By the time the Everly Brothers signed with Cadence Records in March 1957 (a deal midwifed by music publisher Wesley Rose of Acuff-Rose), they were singing teenage playlets crafted by songwriters Boudleaux and Felice Bryant overlaid with R&B rhythm patterns. They scored a string of hits, including “Bye, Bye Love,” “Wake Up, Little Susie,” “All I Have to Do Is Dream,” “Bird Dog,” and others. They became Grand Ole Opry members on June 1, 1957.
In a sense, though, Don and Phil Everly were more important to Nashville. They were the first consistently successful rock & roll act to come from there. Their management and their songs came from Nashville, and they recorded there with local session musicians. In other words, they extended Nashville’s sense of what was commercially possible. Learn more at the Country Music Hall of Fame/org/artist/the-everly-brothers.
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, we told your mama that we'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
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"?
SOURCE: COUNTRY MUSIC HALL OF FAME.org
Isaac Donald Everly
Born: Brownie, Kentucky, February 1, 1937
Died: August 21, 2021
Philip Everly
Born: Chicago, Illinois, January 19, 1939
Died: January 3, 2014
Songwriters: Boudleaux Bryant / Felice Bryant
Correction: pre·dic·a·ment; noun 1. a difficult, unpleasant, or embarrassing situation.
