Uploaded December 2023 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Shelly Grey – Walkin' To Missouri (Poor Little Robin)
Written by Bob Merrill
78 RPM audio transfer from the Bowness Arts collection of vintage records.
Label: Beacon –P3
Format: Vinyl, 10", 78 RPM
Released: c1952
Genre: Pop, Country
Style: Vocal
Tracklist:
A1 Jeri Shannon & Night Winds – You Belong To Me youtu.be/Us97-X30Hyk
A2 Jeri Shannon & Night Winds – I Went To Your Wedding youtu.be/boOrqfw76NM
B1 Johnny August – High Noon youtu.be/aX3a_vcthU4
B2 Shelly Gray – Walkin' To Missouri (Poor Little Robin) youtu.be/iMt_u9H99-g
"Walkin' to Missouri" is a popular song written by Bob Merrill in 1952. Sammy Kaye's version peaked at No. 11 (U.S.) in 1952. In the United Kingdom, Tony Brent's cover version reached No. 7 in the UK Singles Chart in January 1953. The song is a prodigal son allegory about a young man (the story's metaphorical "robin") who could not fly and could only walk all the way back to his old home in Missouri, following a life of partying in the big city jazz scene - or the repercussions that happened as a result. During the course of the song, it transpired that he had "met a birdie who looked so nice", who, until the end, was secretly having an affair with someone else. While the song does not make any details of the revelation, it can be gleaned from the last verse that the protagonist was forced out of his comfort zone and likely lost money: "His dreams are battered, his feathers bent/And he hasn't got a cent/He feels like his heart is gonna break". The song, at the end, urges the listeners to show this "robin" some kindness if he ever approaches them, because the mistake is an easy one to make. The initial release of Kaye's recording coincided with the 1952 United States presidential election campaigns. Disc jockeys around the US used the allegory of the lyrics "walkin' to Missouri...got a teardrop in his eye" as a jab to Harry S. Truman, who returned to his home in Independence, MO following his time as President of the United States. This contributed to airplay and the subsequent popularity of the song.
Note: The first 78 RPM record came into existence around 1894, and in 1912 the Gramophone Company established 78 rotations per minute as their recording standard. The production of shellac records continued throughout the 78 rpm era, with "non-breakable" 78 rpm vinyl records being introduced in the 1940s. The popularity of the 33 1/3 rpm "Long Play" record, initially released in 1948, caused the 78 rpm record to become obsolete before the end of the 1950s. As these 78 rpm recordings are quite old, they may contain derogatory language and/or negative stereotypes. It is important to evaluate such recordings within their historical context and consider them as a reflection of the attitudes prevalent at the time. These recordings form an integral part of the historical record and do not represent the views of this poster, channel, or Bowness Arts.
Shelly Grey – Walkin' To Missouri (Poor Little Robin)
Written by Bob Merrill
78 RPM audio transfer from the Bowness Arts collection of vintage records.
Label: Beacon –P3
Format: Vinyl, 10", 78 RPM
Released: c1952
Genre: Pop, Country
Style: Vocal
Tracklist:
A1 Jeri Shannon & Night Winds – You Belong To Me youtu.be/Us97-X30Hyk
A2 Jeri Shannon & Night Winds – I Went To Your Wedding youtu.be/boOrqfw76NM
B1 Johnny August – High Noon youtu.be/aX3a_vcthU4
B2 Shelly Gray – Walkin' To Missouri (Poor Little Robin) youtu.be/iMt_u9H99-g
"Walkin' to Missouri" is a popular song written by Bob Merrill in 1952. Sammy Kaye's version peaked at No. 11 (U.S.) in 1952. In the United Kingdom, Tony Brent's cover version reached No. 7 in the UK Singles Chart in January 1953. The song is a prodigal son allegory about a young man (the story's metaphorical "robin") who could not fly and could only walk all the way back to his old home in Missouri, following a life of partying in the big city jazz scene - or the repercussions that happened as a result. During the course of the song, it transpired that he had "met a birdie who looked so nice", who, until the end, was secretly having an affair with someone else. While the song does not make any details of the revelation, it can be gleaned from the last verse that the protagonist was forced out of his comfort zone and likely lost money: "His dreams are battered, his feathers bent/And he hasn't got a cent/He feels like his heart is gonna break". The song, at the end, urges the listeners to show this "robin" some kindness if he ever approaches them, because the mistake is an easy one to make. The initial release of Kaye's recording coincided with the 1952 United States presidential election campaigns. Disc jockeys around the US used the allegory of the lyrics "walkin' to Missouri...got a teardrop in his eye" as a jab to Harry S. Truman, who returned to his home in Independence, MO following his time as President of the United States. This contributed to airplay and the subsequent popularity of the song.
Note: The first 78 RPM record came into existence around 1894, and in 1912 the Gramophone Company established 78 rotations per minute as their recording standard. The production of shellac records continued throughout the 78 rpm era, with "non-breakable" 78 rpm vinyl records being introduced in the 1940s. The popularity of the 33 1/3 rpm "Long Play" record, initially released in 1948, caused the 78 rpm record to become obsolete before the end of the 1950s. As these 78 rpm recordings are quite old, they may contain derogatory language and/or negative stereotypes. It is important to evaluate such recordings within their historical context and consider them as a reflection of the attitudes prevalent at the time. These recordings form an integral part of the historical record and do not represent the views of this poster, channel, or Bowness Arts.
