Hank Thompson – Wake Up Irene, is a parody song written by Johnny Hathcock and Weldon Allard, performed by Hank Thompson and His Brazos Valley Boys, and released in 1954 on the Capitol label (catalog no. 21226).
It was a parody of, and answer song to, “Goodnight, Irene”. A recording by The Weavers of Goodnight, Irene was released in 1950 and spent 13 weeks at No. 1 on the United States pop chart.
The premise of Wake Up, Irene is that Irene was prevented from sleep by the steel guitars and everyone around the country singing goodnight to her for months and months. According to the song, Irene finally fell asleep, and there’s not a thing that can wake her.
In May 1954, the song peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard country and western chart. It was also ranked No. 17 on Billboard’s 1954 year-end country and western retail chart.
Hank Thompson – Wake Up Irene
Sello: Capitol Records – 2646
Formato: Shellac, 10″, 78 RPM
País: US
Publicado: 14 nov 1953
Género: Folk, World, & Country
Estilo: Rockabilly, Hillbilly, Honky Tonk, Country
Songwriter(s) John Hathcock, Weldon Allard
COUNTRYPEDIA
Hank Thompson – Wake Up Irene lyrics
[Verse 1]
For months and months and months around the country
Everybody sang Irene goodnight
But she wouldn’t go to bed no matter what they said
Though everybody tried with all their might
She stayed awake while steel guitars were a-going
In every honky-tonk she could be seen
But she finally went to bed and covered up her head
And now there’s not a thing can wake Irene
[Chorus]
Wake up, Irene, you’ve slept too long
Wake up, Irene, it’s time to move along
Wake up, Irene, and pay for your bed
Wake up, Irene, or folks will think you’re dead
[Instrumental]
[Verse 2]
Lots of guitar pickers by the dozen
Sang goodnight Irene all night and day
And even Crosby too with his bobobabobedo
Tried to get Irene to hit the hay
Well I guess they finally sang her off to slumber
They must have tried a million times or more
But oh my aching back when she finally hit the sack
Man you ought to hear that women snore
[Chorus]
Wake up, Irene, you’ve slept too long
Wake up, Irene, it’s time to move along
Wake up, Irene, and pay for your bed
Wake up, Irene, or folks will think you’re dead
GENIUS
