After Be-Bop-A-Lula had become a huge hit in 1956 (peaking at #7 and spending 20 weeks in the Billboard Pop Chart), Gene Vincent & His Blue Caps (often mis-named as 'the' Blue Caps) were unable to follow it up with the same level of commercial success, but released critically acclaimed songs like Race With The Devil (#96 in Billboard) and Bluejean Bop (#49).
Following a visit to Europe in 1959, Vincent managed to attract a new huge and discerning audience there, especially in England and France. By that time his career had mostly ended in the US. In 1960, while on tour in Britain, Vincent and songwriter Sharon Sheeley were seriously injured in a high-speed traffic accident. Vincent broke his ribs, collarbone, and added further damage to his already weak leg which he had injured in a motorcycle accident in 1955 and refused to have amputated, and Sheeley suffered a broken pelvis. Both Vincent and Sheeley survived, but the accident killed Vincent's tourmate and Sheeley's fiancé, Eddie Cochran.
Vincent subsequently moved to England in 1963. His stage shows became "must see" events and his bands through those years were to spawn some of the most respected players in the world today. It was during his early tours of Britain that he adopted the trademark leather outfit, at the suggestion of British Rock 'n' Roll impressario, Jack Good.
Rockin' Robin
Gene Vincent Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hoppin' and a-boppin' and a-singing his song
All the little birds on Jaybird Street
Love to hear the robin go tweet tweet tweet
Rockin' robin (Tweet x 3)
Rockin' robin (Tweet, tweedle-lee-dee)
Go rockin' robin
(Tweet, tweedle-lee-dee)
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 (Tweet x 3)
Rockin' robin (Tweet, tweedle-lee-dee)
Go rockin' robin
'Cause we're really gonna rock tonight
(Tweet, tweedle-lee-dee)
A pretty little raven at the bird fence dance
Taught him how to do the boppin', it was grand
They started going steady and bless my soul
He out-bopped the buzzard and the oriole
He rocks in the tree top all day long
Hoppin' and a-boppin' and a-singing his song
All the little birds on Jaybird Street
Love to hear the robin go tweet tweet tweet
Rockin' robin (Tweet x 3)
Rockin' robin (Tweet, tweedle-lee-dee)
Go rockin' robin
'Cause we're really gonna rock tonight
(Tweet, tweedle-lee-dee)
Well, a pretty little raven at the bird-bath stand
Taught him how to do the boppin', it was grand
He started going steady and bless my soul
He out-bopped the Buzzard and the Oriole
He rocks in the tree top all day long
Hoppin' and a-boppin' and a-singing his song
All the little birds on Jaybird Street
Love to hear the robin go tweet tweet tweet
Rockin' robin, (tweet, tweet, tweet)
Rockin' robin' (tweet, tweedle-lee-dee)
Go rockin' robin
'Cause we're really gonna rock tonight
(tweet, tweedle-lee-dee)
Rockin' robin, (tweet, tweet, tweet)
Rockin' robin' (tweet, tweedle-lee-dee)
Go rockin' robin
'Cause we're really gonna rock tonight
(tweet, tweedle-lee-dee)
(Tweedle-lee-dee-dee-dee, tweedle-lee-dee-dee x 3)
(Tweet x 2)
The lyrics to Gene Vincent's "Rockin' Robin" describe a robin bird who spends his days hopping, bopping, and singing non-stop atop a tree. The other birds, including the wise old owl, the big black crow, the swallow, and the chick-a-dee in the tall oak tree chuckle away, appreciating the robin's joyous energy, especially the three "tweet"s he belts out regularly. The robin's prowess in singing and dancing is attributed to a pretty little raven who taught him how to bop at the bird-fence dance.
Overall, the song promotes the act of having fun, enjoying the company of friends, and forgetting the worries of the world, at least until the night sets in, when the birds are truly going to rock, according to the lyrics. Gene Vincent artfully weaves together images of nature and the playful energy of music, creating an upbeat and vibrant song that has stood the test of time.
Line by Line Meaning
He rocks in the tree tops all day long
The robin bird spends its entire day in the branches of the tree, balancing and making a rhythmic sound.
Hoppin' and a-boppin' and a-singing his song
The robin is happy and lively, continuously singing a song while jumping and dancing.
All the little birds on Jaybird Street
Every bird in the town is captivated with the rockin' robin.
Love to hear the robin go tweet tweet tweet
The birds really like it when the robin sings a tweet, tweet, tweet.
Rockin' robin (Tweet x 3)
Refrain to the robin's tweet tweet tweet
Rockin' robin (Tweet, tweedle-lee-dee)
The robin continues to sing in a joyful rhythm, which is captured in the tweet, tweedle-lee-dee refrain.
Go rockin' robin
Continue to sing loudly and happily, rockin' robin.
'Cause we're really gonna rock tonight
We are all going to have a great time tonight and dance all night long with the rockin' robin.
Every little swallow, every chick-a-dee
All the small birds on the tree, including the swallow and chick-a-dee, are fascinated by the bird's song and moves.
Every little bird in the tall oak tree
All the birds residing in the oak tree are entertained by the robin's act.
The wise old owl, the big black crow
Even the more mature and bigger birds like the owl and crow are acknowledging and appreciating the robin's performance.
Flappin' their wings singing go bird go
The other birds are flapping their wings and cheering the robin on, asking the bird to keep going with their lively performance.
A pretty little raven at the bird fence dance
The robin meets the pretty raven at the edge of the bird fence and starts dancing with her.
Taught him how to do the boppin', it was grand
The raven teaches the robin how to dance, and it's a grand experience.
They started going steady and bless my soul
The robin and raven start seeing each other, and it's a lovely sight.
He out-bopped the buzzard and the oriole
The fantastic bop dance that the robin learned from the raven helps him outdo the buzzard and oriole bird species.
(Tweedle-lee-dee-dee-dee, tweedle-lee-dee-dee x 3)
The robin joyfully sings with the rhythm captured in the tweet, tweedle-lee-dee-dee refrain.
(Tweet x 2)
The robin concludes with a refrain tweet tweet, keeping the other birds entertained.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: Jimmie Thomas
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind