Released: August 26, 1972

Songwriter: Jimmie Thomas

Producer: Mel Larson Jerry Marcellino

[Intro: The Jackson 5]
(One, two, three)
Tweedly-diddly-dee, tweedly-diddly-dee
Tweedly-diddly-dee, tweedly-diddly-dee
Tweedly-diddly-dee, tweedly-diddly-dee
Tweet, tweet, tweet tweet

[Verse 1: Michael Jackson]
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

[Chorus: Michael Jackson & (The Jacksons)]
Rockin' robin, oh, rock rock
Rockin' robin (Tweet, tweedly-dee)
Blow rockin' robin
'Cause we're really gonna rock tonight, hey

[Verse 2: Michael Jackson]
Every little swallow, every chickadee
Every little bird in the tall oak tree
The wise old owl, the big black crow
Flappin' their wings singing go bird go

[Chorus: Michael Jackson & (The Jacksons)]
Rockin' robin, oh, rock rock
Rockin' robin, hey (Tweet, tweedly-dee)
Blow rockin' robin
'Cause we're really gonna rock tonight
You got it, Tito

[Guitar solo]

[Bridge: Michael Jackson]
Pretty little raven at the bird-band stand
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

[Verse 3: Michael Jackson]
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

[Chorus: Michael Jackson & (The Jacksons)]
Rockin' robin, hey, rock rock
Rockin' robin (Tweet, tweedly-dee)
Blow rockin' robin
'Cause we're really gonna rock tonight

[Bridge: Michael Jackson]
Pretty little raven at the bird-band stand
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

[Verse 4: Michael Jackson]
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

[Chorus: Michael Jackson & (The Jacksons)]
Rockin' robin, ho, rock rock
Rockin' robin, hey (Tweet, tweedly-dee)
Blow rockin' robin
'Cause we're really gonna rock tonight

[Outro: The Jackson 5]
Tweedly-diddly-dee, tweedly-diddly-dee
Tweedly-diddly-dee, tweedly-diddly-dee
Tweedly-diddly-dee, tweedly-diddly-dee
Tweet, tweet, tweet tweet
Thank you

The Jackson 5

The Jackson 5 were originally formed in 1963 under the name, The Jackson Brothers. The founding members were Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, and Marlon. Michael would join the group as the lead singer a year later, a move which pushed Jermaine to sing the backing vocals and play the lead guitar.

After participating in a series of talent shows, they entered the professional music scene in 1967, signing with Steeltown Records and releasing ten singles. In 1969, they left Steeltown Records in order to sign with Motown.

In 1975, most of the Jacksons had opted out of recording any more music for Motown, expressing desires to have creative control over their songs, as well as royalties. Learning that they were earning only 2.8% of royalties from Motown, Joe Jackson, the father and manager of the group, began to negotiate a lucrative contract with Epic records, which offered a royalty rate of 20% per record. The deal was completed in June 1975. As Motown owned the name The Jackson 5, the group simply renamed themselves The Jacksons.

more tracks from the album

Live at The Forum

From the album