Sad Eyes by Robert John

Album: Robert John (1979)

Charted: 31 1

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Songfacts®:

In this soft rock hit from the '70s, the singer is dealing with a breakup that apparently he instigated. He tries to make a clean break, telling her what they had was good while it lasted, but she's having a hard time accepting it and keeps crying, which he can't handle. "Turn the other way - I don't want to see you cry," he tells her. Let's hope her next boyfriend is more sensitive.
Sandwiched in music history between Elton John and Robert Johnson, Robert John is a singer from Brooklyn who had a minor hit way back in 1958 with a song called "White Bucks And Saddle Shoes," which went to #74. At the time, he was using his real name: Bobby Pedrick, Jr. As Robert John, he charted again in 1968 when a song he co-wrote, "If You Don't Want My Love," went to #49. In 1972 he had a big hit with a cover of "The Lion Sleeps Tonight," which went to #3. He had a few minor hits as a songwriter ("Can't Help But Love You" for The Whispers, "I Can't Move No Mountains" for Blood, Sweat & Tears), but was out of music by the late '70s.

In 1978, the producer George Tobin, who had worked with Kim Carnes and Natalie Cole, called Robert to reboot his career. That's when Robert John wrote "Sad Eyes." Tobin produced the track, and it climbed to #1 in 1979, just ahead of Michael Jackson's "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough."

In 2025, Robert John died at 79 following a stroke he suffered years earlier.
According to George Tobin, Robert John was working in construction when they started working on this song. Tobin suggested he write a song along the lines of "My Angel Baby," a hit for Toby Beau in 1978. Using that as a reference John took about three months to write the song, making lots of changes along the way.
This song fell into a soft rock sweet spot when the genre was huge. Lite favorites by the likes of the Commodores, Barry Manilow and Linda Ronstadt were all over the radio, counterbalancing the disco hits.
"Sad Eyes" entered the Billboard Hot 100 at #85 on May 19, 1979. It was #1 20 weeks later, tying the record set by Nick Gilder's single "Hot Child In The City" for taking the longest time to reach the peak position.
Robert John first appeared on Billboard Hot 100 on November 10, 1958, as Bobby Pedrick, Jr. From that time on to his first #1, 20 years and 11 months elapsed, setting a longevity record which was eventually broken by Tina Turner in 1984 with "What's Love Got To Do With It."

Comments: 28

Jennifer Berden from Grand Blanc, MichiganI heard that Robert John passed away on Monday and he had a stroke he was 79 years old, sad eyes was my favorite song as a little girl
Tangent from Somewhere In Western, N.y.Years after it's release even more awesome then when I first heard it. Epic, Eternal, Everlasting, what a great, great song.
Donna from CanadaAbsolutely evil and the saddest part is this song’s popularity! Cheating, adulterous affair and the pretense that he was caring and that this made it ok. He absolutely used her in an ugly self serving way. Hateful song.
Cbinatl from GeorgiaThis song is about a man who had a fling with another woman while his wife/girlfriend/significant other was out of town, separated, or not together for a period of time, then ends the relationship when she returns either from a trip or separation. In the song he said he never used her, but he did. In reality, it's impossible not to be upset from the other person's perspective. She will be upset and understandibly so. By the time her heart mends, she will not want any contact with him at all and they will go their separate ways. When I had a hard breakup was during this time and was very upset. It all worked out and found a better man than what I had with the man who broke up with me.
Frank Paul from Milwaukee WiI believe Robert John captures the raw emotion of this type of situation so powerfully that I thought he may have written it from a personal experience. The intro is too long but he nails the emotion of that situation so we'll it's still a great song.
Michael Walker from AlabamaWhy do I get 2 people (Robert John and Peter Mcallen as singer of SAD EYES?
Tegina from Atlantic CityJust want to know what became of him after 1982
Russell from St Louis MoRobert John leads, the backup singers are the icing on the cake.
Jenn.b from AustraliaThis song was so apt when my then fiancee left me for another woman I introduced him to in 1979.
Liliane Whelan from Ontario Canada Beautiful song , just so nice and meaningful , looked for this song so many times , could not find it ,but now I saved it for a proper time in my life.
Thank you for letting me listen to the video
C.w. from New Castle De Oh wash! The dude had an affair on the sid,u dont know the bad luck story so ! It's a song !!!!!e..duh
Julia from SocalThat song has a creepy mean cheating vibe. Kicking his girl out because “she’s coming home”. I like the nostalgia of the song but the lyrics are so bad.
Mr. Bill from Los AngelesRobert John did sing lead on "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" but it was his remake in 1972, not the Tokens original in 1961.
Jennifur Sun from RamonaSorry Paul but that was not the lead singer for the Tokens who did Lion Sleeps Tonight.
Jeff from WisconsinDarlene Love, George Tobin, Edna Wright - are credited for singing background vocals.
Tony from San DiegoMike from Norwalk, CT- same thing here. I
was in Rochester NY in 7th grade.
Francis Stack from Repentigny ( Quebec) CanadaI wonder who is part of the chorus in this Beautiful song, some female voices rings a bell to me.
Michael from Upton, KyBrings back some GREAT memories. Her name was Gloria, God I miss her. I don't know where she is. I was a SFC in the U.S. Army stationed at Fort Knox, Ky back then.
Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn August 4th 1979, Robert John performed "Sad Eyes" on the ABC-TV program 'American Bandstand'...Three months earlier on May 13th, 1979 it entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #85; and on September 30th, 1979 it peaked at #1 {for 1 week} and spent over half-year on the Top 100 {27 weeks}...It reached #10 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary Tracks chart...Between 1958 and 1980 he had eight Top 100 records; two made the Top 10, his other Top 10 record was "The Lion Sleeps Tonight", it peaked at #3 in 1972...In 1958, using his birth name of Bobby Pedrick, Jr. he entered the Top 100 with "White Bucks and Saddle Shoes", it stayed on the chart for 4 weeks and peaked at #74 {he was 12 years old at the time}.
Glen from Cronulla, AustraliaTry to remember the magic that we shared "oh yes, MIDNIGHT BREEZE takes me there!!!! .. In 1980 at Windang, Lake Illawarra.
Mike from Norwalk, CtReminds me of Oct. '79. I was in seventh grade back then. I have no great story to tell, just a fab tune!
Serenity from San Diego, Cai sang this song over and over when i was preganet at age 20 and the father broke up w/ me to go back to his other kids mom. i guess i should have known they would get back together. oh.. but i have a kick ass honor roll son at a private school son whome my husband adopted :-)
Paul from Detroit, MiA great song. I think this is the same guy that sang The Lion Sleeps Tonight back in 1972.
Jennifer Harris from Grand Blanc, MiThis song also takes me back to Kindergarden.It was my favorite song.
Derek from Cambridge, New ZealandBeautiful song.... I remember being with my (then) girlfriend overlooking the Manawatu hills with this on the radio....great harmonies.
Jennifer from Morrow, GaMy mom still has this album on vinyl !. I haven't seen it in a while. I know where she keeps it though. And I can remember what the cover looks like. At the top, going sideways is his name, and he is sitting kinda in a "laid back" position in what looks to me like a director's chair. I love the song "Sad Eyes" !.
Ray from Spring, TxMemories, yes. My girlfriend in college sang along to this song as we rode in my car one day. The next week she broke up with me.
Robbie from Whitby, CanadaI agree with Ashley (about damn time), A great tune that brings up lots of memories
-Robbie, Whitby Ontario

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