Rockin' Robin

Album: Got To Be There (1972)
Charted: 3 2
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • The R&B/pop singer Bobby Day originally recorded this song in 1958. His version also peaked at #2 in the US. Major irony: Bobby Day's real name is Robert Byrd.

    Bobby Day had a soulful Pop sound that suited a young Michael Jackson, who recorded this as just his second single as a solo artist, scoring a huge hit with the song. With the Jackson Five, Michael also scored with another Bobby Day song in 1972: "Little Bitty Pretty One," which went to #1 in the US.
  • This song was inspired by a mockingbird, not a robin, that pestered composer Leon René with its incessant singing. René, who wrote the lyrics, is credited as Jimmy Thomas, which is his songwriting pseudonym. Rene owned the label Excelsior Records.
  • The Indiana group The Rivieras, famous for their 1964 hit "California Sun," nicked the charts with their version of "Rockin' Robin" that same year when it hit #96.

Comments: 3

  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn July 1st 1972, Michael Jackson performed "Rockin' Robin" on the ABC-TV program 'American Bandstand'...
    Four months earlier on March 5th, 1972 it entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #68; and on April 16th, 1972 it peaked at #2 (for 2 weeks) and spent 13 weeks on the Top 100...
    It also reached #2 on Billboard's Best Selling Soul Singles chart...
    As already stated the original version of the song was released by Bobby Day in 1958; and it also peaked at #2 on the Top 100 (was released on the 'Class' record label, and in the label it was titled as "Rock-In Robin")...
    The 2 weeks that Michael's version was at #2, the #1 record for both those weeks was "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" by Roberta Flack...
    R.I.P. to The King of Pop (1958 - 2009).
  • Bob from Orlando, MaCool song I played for my 3rd girlfriend
  • Keith from Slc, UtThis hit about the same time that Donny Osmond's cover of "Puppy Love" was also a hit, prompting jocks to demand "no more animal songs until they hire someone to clean the floors in the studio."
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Terry Jacks ("Seasons in the Sun")

Terry Jacks ("Seasons in the Sun")Songwriter Interviews

Inspired by his dear friend, "Seasons in the Sun" paid for Terry's boat, which led him away from music and into a battle with Canadian paper mills.

Strange Magnetics

Strange MagneticsSong Writing

How Bing Crosby, Les Paul, a US Army Signal Corps Officer, and the Nazis helped shape rock and Roll.

Adele

AdeleFact or Fiction

Despite her reticent personality, Adele's life and music are filled with intrigue. See if you can spot the true tales.

Weezer

WeezerFact or Fiction

Did Rivers Cuomo grow up on a commune? Why did they name their albums after colors? See how well you know your Weezer in this Fact or Fiction.

Taylor Dayne

Taylor DayneSongwriter Interviews

Taylor talks about "The Machine" - the hits, the videos and Clive Davis.

Reverend Horton Heat

Reverend Horton HeatSongwriter Interviews

The Reverend rants on psychobilly and the egghead academics he bashes in one of his more popular songs.