Born Robert James Byrd in Fort Worth, Texas, he moved to Los Angeles, California at the age of fifteen. As a member of the R&B group, the Hollywood Flames, he used the stage name Bobby Day to perform and record. He went several years with minor musical success limited to the West Coast, including being the original "Bob" in the duo Bob & Earl. In 1957, Day formed his own band called the "Satellites" following which he authored three songs that are seen today as rock and roll classics.
Bobby Day's best known songwriting efforts were "Over and Over" made popular by the Dave Clark Five in 1965 and "Little Bitty Pretty One" popularized by Thurston Harris in 1957, Clyde McPhatter in 1962 and the Jackson Five in 1972. However, Day is most remembered for his 1958 solo recording of the Billboard Hot 100 No. 2 hit, "Rockin' Robin", a song covered by Michael Jackson in 1972.
Sometimes referred to as a one-hit wonder, despite numerous recordings with a variety of record companies, after "Rockin' Robin", Bobby Day never achieved a Top 40 hit again.
Bobby Day died of cancer in 1990 and was buried in Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, California.
Over and Over
Bobby Day Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Everybody went stag
I said over and over and over again
This dance is gonna be a drag
I said over and over and over again
This dance is gonna be a drag
I said over and over and over again
This dance is gonna be a drag
All at once it happened
Well the prettiest in this world
Please a-won't you come over and talk to me
And be my girl
I said won't you come over and talk to me
And be my girl
Please won't you come over and talk to me
And be my girl
She said that she was sorry
That I was a little bit late
She would wait and wait and wait and wait
For her steady date
She would a-wait and a-wait and a-wait and a-wait
For her steady date
She would a-wait and a-wait and a-wait and a-wait
For her steady date
Now, my poor heart was broken
All of my life, where had she been
But I'll try over and over and over
And over again
I'll try over and over
And over and over again
I will try over and over
And over and over again
The song "Over and Over" by Bobby Day reflects the anticipation and anxiety of attending a dance where the singer expects it to be boring and uneventful. The first stanza expresses the singer's dread of the dance and how he repeats it over and over again. However, fate takes a different turn, and the singer sees a beautiful girl, and he is instantly infatuated. He asks her to be his girl, but she apologizes and says she is waiting for her steady date, the one she is already committed to.
The singer's heart is shattered at this news, as he has waited all his life to find someone like her. However, he decides to keep trying, even if it means trying over and over again. The repetition of phrases in the song reflects the singer's persistence and strong will to succeed in love, even in the face of disappointment.
Overall, the song presents a hopeful message of perseverance in the face of heartbreak and disappointment. It shows how even in the bleakest of situations, there is always a chance for love and happiness.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, I went to a dance the other night
I attended a recent dance event
Everybody went stag
All attendees came alone without a partner
I said over and over and over again This dance is gonna be a drag
I repeatedly expressed my pessimistic view about how boring the dance would be
All at once it happened
Suddenly, something unexpected occurred
Well, the prettiest in this world Please a-won't you come over and talk to me And be my girl
I approached the most beautiful woman in the room to ask her out
I said won't you come over and talk to me And be my girl
I requested her to have a conversation with me and consider being my significant other
She said that she was sorry That I was a little bit late She would wait and wait and wait and wait For her steady date
She apologized for not being able to entertain my request immediately and informed me she was waiting for her regular partner
She would a-wait and a-wait and a-wait and a-wait For her steady date
She reiterated that she would continue waiting for her usual companion
Now, my poor heart was broken All of my life, where had she been But I'll try over and over and over And over again
I was devastated by her rejection, but I still had hope to keep trying to find someone new
I'll try over and over And over and over again I will try over and over And over and over again
I repeat my determination to make numerous additional efforts to find love
Lyrics Β© BMG Rights Management, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ROBERT BYRD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@criscousa
Over and Over
/
Lyrics
Well, I went to a dance the other night
Everybody went stag
I said over and over and over again
This dance is gonna be a drag
I said over and over and over again
This dance is gonna be a drag
I said over and over and over again
This dance is gonna be a drag
All at once it happened
Well the prettiest in this world
Please a-won't you come over and talk to me
And be my girl
I said won't you come over and talk to me
And be my girl
Please won't you come over and talk to me
And be my girl
She said that she was sorry
That I was a little bit late
She would wait and wait and wait and wait
For her steady date
She would a-wait and a-wait and a-wait and a-wait
For her steady date
She would a-wait and a-wait and a-wait and a-wait
For her steady date
Now, my poor heart was broken
All of my life, where had she been
But I'll try over and over and over
And over again
I'll try over and over
And over and over again
I will try over and over
And over and over again
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Robert Byrdπ
@cliftonkerr608
This was the first 45 I bought as a teenager. Rockin Robin didn't become a hit until later.
@cindys1819
People who only remember Rockin Robin
Don't remember how BIG this record really was across the country. One of the best 50's sounds ever
@jlo13800
this guy had a twin turbo yamaha banshee, no wonder!
@arnelennartheklof4537
When I heard Dave Clarke 5βs version in the midsixties I didβt know it was a cover.
@Zed_Zone
Looked this up after hearing on the Sainsburys advert.
@sofakingwetodddid1685
Same brothers haha
@daveysmith9527
Yes ladπ
@stevechappell6322
Me too lol.. its soooo good. Sat there in front of TV with sound hound.
@stantonwarrior9267
i said over and over and over again this dance is gonna be a drag again lol
@shaunythesheep1
me too just now lol