Wake Up Little Susie

For the 1988 film, see Wake Up Little Susie (film).

"Wake Up Little Susie" is a popular song written by Felice and Boudleaux Bryant and published in 1957.

"Wake Up Little Susie"
Single by The Everly Brothers
from the album The Everly Brothers
B-side	"Maybe Tomorrow"
Released	September 2, 1957
Recorded	August 16, 1957
Studio	RCA Victor (Nashville)
Genre	Rock and roll^[1] country rockabilly
Length	1:57
Label	Cadence
Songwriter(s)	Felice Bryant Boudleaux Bryant
The Everly Brothers singles chronology
"Bye Bye Love" (1957) "Wake Up Little Susie" (1957) "This Little Girl of Mine" (1958)

The song is best known in a recording by the Everly Brothers,^[2] issued by Cadence Records as catalog number 1337. The Everly Brothers record reached No. 1 on the Billboard Pop chart and the Cash Box Best Selling Records chart, despite having been banned from Boston radio stations for lyrics that, at the time, were considered suggestive, according to a 1986 interview with Don Everly.^[3] "Wake Up Little Susie" also spent seven weeks atop the Billboard country chart^[4] and got to No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart. The song was ranked at No. 318 on the Rolling Stone magazine's list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time".^[5]

Song premise

The song is written from the point of view of a high school boy to his girlfriend, Susie. In the song, the two go out on a date to a cinema (perhaps a drive-in), only to fall asleep during the movie. They do not wake up until 4 o'clock in the morning, well after her 10 o'clock curfew. They then contemplate the reactions of her parents and their friends. The boy fears that having stayed out so late, they've both now lost their good reputations.

Personnel

• Don Everly – vocals, rhythm guitar
• Phil Everly – vocals, rhythm guitar
• Floyd “Lightnin’ Chance – double bass^[6]

Charts

All versions

Chart (1957–58)	Peak position
US Honor Roll of Hits (Billboard)^[7]	1

The Everly Brothers version

Chart (1957–58)	Peak position
UK	2
US Best Sellers in Stores (Billboard)^[8]	1
US C&W Best Sellers in Stores (Billboard)^[9]	1
US Most Played by Jockeys (Billboard)^[10]	1
US Most Played C&W by Jockeys (Billboard)^[9]	1
US Most Played R&B by Jockeys (Billboard)^[11]	1
US R&B Best Sellers in Stores (Billboard)^[12]	1

Simon & Garfunkel version

Chart (1982)	Peak position
Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)^[13]	5
US Billboard Hot 100^[14]	27
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)^[15]	5

Simon and Garfunkel version

"Wake Up Little Susie"
Single by Simon and Garfunkel
from the album The Concert in Central Park
B-side	"Me And Julio Down By The Schoolyard"
Released	1982
Recorded	1981
Genre	Rock and roll, country, rockabilly
Length	2:20
Songwriter(s)	Felice Bryant Boudleaux Bryant
Simon and Garfunkel singles chronology
"My Little Town" (1975) "Wake Up Little Susie" (1982)

Simon and Garfunkel have cited the Everly Brothers as strong influences on their own music. Their live version of "Wake Up Little Susie", recorded in the duo's concert in New York's Central Park on September 19, 1981, reached #27 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1982, and is the duo's last Top 40 hit.^[16]

During Simon and Garfunkel's "Old Friends" tour in 2003–2004, they performed this song and others in a segment with the Everly Brothers, who toured in support.^{[citation needed]}

See also

• Banned in Boston
• List of Billboard number-one rhythm and blues hits
• List of Billboard number-one singles of 1957
• Billboard year-end top 50 singles of 1957
• List of Cash Box Best Sellers number-one singles of 1957
• List of CHUM number-one singles of 1957
• List of number-one country singles of 1957 (U.S.)

References

1. Roberts, David (2015). "The Everly Brothers - "All I Have to Do Is Dream". In Dimery, Robert (ed.). 1001 Songs You Must Hear Before You Die. New York: Universe. p. 99.
2. The Everly Brothers interviewed on the Pop Chronicles (1969)
3. Hurst, Jack (August 3, 1986). "Everly Brothers Again Waking Up Nation To Innocent, Wonderful". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved May 31, 2014.
4. Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006, Second edition. Record Research. p. 117.
5. "500 Greatest Songs of All Time: The Everly Brothers, 'Wake Up Little Susie'". Rolling Stone. April 7, 2011. Retrieved May 31, 2014.
6. "Lightnin Chance". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-18. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
7. "Honor Roll of Hits: The Nation's Top Tunes for Survey Week Ending October 19". Billboard. October 28, 1957. p. 48. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved April 11, 2016.
8. "Best Sellers in Stores for Survey Week Ending October 5, 1957". Billboard. October 14, 1957. p. 40. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved April 11, 2016.
9. "C&W Best Sellers in Stores for Survey Week Ending October 26, 1957". Billboard. November 4, 1957. p. 40. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved April 11, 2016.
10. "Most Played by Jockeys for Survey Week Ending October 26, 1957". Billboard. November 4, 1957. p. 40. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved April 11, 2016.
11. "Most Played R&B by Jockeys for Survey Week Ending October 26". Billboard. November 4, 1957. p. 58. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved April 11, 2016.
12. "R&B Best Sellers in Stores for Survey Week Ending October 5". Billboard. October 14, 1957. p. 55. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved April 11, 2016.
13. "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 6470." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. June 19, 1982. Retrieved July 17, 2021.
14. "Simon & Garfunkel Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 11, 2016.
15. "Simon & Garfunkel Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved July 17, 2021.
16. Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955–1990 - ISBN 0-89820-089-X