Premiering in 1969, this educational television show aimed at preschoolers … Read Full Bio ↴Premiering in 1969, this educational television show aimed at preschoolers has charmed generations of youngsters ever since. The show - featuring a lovable cast of characters including Big Bird, Bert and Ernie, Oscar the Grouch, Elmo, Snuffy, Grover and many others - has delighted and educated children and adults alike, with its collection of songs, skits, and celebrity guest appearances.

Dirtiest Town in the West
Sesame Street Lyrics

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Balladeer
They called it Dirty Gulch, and this is how it got its name
Everyone who chewed some gum or ate a candy bar
Would throw the wrapper on the ground and leave it lyin' thar

Citizens: Aye oo, Aye aa
The dirtiest town in the west
Ooh ooh ooh

Balladeer: Soon the people of the town all started turning mean.
They swore:

Citizens: This is the yuckiest place that I have ever seen!
(Man: This is terrible!)
Balladeer: But still they dropped their newspapers, (?), and rags.
Banana peels and pop-top tabs and empty paper bags.

Citizens: Aye oo, Aye aa
The dirtiest town in the west
Ooh ooh ooh

(A stranger comes riding into town on a horse.)
Balladeer: Then one day a marshal came a'ridin' o'er the hills.
He said:

Marshal: My name's McClean, and I am here to cure your ills!
Balladeer: Then from his mighty steed he jumped. He said:
McClean: I have a plan.
We'll pick the garbage off the ground and put it in a can.

Citizens: Aye oo, Aye aa
He's gonna put the trash in a can.
Ooh ooh ooh

Balladeer: The marshal pushed his sleeves up high and grabbed his trusty broom.
He said:

McClean: This trash is ugly, and it's unhealthy, too!
Balladeer: Soon the people of the town joined in and did the same.
And then the town of Dirty Gulch had to change its name.

Citizens: Aye oo, Aye aa
The cleanest town in the west
Ooh ooh ooh

(McClean: Okay, people, and I want you to keep this town this way. Don't forget!)

Overall Meaning

The song "Dirtiest Town in the West" by Sesame Street is a cautionary tale about what can happen when people neglect to pick up after themselves. The lyrics describe a town called Dirty Gulch, which got its name because everyone who chewed gum or ate candy would throw their wrappers on the ground. Over time, the town became so dirty and unpleasant that the citizens started to turn mean, complaining that it was the "yuckiest place" they had ever seen. Despite their complaints, they continued to litter, dropping newspapers, banana peels, and empty paper bags.

The situation seems hopeless until a stranger arrives, a marshal named McClean. He jumps from his horse and reveals his plan to clean up the town. He starts by picking up trash and putting it in cans, and soon the citizens of Dirty Gulch join in. Together, they clean up the town so successfully that it has to change its name from the dirtiest town in the west to the cleanest town in the west.

The song is a simple and whimsical way to teach children about the importance of taking care of their environment. It shows how easily a community can become dirty and unpleasant when people don't take responsibility for their actions, but also how easy it is to make a positive change when people work together.

Line by Line Meaning

They called it Dirty Gulch, and this is how it got its name
The town got its name from people littering on the ground.

Everyone who chewed some gum or ate a candy bar
People who ate candy or gum would leave the wrapper on the ground.

Would throw the wrapper on the ground and leave it lyin' thar
They threw the wrapper on the ground and didn't pick it up.

The dirtiest town in the west
The town was known as the dirtiest place in the west.

Soon the people of the town all started turning mean.
People in the town started becoming unpleasant.

This is the yuckiest place that I have ever seen! (Man: This is terrible!)
People complained about how dirty the town was.

But still they dropped their newspapers, (?), and rags. Banana peels and pop-top tabs and empty paper bags.
Despite their complaints, people continued to litter the town with various items.

He's gonna put the trash in a can.
The marshal had a plan to clean up the town by putting trash in a designated container.

The cleanest town in the west
The town became known as the cleanest place in the west after the citizens and marshal worked to clean it up.

Okay, people, and I want you to keep this town this way. Don't forget!
The marshal reminded the citizens to maintain the cleanliness of their town.

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JOE ROMANO

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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