The Robins were formed in 1949 in Los Angeles, California. They had previou… Read Full Bio ↴The Robins were formed in 1949 in Los Angeles, California. They had previously been known since 1947 as “The Bluebirds.” The best known recording from the Robins was “Smokey Joe’s Café.” If It’s So Baby was another top 10 R&B hit from the group.

The original group members were Ty Terrell, Billy Richards, Roy Richards, and Bobby Nunn. Carl Gardner and Grady Chapman were added in 1954. In 1956, Garner and Nunn left and formed The Coasters.

Riot In Cell Block #9
The Robins Lyrics

We have lyrics for 'Riot In Cell Block #9' by these artists:

Coasters (The) On July the second, 1953 I was servin' time for armed…
Dr. Feelgood On July second, 1953, I was serving time for armed robbery …
Jackson Wanda On July the second, nineteen fifty three I was serving time…
Johnny & Edgar Winter July the second, it was nineteen sixty-three I was servin' t…
Johnny Winter July the second, it was nineteen sixty-three I was servin' t…
Robins The On July the second, 1953 I was servin' time for armed…
The Coasters On July the second, 1953 I was servin' time for armed…
The Coasters (aka The Robins) On July the second, 1953 I was servin' time for armed…
Wanda Jackson On July the second, nineteen fifty three I was serving time…

Wanda Jackson㄀ On July the second, nineteen fifty three I was serving time…
Wanda Jay On July the second, nineteen and fifty-three I was serving t…

We have lyrics for these tracks by The Robins:

A Fool in Love Whoa...There's something on my mind Won't somebody please, p…
A Little Bird Told Me Fa la la la la Fa la la la la Fa la…
All Night Baby (All night long I wait) Yeah, hey, mama Kick time at the…
Blues in the Night In the dark sky, stars alight, Twinkling, gleaming sparkle i…
Don't Stop Now Here is today, I'm feelin' blue It's Saturday night, I'm wai…
Down in Mexico Down in Mexicali There's a crazy little place that I know …
Every Night I wanna grow old with you Buy an RV and just…
Exactly Like You (Ahooo) I can see the way you're trouble from across the…
Fool in Love Whoa...There's something on my mind Won't somebody please, p…
Freight Train Boogie I just came down from Chippewa Had as station wagon and…
Hey Hey Baby I know you been searching out But you ain't scratch the…
How Would You Know I hear the wind Blowing in the night Is it fine? To sleep…
Hurt Me We were settling down Been around Like Bonny and Clyde Hitti…
I Muste Be Dreamin' Oh-oh-oh-oh, ooh! Oh-oh-oh-oh, ooh! Oh-oh-oh-oh, ooh! Oh-…
I Love Paris I don't like it, I love it, love it, love…
I Made A Vow I was born in Lil' Rock Had a childhood sweetheart We were…
I'll Do It Kiss me (kiss me), I love the way that you…
If I Didn't Love You So The way you make me feel like I belong The way…
If It's So It don't mean a thing If it ain't got that swing (doo…
Johnny I look at all the faces in these streets Shaking their…
Just Like A Fool So many lovers Too many nights Face in the mirror that keep…
Just Like That They're holding hands Walking around just to hold it longer …
Key To My Heart When you say you want me, I just lose control I'm…
Let's Go To The Dance Let's go to the mall, everybody, ha! Go! Come on Jessica,…
my heart sings When you say you want me, I just lose control I'm…
Out Of The Picture You left me you sent me through I'm all alone…
Riot In Cell Block On July the second, 1953 I was servin' time for armed…
Rockin Groove rockin, I'm talkin' On your feet, it's time to…
Show Me Love Ahh Yeah, yeah, yeah, hey Yeah, yeah You've got to show me l…
Since I First Met You My nights don't seem so endless My days don't seem so…
Smokey Joe Waa-aah, at Smokey Joe's Café Waa-aah, at Smokey Joe's Café …
Smokey Joe's Cafe One day while I was eating beans at Smokey Joe's…
Smokey Joe’s Café Waa-aah, at Smokey Joe's Café Waa-aah, at Smokey Joe's Café …
That Old Black Magic Old black magic has me in its spell Old black magic…
Whadaya Want (Bee-dah-bee-day-doh, bee-dah-doh-day) Ooh, ooh! (Bee-dah-be…
What Does It Matter Does it matter where you come from? Does it really matter…
Women Women Women (Daytrip took it to 10, yeah!) I wanna turn gay on…
Wrap It Up Mmm Mmm Mmm Wrap me up, hold me tight Snuggle me and huggle…

Wrat It Up Ooh, ooh Ooh, ooh-ooh Fire it up (fire it up) Yeah, fire it…

The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos

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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@robertsparling917

4y↑5

Lyrics:

On July the 2nd 1953,
I was serving time
For armed robbery
At four o'clock in the morning,
I was sleeping in my cell
I heard the whistle blow,
Then I heard somebody yell

There's a riot goin' on!
There's a riot goin' on!
There's a riot goin' on
Up in cell block number nine!

The trouble started in
Cell block number 4
It spread like fire
Across the prison floor
I said "Okay, boys, get ready to run!
Here come the warden with a Tommy gun!"

There's a riot goin' on!
There's a riot goin' on!
There's a riot goin' on
Up in cell block number nine!

The warden said "Come out with your hands up in the air!
If you don't stop this riot, YOU'RE ALL GONNA GET THE CHAIR!"
Scarface Jones said "It's too late to quit!
Pass the dynamite, 'cause the FUSE IS LIT!"

There's a riot goin' on!
There's a riot goin' on!
There's a riot goin' on
Up in cell block number nine!

In the 47th hour,
The tear gas got our men!
We were all back in our cells,
But every now and then

There's a riot goin' on!
There's a riot goin' on!
There's a riot goin' on
Up in cell block number nine!

All comments from YouTube:

@jensenbell

16y↑9

I am so grateful that you posted this. 1. Lieber and Stoller songs must be preserved & presented forever. 2. The Robins were the first to do this, they were the first "Coasters". Because of this post more people can hear that... and how great their recordings are. Thank you! Great!

@trfesok

2y↑5

The Beach Boys covered this acoustically in 1965. After they added it to their setlists in 1971, Mike Love turned it into "Student Demonstration Time". I put all 3 in my "Beach Boys..covering" playlist. Thanks for downloading the down and dirty original!

@lawerencestimpson2280

24w

Yes the Beachboys took a great tune and messed it up.

@robertsparling917

4y↑5

@HackSteele1

8y↑12

A great group and a great song. Daring in 1954!! so it got limited exposure. I don't want to knock "Jailhouse Rock" but this deserves at least equal iconic status-- plus it was first on the scene.

@hwgray

7y↑3

"it got limited exposure"?!!! Oh. You mean, among white people.

@michaelpatrickfox

Actually, Lieber and Stoller's early 50's records on the Spark label were hits mainly in the Los Angeles area; so yes, they only got limited exposure.

They didn't have any national hits until they moved to New York City in 1957 to work at Atlantic records.

Lieber & Stoller wrote and produced this record, and they were two hip young jewish guys. They also wrote "Jailhouse Rock' and a lot of other classics.

@williamsowders9488

6y↑1

John Woodford they had many early recordings as the Robins, later known as The Coasters

@PCCphoenix

Blues Brothers did it even better! 😉

@b4boomersblockboy722

9y↑11

I remember this song being played on the juke box almost everywhere I went in D.C. back in day as a Juvenile Delinquent ! :-)

@lonniecavenee6201

11y↑4

A classic. Glad I found it, thanks for posting it!

@decal6322

9y↑33

Lead singer on this song was Richard Berry who just happened to be at the studio while the Robins were recording it. Berry went on to write and record Louie, Louie in 1957.

@1994g0

7y↑2

Was Richard Berry white?

@Maltloaflegrande

7y↑2

Berry was African-American

@Bowser1948

5y↑2

@1994g0 as the ace of spades

@bobvenditti8775

10y↑2

Finally heard this version, it's terrific! Check out Vicki Young's 1954 rendition with a gender change and a funny twist ending.

@josephkane2148

7y↑4

Just one of these songs that came out in 1954 as it was done By The Robins Called Riot In Cell Block #9 as it is a timeless classic Rock & Roll single from 1954 such a real bluesy song of it's time

@josephkane4753

6y↑1

Just an all-time Classic hit single from the Robins as it is Called Riot In Cellblock#9 as it came out in 1954

@josephkane1436

Another timeless Classic hit single from The Robins as it is Called Riot In Cell Block #9

@frostrust

9y↑4

We played this a few weeks ago on the Library of Golden Oldies. Wild Song! Thanks for sharing. Ms. Shoo Bop

@otaku1524

10y↑40

Probably the best jail-themed rock song ever!

@AxemanDeth

5y↑6

Thats Blues baby not rock

@AsianTheDomination

5y↑8

i fought the law, jailhouse rock, folsom prison, theres a lot of competition

@50sRocKabilly

5y↑1

@DEATHWOLF 771 100% Rock n roll

@minnowpd

wanda Jackson and Jack Lord own the "Live 'version

@markmalasics8413

@50sRockabilly Please

4 More Replies...

@danielmkubacki

10y↑4

Nice label! Cool song. I love the Robins! They became The Coasters.

@robcombs3785

10y↑2

5 stars......I love this!!!!

@PAMUKJOSE

8y↑1

1001 canciones q hay q escuchar antes de morir.

@markpark582

5y↑8

Lead singer is Richard Berry. Great R and B song.

@josephkane2852

7y↑5

This is Classic Rock & Roll By The Robins Called Riot in Cell Block # 9 a real Gem of single from 1954

@janemitchell2019

4y↑1

A Classic Composition/Performance. Rhythm&Blues101

@jennifursun3303

8y↑10

loved old 50's and early 60's sax parts

@ttrung0101

24w

This was early 1950s.

@jess59cab11

9y↑7

Best version ever.

@uwcb1

10y↑1

Hi Fi & The Roadburners do a killer version of this, but you gotta love the original.

@iooisongs4708

10y↑2

Now THAT‘s what I call a riot! 948 to go!

@lucbenistant9230

5y↑1

Thans for posting this fantastisch Leiber and Stoller song. More songs ? Please!

@MrBeefycow

11y↑2

I love the robins! And Coasters.

@vinnyfarina4698

Awesome Song Played by our Band in 1978
The Harvey Albert Band.

@Musicradio77Network

I saw this on eBay and it's very expensive for a 78 which cost over $200. Discogs is where I looked at and it's not bad for a price that is less than a most expensive 78. I want to play it on my 1926 Victor VV 8-4 in the future.

@Vettel2011

48w

Hi Chris.

@wiggbuggie863

3y↑4

The beach boys rewrote this as student demonstration time for there surfs up album

@acenturyofblackmusic1655

5y↑1

real rock n roll

@benalfonso8990

rock on, COMPTON !!!!!

@marvinbnaylor

9y↑19

A damn sight better than what Mike Love did to it!

@joewilson4045

8y↑1

+Marvin B Naylor That song brought me here, this version is a lot more memorable.

@joewilson4045

+Marvin B Naylor That song brought me here, this version is a lot more memorable.

@lucamistretta890

6y↑2

Marvin B Naylor have to disagree with you there

@Bowser1948

5y↑2

Try Dr Feelgoods version with Wilco's machine gun intro

@benoitpellet1657

Bowser1948 YES! That was a genuinely great cover!

2 More Replies...

@sub-harmonik

3y↑1

this is so much better than the beach boys' version (student demonstration time)

@charliestoops8815

I’ve been looking for this comment lol

@mijaoldies

16y

this is tuff ... love it ... thanks

@bennyjazzful

5y↑3

WOW WOW WOW !

From a mad keen 75yo Aussie fan.

@apa_plainjane

5y↑1

this checks ALL the boxes for me

@ImperialSoulRolas

16y↑1

This is tight.

@AndreasLindholm

Cool song!

@NeilOratz

this version or commander cody, both top notch..............pass the dynamite, the fuse is lit

@benalfonso8990

9y↑16

THE sax was 'all time;!!!

@jennifursun3303

Ben Alfonso oh yes maybe King Curtis

@fosbury68

@jennifur sun Gil Bernal actually.
https://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-xpm-2011-jul-27-la-me-gil-bernal-20110727-story.html

@KanedaJones

4y↑6

didn't know Cleveland had a singing career. XD

@JackFirneno

4y↑1

Is there any lore about the "dynamite" line? I first heard the Blues Brothers version, where it's "Pass ... and don't you give me any shit." Here, it's " 'cause the fuse is lit," but the band comes in off-kilter. It makes me wonder if the "shit" line was the original but they had to overdub it and couldn't get it quite right. Obviously the Blues Brothers version wouldn't be definitive, but it's interesting that there's a clam right at that point.

@MrBlinkee

7y↑7

Pass the dynomite!

@petergriffin613

3y↑1

Nothing can tell me that this isn't a follow up to Framed

@benalfonso8990

10y↑2

rock on, COMPTON.....!!!!!

@markmiller9163

Commander Cody did a nice take on this song.

@narlycat

believe it or not, but the first time I heard this song it was done by the Beach Boys on an old 8 track I had of them back in the 1970s. they must have recorded it in the late 1960s since it sounded like an anti Vietnam protest with police sirens etc.

@hwgray

Believe it or not, but this is the first time that I heard that this song was ripped off by the Beach Boys. "Anti-Vietnam protest"?!!! Anti-Jim Crow protest.

@charliestoops8815

It wasn’t really “ripped off”, they also rewrote the lyrics and put it on an album with the new name “Student Demonstration Time”, an anti-war song (while still crediting the original writers)

@deaddog5344

@@charliestoops8815 But, they used the same soundtrack.

@charliestoops8815

Yes but that’s not a “rip off” when you credit the original writers and re-record the song. If it was then all covers would be rip offs

@Pogo-qo1ob

Now I now where Elvis got the instrumental for "Trouble" in King Creole.

@jennifursun3303

interesting never realized it tell now.

@mysteryelv

8y↑3

Both songs written by Leiber and Stoller...

@JesseJDogBoartfield

Actually the riff was lifted from Hoochie Coochie Man by Muddy Waters, written by Willie Dixon.

@electricchurchmusic4298

SUPERB !!!

@jackhewitt7067

This song delivers us in America revolutionaries, rock stars as warriors, the cultural power of musical icons, and the brief point in the 60s when revolution seemed plausible. Today we have white male-privileged armed insolence at the head of the spear. America,
where are we now? How can you care about your sons and daughters...?

@Vettel2011

48w

White male privilege? Where? Nowhere. White male "privileged" people are starting to be viewed by society the same way Jews were viewed by the Nazis. They actual are the new rock stars - see Ted Nugent, Kid Rock and Aaron Lewis! Where are the majority of today's commercialized "rock stars"? Following the establishment...

Socialism is always crap, regardless whether it is red, green or brown.

@lw97nilslinuswhitewaterweb23

28w

What's your opinion on Jason Aldean?

@grendog02

4y↑1

Much better then Jail House Rock

@benalfonso8990

rock on COMPTON...…..!!!!

@benalfonso8990

10y

try home on Alcatraz......the rollin crew..........rock on, COMPTON !!!!

@donnamaccrossan1358

6y↑1

Sirius/XM 50s on 5 brought me here after they played this last night. Dig that Sax.....blows you away!!

@matelot95

"On July the second, 1975, I found I'd been thrown in jail for doing strange things to my wife"

@robertcombs55

5y↑2

YALL remember I was In ANGOLA (I tore the label off my Mattress)...We RIOTED!!!! ;)

@JaymaruBrowne

43w

❤

@PetrSvoren

10y↑1

I just found out that Student Demonstration Time by the Beach Boys is this song but with different lyrics.

@trfesok

9y↑1

The Beach Boys were performing this song live in 1970 or so. Mike Love came up with the new lyrics in 1971, and they are rather heavy handed. Wish they had stuck with the original! Both that one and this one are in my Beach Boys covered and covering playlist. They also did an acoustic version with the original lyrics in 1965 during the sessions for the "Party!" album.

@joewilson4045

+Petr Svoren That led me here.

@waynedanberry

9y↑28

I came here because of Frank Zappa!

@aaron4wilkins

Zappa?

@TheRickmast

FUCK FRANK ZAPPA.....he would say the same to you......

@ornleifs

Me too - It was one of the first songs he bought as a teenager.

@zolarczakl3880

@TheRickmast
If you don't have anything nice to say...

@khj8716

Johnny Winter brought me here

1 More Replies...

@benbrunette11

Classic TDT

@valeriemartinez9074

this was Martha stewarts song in 2005 she had it in her podcast according to people magazine

@chuckobscure

9y↑5

Believe it or not, Primus brought me here.

Primus
1990-03-16
Diablo Valley College
Diablo, CA, USA

@SerjShower

Les Claypool?

@jashua1176

😎

@kentbernard1117

SING ....SING............OSSINING ...........................NEW YORK

@RecordKing44

11y↑1

This was from MAFIA II also

@lordgarmadon2598

Student Demonstration Time.

@benalfonso8990

5y↑1

7th whaley.......rock on, COMPTON !!!!

@tantamountzenith9654

OOOOOOOOooooooo Ya got me ...............

@djdeitch

16y

Oldie goldie,.ktf.

@aspeigher

step out or step in.

@TheZeevik

5y↑1

blues

@aindru

9y↑2

I do not get it. I downloaded the complete discography of The Coasters and this version appeared as if were played by them.

@b4boomersblockboy722

9y↑1

Andrés Vielma i don't know if understand what you're saying ? Anyway , The Robins later became the Coasters . I hope that helps .

@aindru

Oh, ok, thank you.

@jennifursun3303

Andrés Vielma yep that is why i have it on an old Coasters LP

@hudginsfrp3545

8y↑1

+Andrés Vielma The Coasters were the Robins first.

@egbertsouce3895

jennifur sun/Andres Vielma........I believe the original recording by The Robins was re-released under the group name "The Coasters". Don't think its any incarnation of The Coasters on this version--probably just a marketing ploy by Atlantic/Atco and the suits (Ertegun et al). 6-5-18

2 More Replies...

@ftenzer

8y↑2

Find out what causes people to commit crimes and cure them of all of the problems that cause them to commit crimes in the first place without causing or allowing new problems to be created in the first place.

@robertfisher2332

Fred Tenzer oh brother!

@deaddog5344

Yeah, MONEY.

@Klitch

11y↑1

hah i found it too

@minnowpd

Wanda Jackson at Third Man skip the intro.

@samuellacey5166

+RecordKing44 No it wasn't, from what I know at least. Are you mistaking it for "Framed"?

@TheZodiacz

11y↑1

Gerald Celente brought me here.

@bellinghammond

3y↑1

nice, but the beach Boys did it one better

@gantz22ify

34w

This is that song they ripped off in Pound Puppies: The Legend of Big Paw.

@asimov49

8y↑4

Who's Elvis?

@JaymaruBrowne

43w

Happy July 2nd

@Joe30pack

6y↑1

Zappa sent me here.

@machtanger

Reading barry miles Zappa bio

@hitty9

10y

Listen to Beach
Boy's Student Demonstration Time!
Did the Beach Boy's rip off this song?

@nickmoss6550

10y↑1

Mike Love rearranged it and rewrote the lyrics for Surf's Up to make it about riots taking place in America at the time. The original writers receive credit on the album.

@Sixalienasa

Listen to Dr. Feelgood for a great version.

@samhawkins1678

COMMANDER CODY

@uarhodesian

Donuld Trump is going to start riot

@deaddog5344

Yeah, in cell block #9.

@Vettel2011

48w

Compare that to BLM

@uarhodesian

48w

@Vettel2011 Nils L. Weber what do you want to say?

@Vettel2011

48w

@uarhodesian BLM riot harder

@whitepearl8639

Noagain

@JL-rv9lm

Always was impressed with the Beach Boys, "Student Demonstration Time" but less so now that I learn that all they did was change the lyrics to this Lieber/Stoller song.