“Wake Up Little Susie”, a beloved classic penned by the legendary songwriting duo Felice and Boudleaux Bryant, exploded onto the music scene in 1957, forever marking the era with its unforgettable tune and storytelling. The song soared to monumental success when recorded by the Everly Brothers and released under Cadence Records, clinching the coveted No. 1 spot on the Billboard Pop chart as well as the Cash Box Best Selling Records chart.
This song tells a timeless story of youthful innocence and the small rebellious thrills of young love—about a young couple who inadvertently fall asleep at the drive-in theater, only to awaken late past curfew, their night spiraling into comedic tension as they frantically concoct a tale to explain their tardiness to Susie’s parents.
However, the song did not come without its share of controversy. Some radio stations in Boston opted to ban the song, citing the lyrics’ suggestion that the young couple had spent the night together—an idea that was nothing short of scandalous in the 1950s. The cultural tension surrounding the theme of young couples spending the night out late dramatically underscored the conservative attitudes of the time.
For the Everly Brothers, “Wake Up Little Susie” was a groundbreaking milestone—the first of their four U.S. #1 hits—and it transcended musical boundaries to capture the top position on the Country & Western charts as well. The song was a product of relentless dedication from Felice and Boudleaux Bryant. Boudleaux shared with Country Music People how the creation demanded a painstaking effort:
“We persevered with ‘Wake Up Little Susie’ for many hours,”
“I started writing one night, kept trying to get my ideas down, but it just wouldn’t happen. Finally, I woke Felice, who took one listen to what I had so far achieved and came up with the final touches that I couldn’t get. The Everlys liked the song, but like me had problems with getting it right in the studio. They worked a whole three-hour session on that one song and had to give up, they just couldn’t get it right. We all trooped back to the studio the next day and got it down first take. That’s the way it happens sometimes.”
The emotional and musical journey documented through this hit reflected both the innocence and daring spirit of a generation pushing social boundaries, resonating deeply with listeners and cementing the Everly Brothers’ legacy as icons of popular music.
The lyrics themselves paint an evocative and humorous scene of regret and panic:
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… and so the story unfolds of youthful mischief and parental confrontation, capturing the imagination of audiences then and now.
This song not only tops charts but also stirs memories of a tumultuous era in American social history, wrapped in the timeless allure of rock and roll.
