“ | Cock Robin is dead. | „ |
~ The owl to the hawk, Fables #8 — "The Pirates of Upstate New York: Part Three of Animal Farm" |
Cock Robin is an avian Fable who lives in Fabletown in New York City, working as a messenger bird. He first appears in Fables #8 — "The Pirates of Upstate New York: Part Three of Animal Farm."
History
Homelands
Cock Robin was one of King Cole's animal subjects back in the Homelands. While the King and a group of animal Fables were forced to hide for many days in an abandoned mine in the wake of the Adversary's invasion, the King sent Cock Robin to do reconnaissance from time to time, and learn the disposition of the conquerors. During one such mission, Cock Robin was nearly felled by an arrow shot by an enemy goblin soldier, who mocked Robin as he flew by. Eventually, the bird reported back that the goblin invaders had only left a small occupation force behind, and the refugees in hiding should be able to slip away now. However, the King's wife and daughter had been killed by the invaders. Robin and the other animal Fables accompanied King Cole to the hidden sanctuary in the mundane world during Fabletown's early days in the 1600s.[2]
Cock Robin becomes one of the message birds used by the Fabletown authorities to communicate with the Farm whenever the Farm's phone lines are down.[1]

Cock Robin, seconds before his death
Death
After the Forsworn Knight's prophecy about Snow White and her sister, Boy Blue tries calling the Farm, but when he discovers that the direct line is down, he sends Cock Robin to find out what is going on. Cock Robin arrives at the Farm in the middle of Goldilocks's violent revolution, and is killed by a hawk who swoops down on him as he is trying to leave the Farm. The hawk's owl companion calmly notes that "Cock Robin is dead," as the hawk devours his remains. Blue informs Bigby that Cock Robin is dead. When Bigby asks Blue how he knows this, the latter admits that he had the Black Forest Witch put a watching ward on Robin before he left.[1]
Appearances
- Fables #8 (first appearance)
- Fables: 1001 Nights of Snowfall
Trivia
In Fables #8 — "The Pirates of Upstate New York: Part Three of Animal Farm," Cock Robin is illustrated as a European robin, but in Fables: 1001 Nights of Snowfall — "Fair Division," he bears the plumage of an American robin.
Original source
Sources
Cock Robin is from a cycle of nursery rhymes, such as "Cock Robin Got Up Early" and "Who Killed Cock Robin."[3]
"Cock Robin Got Up Early"
"Cock Robin Got Up Early" goes:
Cock Robin got up early
At the break of day,
And went to Jenny's window
To sing a roundelay,
He sang Cock Robin's love
To the little Jenny Wren,
And when he got unto the end,
Then he began again.
"Who Killed Cock Robin"
A common version of "Who Killed Cock Robin" goes:
Who killed Cock Robin?
I, said the Sparrow,
with my bow and arrow,
I killed Cock Robin.
Who saw him die?
I, said the Fly,
with my little teeny eye,
I saw him die.
Who caught his blood?
I, said the Fish,
With my little dish
I caught his blood.
Who'll make the shroud?
I, said the Beetle,
with my thread and needle,
I'll make the shroud.
Who'll dig his grave?
I, said the Owl,
with my pick and trowel,
I'll dig his grave.
Who'll be the parson?
I, said the Rook,
with my little book,
I'll be the parson.
Who'll be the clerk?
I, said the Lark,
if it's not in the dark,
I'll be the clerk.
Who'll carry the link?
I, said the Linnet,
I'll fetch it in a minute,
I'll carry the link.
Who'll be chief mourner?
I, said the Dove,
I mourn for my love,
I'll be chief mourner.
Who'll carry the coffin?
I, said the Kite,
if it's not through the night,
I'll carry the coffin.
Who'll bear the pall?
We, said the Wren,
both the cock and the hen,
We’ll bear the pall.
Who'll sing a psalm?
I, said the Thrush,
as she sat on a bush,
I'll sing a psalm.
Who'll toll the bell?
I, said the Bull,
because I can pull,
I'll toll the bell.
All the birds of the air
fell a-sighing and a-sobbing,
when they heard the bell toll
for poor Cock Robin.
References
See also
Fabletown | |
---|---|
Governing body | King Cole • Snow White (formerly) • Prince Charming (formerly) • Beauty • Ichabod Crane (formerly) |
Inhabitants | Beast • Bigby Wolf (formerly) • Flycatcher (formerly) • Trusty John • Grimble • Bufkin • Cinderella • Mowgli • Hobbes • Pinocchio • Briar Rose • Doctor Swineheart • Rapunzel • Kay • Edmond Dantès • Crispin Cordwainer • Thrushbeard • Fairy Witch • Frau Totenkinder • Ozma • Fairy Witch • Morgan le Fay |
Places | Grand Green Florist Shop • Chateau d'If Fencing Academy • Edward Bear's Candies • Ford Laundry • Nod's Books • Lewis Antiques • I Am the Eggman Diner • Yellowbrick Roadhouse • Web 'n' Muffet Market • The Woodland Luxury Apartments • The Glass Slipper Shoes • Branstock Tavern |
Unique items | Magic Mirror |