Wake Up Little Suzie
The Everly Brothers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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
Whatta we gonna tell your mama
Whatta we gonna tell your pa
Whatta we gonna tell our friends when they say “ooh-la-laâ€
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
Whatta we gonna tell your mama
Whatta we gonna tell your pa
Whatta we gonna tell our friends when they say “ooh-la-laâ€
Wake up little Susie
Wake up little Susie
Wake up little Susie
The Everly Brothers' song "Wake Up Little Susie" follows the story of two lovers who have fallen asleep at a drive-in movie and awaken to find that it's four o'clock in the morning. They are worried about what to tell their parents and friends about their whereabouts, as they know they will be in trouble. The song expresses their anxiety and the pressure to come up with an explanation for their disappearance, highlighting the fear of judgment and disapproval from their loved ones.
The lyrics paint a picture of the societal norms and expectations of the 1950s when the song was written. The idea of premarital sex was still taboo, and there was enormous pressure on both men and women to adhere to strict moral codes of behavior. The song captures the essence of the fear of being judged by society for being in love, and the consequences that might result from it.
Despite the song's covert message, it was a commercial hit and became The Everly Brothers' first big hit, topping the charts in the United States and Canada. It also caused some controversy, with radio stations refusing to play it, and some parents slamming the "immoral" content of the song. Nevertheless, the song has stood the test of time and remains a favorite of many.
Line by Line Meaning
Wake up, little Susie, wake up
The singer wants Susie to wake up from her sleep.
We’ve both been sound asleep, wake up, little Susie, and weep
The singer and Susie have been sleeping, but now Susie needs to wake up and feel bad for what they've done.
The movie’s over, it’s four o’clock, and we’re in trouble deep
The movie has ended and it's very late, which means the singer and Susie are in a lot of trouble.
Whatta we gonna tell your mama
The artist is wondering what they will say to Susie's mother.
Whatta we gonna tell your pa
The artist is wondering what they will say to Susie's father.
Whatta we gonna tell our friends when they say “ooh-la-la”
The singer is wondering what they will say to their friends who will make fun of them for falling asleep at the movie.
I told your mama that you’d be in by ten
The singer had promised Susie's mother that she would be home by ten o'clock.
Well Susie baby looks like we goofed again
The artist and Susie messed up once again.
The movie wasn’t so hot, it didn’t have much of a plot
The movie wasn't very interesting and didn't have a good story.
We fell asleep, our goose is cooked, our reputation is shot
The artist and Susie fell asleep and now they are in trouble and their reputation is ruined.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BOUDLEAUX BRYANT, FELICE BRYANT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@alfninja3
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
Whatta we gonna tell your mama
Whatta we gonna tell your pa
Whatta we gonna tell our friends when they say â??ooh-la-laâ??
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
Whatta we gonna tell your mama
Whatta we gonna tell your pa
Whatta we gonna tell our friends when they say â??ooh-la-laâ??
Wake up little Susie
Wake up little Susie
Wake up little Susie
@RickyLouisWeide
Where did all the years go???? Seems to me I was 16 yesterday, can't believe it! Now I am 73 years old/young. Take your pick.
@Vicious_Clutch69
My grandma 👵 told me about this song.
@GreatRetro
If there ever gonna be a time when a person could live 1000 years then a 73 year old would be considered a kid! ^_^ So think about your age as your first hundred! ;)
@anitapilkerton1721
Me, too!
@pieterhuitink1970
@Angelo John Calise the World is dead!
We should be more Nice and Sweet again to eachother.
@djdigital3806
I'm 57 years young. I remember this song. I like it.
@jackspry9736
RIP Don Everly (February 1, 1937 – August 21, 2021), aged 84
And
RIP Phil Everly (January 19, 1939 – January 3, 2014), aged 74
You both will be remembered as legends.
@letmethink90
There's something terribly sad about older siblings living longer.. 💔
@TheBrooklynbodine
Yes, there is. The Gibb brothers are a prime example. the three oldest comprised the Bee Gees, and the youngest was solo act Andy Gibb, who was the first of the brothers to die. Barry Gibb, the first born is the only one living. Posting 2-1-24, which would've been Don Everly's 87th birthday.
@theodorebrooks7416
RIP, Don Everly. Yours was the greatest generation of music.