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.
Rockin' Robin
Bobby Day Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(Tweedilly-tweedilly-deet, tweedilly-tweedilly-deet)
(Tweedilly-tweedilly-deet, tweedilly-tweedilly-deet)
(Tweet-tweet-tweet-tweet)
He rocks in the treetops all day long
Hoppin' and a-boppin' and singing his song
All the little birds on Jaybird Street
Rockin' robin (tweet-tweet-tweet)
Rock-rock-rockin' robin' (tweet-tweedilly-tweet)
Blow, rockin' robin
'Cause we're really gonna rock tonight (tweet-tweedilly-tweet)
Yeah
Every little swallow, every chick-a-dee
Every little bird in the tall oak tree
The wise old owl, the big black crow
Flappin' their wings singin', "Go, bird, go"
Rockin' robin (tweet-tweet-tweet)
Rock-rock-rockin' robin' (tweet-tweedilly-tweet)
Blow, rockin' robin
'Cause we're really gonna rock tonight (tweet-tweedilly-tweet)
Blow
(Tweedilly-tweedilly-deet, tweet-tweet)
(Tweedilly-tweedilly-deet, tweet)
(Tweedilly-tweedilly-deet, tweet-tweet)
(Tweedilly-tweedilly-deet, tweet)
(Tweedilly-tweedilly-deet) (uh-uh-uh-uh-uh) (tweet-tweet)
(Tweedilly-tweedilly-deet)
A pretty little raven at the bird bandstand
Taught him how to do the bop and it was grand
They started going steady and bless my soul
He out-bopped the buzzard and the oriole
He rocks in the treetop all day long
Hoppin' and a-boppin' and singing his song
All the little birds on Jaybird Street
Love to hear the robin go tweet-tweet-tweet
Rockin' robin (tweet-tweet-tweet)
Rock-rock-rockin' robin' (tweet-tweedilly-tweet)
Blow, rockin' robin
'Cause we're really gonna rock tonight (tweet-tweedilly-tweet)
Alright
Well, the pretty little raven at the bird bandstand
Taught him how to do the bop and it was grand
They started going steady and bless my soul
He out-bopped the buzzard and the oriole
He rocks in the treetop all day long
Hoppin' and a-boppin' and singing his song
All the little birds on Jaybird Street
Love to hear the robin go tweet tweet tweet
Rockin' robin (tweet-tweet-tweet)
Rock-rock-rockin' robin' (tweet-tweedilly-tweet)
Blow, rockin' robin
'Cause we're really gonna rock tonight (tweet-tweedilly-tweet)
(Tweedilly-tweedilly-deet, tweedilly-tweedilly-deet)
(Tweedilly-tweedilly-deet, tweedilly-tweedilly-deet)
(Tweedilly-tweedilly-deet, tweedilly-tweedilly-deet)
(Tweet-tweet)
The lyrics to Bobby Day's "Rockin' Robin" describe a robin who spends his days in the treetops singing and dancing while other birds listen with joy. The song implies that the robin is the king of Jaybird Street, as all the birds enjoy hearing him sing "tweet-tweet-tweet." Additionally, the robin has learned a new dance called the bop from a pretty raven at the bird bandstand, which he's eager to perform with a true rock 'n' roll style.
While the song seems lighthearted and fun on the surface, it's actually celebrating the importance of music and the joy it can bring. The song's upbeat melody reinforces its message of happiness and unity through music. The lyrics are also indirectly referencing the civil rights movement, which was gaining momentum during the time the song was released. It is said that the song served as a symbol of freedom and equality, as it showed a black musician breaking down barriers and achieving success.
Line by Line Meaning
He rocks in the treetops all day long
The robin spends his entire day perched and swaying in the treetop
Hoppin' and a-boppin' and singing his song
He jumps and dances gracefully while chirping melodiously
All the little birds on Jaybird Street
Every bird living on that particular street
Love to hear the robin go tweet-tweet-tweet
Get pleased to listen to his sweet singing voice
Rockin' robin (tweet-tweet-tweet)
Term used for the robin bird
Rock-rock-rockin' robin' (tweet-tweedilly-tweet)
A term repeated to show excitement and joy over the robin's dancing and singing antics
Blow, rockin' robin
Urge the robin to continue his song
'Cause we're really gonna rock tonight (tweet-tweedilly-tweet)
Everyone is excited about the upcoming night when they will dance and have fun
Every little swallow, every chick-a-dee
Small birds like the swallow and the chickadee
Every little bird in the tall oak tree
Every little bird that resides in the oak tree, which is mostly home to various birds
The wise old owl, the big black crow
It includes the animals other than birds, like the owl and the crow, known for their intelligence and size, respectively
Flappin' their wings singin', "Go, bird, go"
They encourage the bird to keep moving and continue their amazing singing and dancing
A pretty little raven at the bird bandstand
A beautiful raven bird who is present at the bird's performance stage
Taught him how to do the bop and it was grand
The raven helped Robin learn the cool dance move called the bop, and he nailed it
They started going steady and bless my soul
Robin and the Raven began dating each other
He out-bopped the buzzard and the oriole
Robin's dancing skills surpassed those of the buzzard and the oriole, known for their dancing abilities
Alright
An exclamation to show enthusiasm for the event about to happen
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: Jimmie Thomas
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@anthonygutierrez8767
He rocks in the tree tops all day long
Hoppin' and a-boppin' and singing his song
All the little birdies on Jaybird Street
Love to hear the robin go tweet tweet tweet
Rockin' robin, rock rock
Rockin' robin'
Blow rockin' robin
'Cause we're really gonna rock tonight
Every little swallow, every chick-a-dee
Every little bird in the tall oak tree
The wise old owl, the big black crow
Flappin' their wings singing go bird go
Rockin' robin, rock rock
Rockin' robin'
Blow rockin' robin
'Cause we're really gonna rock tonight
Pretty little raven at the bird-band stand
Told them how to do the bob and it was grand
They started going steady and bless my soul
He out-bopped the buzzard and the oriole
He rocks in the tree tops all day long
Hoppin' and a-boppin' and singing his song
All the little birdies on Jaybird Street
Love to hear the robin go tweet tweet tweet
Rockin' robin, rock rock
Rockin' robin'
Blow rockin' robin
'Cause we're really gonna rock tonight
Pretty little raven at the bird-band stand
Told them how to do the bob and it was grand
They started going steady and bless my soul
He out-bopped the buzzard and the oriole
He rocks in the tree tops all day long
Hoppin' and a-boppin' and singing his song
All the little birdies on Jaybird Street
Love to hear the robin go tweet tweet tweet
Rockin' robin, rock rock
Rockin' robin'
Blow rockin' robin
'Cause we're really gonna rock tonight
@thesteadfastduelist6258
This song just popped into my head and had to listen to it. Anyone else felt that?
@wh4193
Yeah I felt that
@beetsa777
Me!!
@mondevens1
Same ლ(´ڡ`ლ)
@abrahamderas8779
Yeah woke up to the lil birds chirping there happy tunes and had to play this along side them. 💯
@loganmccallum3724
Just woke up and needed to hear it. My uncle played this for me when I was a kid. He heard it when it came out
@pamelanorberg5647
I am 79 and I cannot stop myself from dancing when I hear such wonderful tunes from my teens. I just love them. They beat nearly everything written these days. Good old rock 'n roll!!
@clararoseneville
That's wonderful! I am sixteen and I too love to dance to this song. Rockin' Robin has been a favorite of mine ever since I heard it on my grandparent's radio. The fifties definitely was a great time for music!
@feitanswife953
I am 13 and I don’t like old music much, but rockin Robin and Elvis Presley is an exception!
@kayleejames1484
I’m 89