written by Jeff Moss

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Very pleasant, serene tune sung by Ernie (Jim Henson). Thus far

with the other Sesame Street songs in The List, we’ve got them all

sung by different members of the cast: “We Are All Earthlings,” sung

by Elmo(, Big Bird), an Anything person and the animal kingdom;

“Monster In The Mirror,” sung by Grover; and now Ernie’s fantasy

of lunar expedition—although that’s not the only place he imagines visiting. Known for, among other things, encouraging children to experience and try all the new things and go all the different places they have the opportunity to, that’s precisely what we’re doing here. With the added incentive of being able to come back to our loved ones when we’re done, of course.

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This was an audio song only at first, written and published in ’78—hence the copyright date of 1978 if you look it up—but not actually recorded and used on an SS album until 1980’s The People In Your Neighborhood came out—still only in audio form. That’s why I’ve got it listed as being from the year 1980 in my list, as that was the year it was released to the public and gained its first morsels of exposure and appeal. A few years later, a video clip was made for the song, animated and recorded in November ’83, and finally used in the show on episode #1910 the following winter/spring (3/2/84). Like dozens and dozens of SS pieces, it’s been repeated and placed in other episodes—as well as compilation specials and albums—countless times since.

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One of the things Sesame Street’s always done extremely well is craft its material so that it’s both enjoyable and relatable to kids and adults alike—something to which not every family-friendly program can lay claim. Brilliantly executed animation in the non-real action pieces is only one shade of that. Personally, Ernie’s always been one of my favorites—not that that makes me unique, I’m aware; along with his buddy Bert, he is sort of the muppet mascot of the whole bunch. I own an LP copy of the ancient ’72 record Havin’ Fun With Ernie & Bert—and fortunately a USB-connectable phonograph to listen to it—and CD comps of Bert And Ernie’s Greatest Hits (1996) and Platinum All-Time Favorites (2008)—both of which include “Live/Moon.” As the titles indicate, they share a couple of other SS greats as well,

“Rubber Duckie” (naturally) and “Doin’ The Pigeon.”

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Have notes to add? Let me know!

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YT:

full version (with introduction)

video clip

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Sesame Street’s official website