About the Song
“Wake Up Little Susie” is a classic 1950s hit written by the renowned songwriting duo Felice and Boudleaux Bryant. The song was made famous by the Everly Brothers, whose recording of it topped both the Billboard Pop chart and the Cash Box Best Selling Records chart. It also became a No. 1 hit on the Country & Western charts, marking a significant milestone in the Everly Brothers’ career.
The song’s narrative centers around a young couple who fall asleep at the drive-in movie, only to wake up realizing they’ve missed curfew. The song humorously depicts their predicament, as they try to cover up their late-night adventure by making up an excuse for Susie’s parents.
Controversy and Reception
Despite its catchy tune and success, “Wake Up Little Susie” was somewhat controversial upon release. Some radio stations, especially in Boston, banned the song due to the lyrics, which hinted that the couple might have spent the night together, a subject considered provocative for the time.
Despite this, the song became an instant classic, and it was embraced as a pop culture staple, embodying the spirit of teenage rebellion and innocence during the late 1950s.
Songwriting and Recording Process
The song’s creation was a labor of love for Felice and Boudleaux Bryant. According to Boudleaux, he struggled to write the song at first and even woke his wife Felice to help him finish it. Once the lyrics were completed, the Everly Brothers faced their own challenges in the studio, initially unable to get the song right in their first three-hour session. However, the next day, they nailed it on the first take, which was a testament to the song’s catchy structure and infectious melody.
Legacy and Impact
“Wake Up Little Susie” was the Everly Brothers’ first No. 1 hit, and it helped solidify their place in rock ‘n’ roll history. The song’s success also helped establish the duo’s signature harmonies and musical style, which influenced countless artists who followed.
The Everly Brothers’ combination of close harmony and rockabilly rhythms made “Wake Up Little Susie” a landmark track in the transition from 1950s pop to the emerging rock ‘n’ roll era.
Do you think the song’s combination of light-hearted storytelling and underlying teen rebellion helped it become such an iconic piece of rock history?
Lyrics
Wake up, little Susie, wake up
Wake up, little Susie, wake up
We’ve both been sound asleep, wake up, little Susie, and weep
The movie’s over, it’s four o’clock, and we’re in trouble deep
Wake up little Susie
Wake up little Susie
Well, what are we gonna tell your mama?
What are we gonna tell your pa?
What are we gonna tell our friends
When they say, “Ooh la la!”
Wake up, little Susie
Wake up, little Susie
Well, I told your mama that you’d be in by ten
Well, Susie, baby looks like we goofed again
Wake up, little Susie
Wake up, little Susie
We gotta go home
Wake up, little Susie, wake up
Wake up, little Susie, wake up
The movie wasn’t so hot
It didn’t have much of a plot
We fell asleep
Our goose is cooked
Our reputation is shot
Wake up, little Susie
Wake up, little Susie
Well, what are we gonna tell your mama
What are we gonna tell your pa?
What are we gonna tell our friends
When they say, “Ooh la la!”
Wake up, little Susie
Wake up, little Susie
Wake up, little SusieAdvertisement
