, featuring the kids of the PS22 chorus singing and playing with large, red balls.
 	Gordon, Elmo, and Abby sang the song at The White House Easter Egg Roll in 2012.
 	The Sesame Street cast sang the song with Jimmy Fallon and the Roots at the 2013 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, performed in the style of Fallon's "Classroom Instruments" segments.
 	Mando, Abby, and Rosita sang the song at The White House Easter Egg Roll in 2014.
 	The song was featured in various Sesame Street Live shows, such as Around the World (performed by Prairie Dawn) and Super Grover! Ready for Action.
 	A brief instrumental of the tune underscores the title card for Elmo's Playdate. Louie is heard singing a bit of the song to himself immediately afterward.
 	A portion of the song is played by the Best Friends Band (Elmo, Abby, Tamir, and Ji-Young).
 	The Best Friend Band (Elmo, Abby, Tamir, Nina, and Dave) sing the song in Episode 5434.
==Covers==
* Barbra Streisand performed the song in a number of live shows during the 1970s.barbra-archives.info Madison Square Garden, November 1, 1970The Archive of American Television interview with Joan Ganz Cooney, 
* Rubber Duckie and Other Songs from Sesame Street (1970)
* Songs from Sesame Street (1970)
* Sesame Street, Rubber Duckie and Other Songs from Sesame Street (1971)
* You Will Be My Music (1974)
* The Peter Pan Chorus Sings Songs from Sesame Street (1979)
* 20 Bands Trash 20 Songs to Find the Way to Sesame Street (1995)
* The Favorite Songs of Sesame Street (2010)
==Sources==
==See also==
* "Come Play with Me"
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Category:Sesame Street Songs
Category:Friendship