Darin was a very special and talented entertainer. He was a Grammy award winning singer ('Mack The Knife'), a respected member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ('Dream Lover', 'Splish Splash', 'If I Were A Carpenter') a member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame, a successful record producer, an Oscar nominated actor and a strong supporter of the American Heart Association. Bobby was married to actress Sandra Dee from 1960-1967. They had one son, Dodd, born in December 1961. As a result of complications from a rheumatic heart, Bobby's life was tragically cut short in 1973.
Darin's mother, Vanina Cassotto, had given birth to him when she was 16, and as a result, her parents raised Darin as though he were their son while Vanina was presented off as his elder sister. Darin did not learn the truth about his parentage until he was 32.
For more on Bobby Darin, watch "Beyond the Sea," in which Kevin Spacey portrays the entertainer.
Bob White
Bobby Darin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He says you got a corny trill
Bob White! Whatcha gonna swing tonight?
I was talkin to the mocking bird
He says you are the worst he's heard,
Bob White! Whatcha gonna swing tonight?
Even the owl-tells me you're foul
Don't be a bring down
If you can swing down
Gimme those high notes
There's a lotta talk about you, Bob
and they're sayin you're "off the cob"
Fake it, Mister B
Take it, follow me, Bob white
We're gonna break it up tonight
The song "Bob White" is a playful conversation amongst birds, mocking and teasing Bob White, who is known for his "corny trill." The Whippoorwill complains that Bob White's trill is outdated, while the mockingbird calls it the "worst he's heard." Even the owl, known for his wisdom and grace, says that Bob White's lullaby notes are just too boring. The birds encourage Bob White to drop the old ways and join them in the new style of singing, in hopes of having a more enjoyable night.
The song is a tongue-in-cheek reference to swing music and the evolution of music styles. In essence, it's a clever way of the birds representing people and the judgement of others with regards to music trends. It's okay to be true to oneself, but sometimes it's also necessary to evolve and change with the times in order to remain relevant.
Line by Line Meaning
I was talkin to the whippoorwill
Had a chat with the whippoorwill bird
He says you got a corny trill
Whippoorwill bird thinks your singing is outdated
Bob White! Whatcha gonna swing tonight?
Asking Bob White what his plans are for the night and hoping he'll sing better
I was talkin to the mocking bird
Had a conversation with the mocking bird
He says you are the worst he's heard,
The mocking bird criticizes Bob White's singing abilities
Bob White! Whatcha gonna swing tonight?
Asking Bob White again what his plans are for the night and if he'll try to improve his singing
Even the owl-tells me you're foul
Even the wise owl bird agrees that Bob White's singing is not great
Singin those lullaby notes,
Bob White sings slow and boring notes, like a lullaby
Don't be a bring down
Don't be a disappointment
If you can swing down
If you can improve your singing and sound better
Gimme those high notes
Sing higher notes to impress the listeners
There's a lotta talk about you, Bob
People have been discussing Bob White's singing
and they're sayin you're "off the cob"
People are saying Bob White's style is outdated, like corn on the cob
Fake it, Mister B
Pretend to sing better than you actually can, Bob
Take it, follow me, Bob white
Follow my lead and I'll show you how to sing better, Bob
We're gonna break it up tonight
We're going to have some fun and enjoy the night by singing and dancing
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BERNARD D. HANIGHEN, JOHNNY MERCER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Daniel
on Bill Bailey, Won't You Please Come Home
One heck of a entertainer. A life cut way to soon. RIP Mr. Darin. Remember one thing he was one of the first Emmy winners, in the late 50s. When the emmys started.