Wake Up Little Susie
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1fImXAeS-s
Way back on Valentine’s Day I featured ‘Love Hurts’, a song written by Boudleaux Bryant and performed by Roy Orbison, Nazareth and today’s featured artist; The Everly Brothers. Once again we have a Bryant/Everly Brothers collaboration with the classic ‘Wake Up Little Susie’. This timeless classic was released over sixty years ago in 1957. It was literally a hit across genres as it went to #1 on the Billboard Pop Chart, the Cashbox Best Selling Records Chart and the Billboard Country Chart. This success was enjoyed despite the fact that it was banned in Boston for what were perceived to be suggestive lyrics. I guess the Irish Catholics in the Boston area were aghast at the thought of a couple falling asleep after enjoying an evening together. This would be scandalous in the late ‘50s.
The basic premise of ‘Wake Up Little Susie’ speaks from the perspective of a high school boy who is out on a date with his girlfriend. They are at the movies (cinema or drive in? one would guess the latter) and they fell asleep because ‘the movie didn’t have much of a plot’ and did not wake up until 4 am; long after their 10 am curfew. The song goes on to relate the couple’s anxiety over how this transgression will be perceived by their parents and friends. Oh, but the ‘50s were a simpler time.
The song still resonates today. I have always loved the acoustic guitar and The Everly Brothers are such good singers. It’s a shame they grew to despise each other in what was turbulent relationship fueled by musical and political differences. On the surface though when they were performing together it was magic. They are literally revered by countless artists including, Paul McCartney, Bruce Springsteen and Paul Simon. The brother duo spawned the careers of Lindsey Buckingham and Warren Zevon and worked on so many recordings it would take pages to reference them all.
Before I get to today’s cover I want to relay my own recent experience that reminds me of a 2018 version of ‘Wake Up Little Susie’.
It was a late August Saturday morning and Nathaniel; our youngest son had gone over to his girlfriend Kamy’s on the Friday evening. Both of them were preparing to head off to university in the coming days and this would be their last chance to see each other for a little while. When Heather and I got up we looked out the window to our driveway and were alarmed to see our Caravan was not in the driveway. I detected concern from Heather and as I was about to ask if she knew of any arrangement where Nathaniel was staying out last night she asked me essentially the same question. There may have been some profanity. I immediately grabbed my phone punched in call to Nathaniel’s number. After about 4 rings and 150 heartbeats a groggy voice at the other end sheepishly said;
“Hello, I’m sorry”. “
“GET HOME NOW…WE ARE FREAKING OUT!” I responded.
“I’m on my way.” (fade to silence)
Ten minutes later he rolled into our driveway and slinked into the house where he was greeted a little on the cold side with a barrage of “what the hell were you thinking” and “Do you have any idea how worried we were” and maybe a few expletives?
Those of you who know Nathaniel also know that he can be a bit disarming with his general demeanor and his smile. In this case he just hugged Heather and said “I’m sorry. We were talking and we fell asleep. I didn’t mean to.”
He seemed so contrite and he was already on the edge of anxiety as a result of the beginning of a new chapter in his life so we hammered home the “PLEASE DON”T EVER DO THAT AGAIN” message again.
I poured Heather and I a cup of coffee and began to sing ‘Wake Up Little Susie’ to myself.
“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”
I turned my head and smiled. For Heather it may have been too soon.
Just to update this story, Nathaniel and Kamy are still together. Nathaniel is in Waterloo and Kamy is in Guelph. She is a ray of sunshine. They push each other to be better. They are focused but they know how to have fun. Best of all when they are with each they are radiant. You can feel the happiness and as parents we are genuinely pleased to see our son so happy.
For today’s cover version I am heading back to the brilliant duo Simon and Garfunkel. They performed it during their famous ‘Concert in Central Park’ in 1981.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlkEQXUdb0E
Over 20 years later Simon and Garfunkel did a reunion tour that included The Everly Brothers as a supporting act. It’s nice how sometimes in music things go full circle. Fittingly I am sharing both versions in today’s post. This just reflects how every amazing act has an influence that even as great as they are they always defer. Listen as Paul Simon refers to The Everly Brothers as their heroes. Cool!