<P> The Rivingtons followed up their 1962 Billboard Hot 100 hit `` Papa - Oom - Mow - Mow '' with the similar `` The Bird 's the Word '' in 1963 . The Trashmen had not heard this version but saw a band called The Sorensen Brothers playing it . They decided to play the song that night at their own gig . During this first performance , drummer and vocalist Steve Wahrer stopped playing and ad - libbed the `` Surfin ' Bird '' middle section . Despite not knowing `` The Bird 's the Word '' was a Rivingtons song , the similarity to `` Papa - Oom - Mow - Mow '' was obvious and The Trashmen added the chorus to the end of their new track . </P>
when did bird is the word come out
1963