3 Eternal Acoustic Classic Rock Songs From The Everly Brothers That Will Play Forever

The Everly Brothers were a brother duo in the 1950s that harmonized beautifully and boasted many catchy songs. Along with Elvis Presley and Buddy Holly, The Everly Brothers helped usher in early rock and roll to a mainstream audience. And often the brothers were doing it side by side and with two acoustic guitars.

Here below, we wanted to explore three songs from the duo that have remained in the popular music zeitgeist even today. Indeed, these are three eternal classic rock songs from The Everly Brothers that will continue to play forever.

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“Bye Bye Love” from The Everly Brothers (1958)

This song, which hit No. 2 on the Billboard Pop charts, is a perfect example of early 1950s rock and roll. Combining the blues with rockabilly twang and a bit more energy, rock was born. And the Knoxville, Tennessee-born brother band was, in many ways, at the forefront of the sound. This song is about being done with romance. It’s a breakup song with love, itself. Because, of course, the singer’s gal broke up with him. And on the tune, the brothers sing,

Bye-bye love
Bye-bye happiness
Hello loneliness
I think I’m gonna cry
Bye-bye love
Bye-bye sweet caress
Hello emptiness
I feel like I could die
Bye-bye my love, goodbye

“Wake Up Little Susie” from The Everly Brothers (1958)

Perhaps the most famous song from The Everly Brothers, this track, which hit No. 1 on the Billboard pop chart, is about going out on a date. But for whatever reason, the singer and his date Susie have fallen asleep and are some six hours past her curfew. But more than any song lyrics, it’s the chorus and the delivery that were so catchy and remain so today. The Everly Brothers knew what they were doing when they recorded, as two voices in unison often engender more singing along than one single voice. Either way, on this popular track, they sing,

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!”

“All I Have To Do Is Dream” (1958)

Another sublimely sticky song, this song’s chorus has lived on well beyond its original release more than 60 years ago. That dreaaaam-dream-dream-dreammmm line. With their hair slicked back in a big pompadour, the brothers sang slowly about love in a dream. Real life can be hard, but to imagine what love can be, that can be a little bit easier at times. Indeed, together the brothers sing about that very fact, offering,

Dream, dream, dream, dream
Dream, dream, dream, dream

When I want you in my arms
When I want you and all your charms
Whenever I want you, all I have to do is
Dream, dream, dream, dream

When I feel blue in the night
And I need you to hold me tight
Whenever I want you, all I have to do is
Dream

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