1957 – The Everly Brothers had their first No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Wake Up Little Susie’, (a No.2 hit in the UK).
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 “ooh-la-la”
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-la”
Wake up little Susie
Wake up little Susie
Wake up little Susie
“Wake Up Little Susie” is a popular song written by Felice and Boudleaux Bryant and published in 1957.
The song is best known in a recording by The Everly Brothers, issued by Cadence Records as catalog number 1337. The song reached #1 on the Billboard Pop and Country charts and the Cash Box Best Selling Record charts, despite having been banned from Boston radio stations for lyrics that—at the time—were considered suggestive. It got to #2 on the United Kingdom song charts. The song is ranked #311 on the Rolling Stone magazine’s list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
Among notable musical groups performing covers of the song are Simon and Garfunkel and the Grateful Dead. During Simon and Garfunkel’s “Old Friends” tour in 2003-2004, they performed this song and others in a segment with the Everly Brothers, who toured in support. Simon and Garfunkel have cited the Everly Brothers as strong influences on their own music. Their live version of “Wake Up Little Susie” reached #27 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1982. The musical duo Evan and Jaron also recorded a version of the song on their album, “52 Sundays.”
In an appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show during the 2000 U.S. presidential election, Governor George W. Bush named “Wake Up Little Susie” as his favorite song, erroneously claiming it was by Buddy Holly. Holly never recorded the song.
In 2008 a part of the song was sung in the bluegrass version of The Raconteurs’ Old Enough, featuring Ricky Skaggs and Ashley Monroe.
Song Premise
The song is written from the point of view of a high school boy to his girlfriend, Susie. In the song, the two go out on a date to a drive-in movie theater, only to fall asleep during the movie. They do not wake up until 4 o’clock in the morning, well after the 10 o’clock curfew. They then contemplate the reactions of her parents and their friends.
Although banned in such places as Boston, the song does not state that Susie and her boyfriend had sexual relations. Indeed, it strongly implies that they did not: the couple simply fell asleep because they were bored by the film.
Lucy Vodden. The inspiration behind John Lennon's song, 'Lucy in the sky with diamonds'
2009 – Lucy Vodden Dead: ‘Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds’ Dies At 46
LONDON — Lucy Vodden, who provided the inspiration for the Beatles’ classic song “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds,” has died after a long battle with lupus. She was 46.
Her death was announced Monday by St. Thomas’ Hospital in London, where she had been treated for the chronic disease for more than five years, and by her husband, Ross Vodden. Britain’s Press Association said she died last Tuesday. Hospital officials said they could not confirm the day of her death.
Vodden’s connection to the Beatles dates back to her early days, when she made friends with schoolmate Julian Lennon, John Lennon’s son.
Julian Lennon, then 4 years old, came home from school with a drawing one day, showed it to his father, and said it was “Lucy in the sky with diamonds.”
At the time, John Lennon was gathering material for his contributions to “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band,” a landmark album released to worldwide acclaim in 1967.
The elder Lennon seized on the image and developed it into what is widely regarded as a psychedelic masterpiece, replete with haunting images of “newspaper taxis” and a “girl with kaleidoscope eyes.”
Rock music critics thought the song’s title was a veiled reference to LSD, but John Lennon always claimed the phrase came from his son, not from a desire to spell out the initials LSD in code.
Vodden lost touch with Julian Lennon after he left the school following his parents’ divorce, but they were reunited in recent years when Julian Lennon, who lives in France, tried to help her cope with the disease.
Story continues below
He sent her flowers and vouchers for use at a gardening center near her home in Surrey in southeast England, and frequently sent her text messages in an effort to buttress her spirits.
“I wasn’t sure at first how to approach her,” Julian Lennon told the Associated Press in June. “I wanted at least to get a note to her. Then I heard she had a great love of gardening, and I thought I’d help with something she’s passionate about, and I love gardening too. I wanted to do something to put a smile on her face.”
In recent months, Vodden was too ill to go out most of the time, except for hospital visits.
She enjoyed her link to the Beatles, but was not particularly fond of “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds.”
“I don’t relate to the song, to that type of song,” she told the Associated Press in June. “As a teenager, I made the mistake of telling a couple of friends at school that I was the Lucy in the song and they said, ‘No, it’s not you, my parents said it’s about drugs.’ And I didn’t know what LSD was at the time, so I just kept it quiet, to myself.”
Vodden is the latest in a long line of people connected to the Beatles who died at a relatively young age.
The list includes John Lennon, gunned down at age 40, manager Brian Epstein, who died of a drug overdose when he was 32, and original band member Stuart Sutcliffe, who died of a brain hemorrhage at 21.
A spokeswoman for Julian Lennon and his mother, Cynthia Lennon, said they were “shocked and saddened” by Vodden’s death.
Angie Davidson, a lupus sufferer who is campaign director of the St. Thomas’ Lupus Trust, said Vodden was “a real fighter” who had worked behind the scenes to support efforts to combat the disease.
“It’s so sad that she has finally lost the battle she fought so bravely for so long,” said Davidson.
It was 40 years ago today that Sgt. Pepper taught the band to play and, although she did not perform on the album, a Surbiton housewife confirms today that she was the inspiration for one of its most famous songs.
Myth and rumour have surrounded the real-life inspiration for Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds, John Lennon’s swirling ode to psychedelia.
It was first thought that the singer’s muse was Lucy Richardson, a Suffolk schoogirl who went on to become a film art director.
Then speculation centred on the daughter of the comedian Peter Cook. And many believe that the song is a disguised paean to the joys of LSD. But Beatles biographers and accounts by the band members confirm that Lucy O’Donnell is the only possible source for the song.
Lucy, now a 43-year-old housewife from Surrey, was a classmate of John’s son, Julian, at Heath House nursery school in Weybridge. Her moment of fame came in 1967, when Julian came home from school with a drawing of a girl surrounded by stars. John asked him what it was. “It’s Lucy, in the sky with diamonds,” Julian said.
The world’s leading music game meets the greatest band in history! The Beatles™: Rock Band™ gives fans what they’ve been waiting for: a chance to experience the Beatles’ legendary story from the inside. You won’t just watch and listen as the Beatles make rock history, create landmark records and conquer the world — for the first time, you’ll be part of the band.
Join John, Paul, George, and Ringo onstage at legendary shows, behind closed doors in the recording studio, and in dreamscapes that bring their psychedelic imagery to life. The acclaimed Rock Band elements of interactive play and full band capacity are here, but with brand-new additions. This will be the first music game to offer harmonies, challenging you to recreate The Beatles’ vocal blend. There are custom-built models of the instruments the band itself played, audio straight from the masters, and graphics that take you on a magical tour through the key moments in Beatles history. Master the songs to hear rare audio and view unseen photos from the archives!
Developed and co-created with Apple Corps, The Beatles company, the game provides a true to life gaming experience and is packed full of fab extras.
2008 – Confirming long standing rumors, Activision announced this morning that they’re teaming with rock band Aerosmith to produce an entirely new “Guitar Hero” game dedicated solely to virtually playing along with their songs, titled simply “Guitar Hero: Aerosmith”.
Lyrics:
Well on a train, I met a dame
She rather handsome
We kinda look the same
She was pretty
From new york city
Im walkin down that old fair lane
Im in heat, Im in love
But I just couldnt tell her so
(chorus)
I said, train kept a rollin all night long
Train kept a rollin all night long
Train kept a rollin all night long
Train kept a rollin all night long
With a heave, and a ho
But I just couldnt tell her so, no, no, no
Well, get along
Sweet little woman get along
On your way
Well, get along
Sweet little woman get along
On your way
Im in heat, Im in love
But I just couldnt tell her so, no, no, no
Well on a train, I met a dame
She rather handsome
We kinda looked the same
She was pretty
From new york city
Im walkin down that old fair lane
Im in heat, Im in love
But I just couldnt tell her so
(chorus)
Well, get along
Sweet little woman get along
On your way
Well, get along
Sweet little woman get along
On your way
Im in heat, Im in love
But I just couldnt tell her
Well, we made a stop in albequerque
She musta thought
I was a real cool jerk
Got off the train, and put her hands up
Lookin so good, I couldnt let her go
But I just couldnt tell her so
(chorus)
Im in heat, Im in love
But I just couldnt tell her
Typical of a “Guitar Hero” announcement, the track list is currently a secret, but the press release did name-drop “Don’t Want to Miss a Thing,” “Love in an Elevator,” “Dream On,” and “Sweet Emotion.”
In fact, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 owners will have a chance to download a copy of “Dream On” for “Guitar Hero III” for free over Xbox Live and PlayStation Network from February 16-18.
“On a larger scale, it’s cool for us to be pioneers, helping to rebuild the music industry through a format like video games,” said Aerosmith singer Steven Tyler in the press release. “It’s great for rock since the record companies are struggling to make sense of how things are changing. Fans want to get and experience music in new formats–and there are going to be some of them who will play the game, then pick up the guitar for real and start bands.”
This isn’t the band’s first appearance in modern music games, either. The MTV Rhythm Game Track Finder shows that Aerosmith has had six songs spread across the “Guitar Hero,” “Karaoke Revolution” and “Rock Band” franchises.
Neversoft, the same folks behind last fall’s “Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock,” is behind the Aerosmith, “Guitar Hero” collaboration. If you haven’t yet upgraded to a PlayStation 3 or Xbox 360 yet, no worries; “Guitar Hero: Aerosmith” is also coming to Wii (in stereo this time, we hope) and PlayStation 2, courtesy of Vicarious Visions and Budcat respectively. No word yet on a PC or Mac version.
“Guitar Hero: Aerosmith” drops on all platforms in June, but as we mentioned, this isn’t the first time Aerosmith has invaded games, far from it. Certainly, you remember shooter classic “Revolution X”? No? Just a little?
Discover the breadth of Aerosmith’s gaming journeys by reading on.
Aerosmith is probably best known for “Midway”’s light gun shooter “Revolution X.” Our favorite moment comes only a few minutes into the adventure, which is about as much as we could take while revisiting the “classic.” Picture this: a club shoot-out involving hundreds of copy-cat thugs taking aim at the player suddenly climaxes with a heavily pixelated Aerosmith rocking out on stage for a crowd of zero, only to be rudely interrupted mid-song and kidnapped by the evildoers. Clearly, the player must put a stop to such madness.
This isn’t the band’s first stint with a guitar simulator, either. “Quest for Fame”, released all the way back in 1995 by Virtual Music Entertainment, actually came bundled with a V-Pick. While the V-Pick wasn’t quite as elaborate as the five-button “Guitar Hero” controller, the V-Pick detected motion and allowed players to strum along to different Aerosmith songs using just about anything shaped like a guitar — a tennis racket, for example.
2008 – Beyonce won a long-running legal wrangle over claims her hit song ‘Baby Boy’ infringed the copyright of another artist’s work. The appeals court in Houston, Texas upheld a 2006 decision which dismissed musician Jennifer Armour’s claims that its lyrics were based on her work. Ms Armour claimed she had posted ‘I Got A Little Bit Of Love For You’ to Beyonce’s manager and record company in early 2003.
2005 – With three awards, Avril Lavigne leads the pack at Canada’s 34th Annual Juno Awards, held at Winnipeg’s MTS Centre. Lavigne wins artist of the year and the fanvoted Juno Fan Choice Award. She also claims the pop album of the year award for Under My Skin.
2005 – Elvis Presley’s single ‘One Night’ made chart history by becoming the 1,000th UK number one. Elvis, who led last week’s chart with ‘Jailhouse Rock’, had now scored more number one UK hits than any other artist with 20 number 1’s, beating The Beatles’ 17 chart toppers.
Lyrics:
(words & music by D. Bartholomew – P. King)
One night with you
Is what I’m now praying for
The things that we two could plan
Would make my dreams come true
Just call my name
And I’ll be right by your side
I want your sweet helping hand
My loves too strong to hide
Always lived, very quiet life
I ain’t never did no wrong
Now I know that life without you
Has been too lonely too long
One night with you
Is what I’m now praying for
The things that we two could plan
Would make my dreams come true
Always lived, very quiet life
I ain’t never did no wrong
Now I know that life without you
Has been too lonely too long
One night with you
Is what I’m now praying for
The things that we two could plan
Would make my dreams come true
2004 – It’s reported that U.S. Marines are blasting AC/DC’s “Shoot to Thrill” at high volumes to drive Muslim insurgents from their homes in Iraq.
Lyrics:
All you women who want a man of the street
But you don’t know which way you wanna turn
Just keep a coming and put your hand out to me
‘Cause I’m the one who’s gonna make you burn
I’m gonna take you down – down, down, down
So don’t you fool around
I’m gonna pull it, pull it, pull the trigger
Shoot to thrill, play to kill
Too many women with too many pills
Shoot to thrill, play to kill
I got my gun at the ready, gonna fire at will
Yeah
I’m like evil, I get under your skin
Just like a bomb that’s ready to blow
‘Cause I’m illegal, I got everything
That all you women might need to know
I’m gonna take you down – yeah, down, down, down
So don’t you fool around
I’m gonna pull it, pull it, pull the trigger
Shoot to thrill, play to kill
Too many women with too many pills
Shoot to thrill, play to kill
I got my gun at the ready, gonna fire at will
‘Cause I shoot to thrill, and I’m ready to kill
I can’t get enough, I can’t get the thrill
I shoot to thrill, play to kill
Yeah, pull the trigger
Pull it, pull it, pull it, pull the trigger
Oh
Shoot to thrill, play to kill
Too many women, with too many pills
I said, shoot to thrill, play to kill
I got my gun at the ready, gonna fire at will
‘Cause I shoot to thrill, and I’m ready to kill
And I can’t get enough, and I can’t get my thrill
‘Cause I shoot to thrill, play it again
Yeah
Shoot you down
Yeah
I’m gonna get you to the bottom and shoot you
I’m gonna shoot you
Oh hoo yeah yeah yeah
I’m gonna shoot you down yeah yeah
I’m gonna get you down
Yeah yeah yeah yeah
Shoot you, shoot you, shoot you, shoot you down
Shoot you, shoot you, shoot you down
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, ooooooh
I’m gonna shoot to thrill
Play to kill
Shoot to thrill
Yeah, ooh yeah
2004 – Alanis Morissette appears at the Canadian Juno awards in a nude bodysuit during a skit satirizing American attitudes towards censorship. At the ceremony, Nelly Furtado wins Best Single for “Powerless (Say What You Want)” and Nickelback win Best Group.
Lyrics:
“You Oughta Know”
I want you to know, that I’m happy for you
I wish nothing but the best for you both
An older version of me
Is she perverted like me
Would she go down on you in a theatre
Does she speak eloquently
And would she have your baby
I’m sure she’d make a really excellent mother
’cause the love that you gave that we made wasn’t able
To make it enough for you to be open wide, no
And every time you speak her name
Does she know how you told me you’d hold me
Until you died, till you died
But you’re still alive
And I’m here to remind you
Of the mess you left when you went away
It’s not fair to deny me
Of the cross I bear that you gave to me
You, you, you oughta know
You seem very well, things look peaceful
I’m not quite as well, I thought you should know
Did you forget about me Mr. Duplicity
I hate to bug you in the middle of dinner
It was a slap in the face how quickly I was replaced
Are you thinking of me when you fuck her?
’cause the love that you gave that we made wasn’t able
To make it enough for you to be open wide, no
And every time you speak her name
Does she know how you told me you’d hold me
Until you died, til you died
But you’re still alive
And I’m here to remind you
Of the mess you left when you went away
It’s not fair to deny me
Of the cross I bear that you gave to me
You, you, you oughta know
’cause the joke that you laid on the bed that was me
And I’m not gonna fade
As soon as you close your eyes and you know it
And every time I scratch my nails down someone else’s back
I hope you feel it…well can you feel it
Well, I’m here to remind you
Of the mess you left when you went away
It’s not fair to deny me
Of the cross I bear that you gave to me
You, you, you oughta know
2004 – Comedy rockers The Darkness (“I Believe in a Thing Called Love”) are forced to postpone shows in Cleveland and Pittsburgh after singer Justin Hawkins comes down with a sore throat.
Lyrics:
Can’t explain all the feelings that you’re making me feel
My heart’s in overdrive and you’re behind the steering wheel
Touching you, touching me
touching you, god you’re touching me
I believe in a thing called love
Just listen to the rhythm of my heart
There’s a chance we could make it now
We’ll be rocking ’til the sun goes down
I believe in a thing called love
Ooh!
I wanna kiss you every minute, every hour, every day
You got me in a spin but everythin’ is A.OK!
Touching you, touching me
touching you, god you’re touching me
I believe in a thing called love
Just listen to the rhythm of my heart
There’s a chance we could make it now
We’ll be rocking ’til the sun goes down
I believe in a thing called love
Ooh! Guitar!
Touching you, touching me
touching you, god you’re touching me
I believe in a thing called love
Just listen to the rhythm of my heart
There’s a chance we could make it now
We’ll be rocking ’til the sun goes down
I believe in a thing called love
Ooh!
2003 – The mighty Meat Loaf announces his retirement from music following one last world tour.
Lyrics:
I remember every little thing
As if it happened only yesterday
Parking by the lake
And there was not another car in sight
And I never had a girl
Looking any better than you did
And all the kids at school
They were wishing they were me that night
And now our bodies are oh so close and tight
It never felt so good, it never felt so right
And were glowing like the metal on the edge of a
Knife
Glowing like the metal on the edge of a knife
Cmon! hold on tight!
Cmon! hold on tight!
Though its cold and lonely in the deep dark night
I can see paradise by the dashboard light
Girl:
Aint no doubt about it
We were doubly blessed
Cause we were barely seventeen
And we were barely dressed
Aint no doubt about it
Baby got to go and shout it
Aint no doubt about it
We were doubly blessed
Boy:
Cause we were barely seventeen
And we were barely dressed
Baby doncha hear my heart
You got it drowning out the radio
Ive been waitin so long
For you to come along and have some fun
And I gotta let ya know
No youre never gonna regret it
So open up your eyes I got a big surprise
Itll feel all right
Well I wanna make your motor run
And now our bodies are oh so close and tight
It never felt so good, it never felt so right
And were glowing like the metal on the edge of a
Knife
Glowing like the metal on the edge of a knife
Cmon! hold on tight!
Cmon! hold on tight!
Though its cold and lonely in the deep dark night
I can see paradise by the dashboard light
Oh its cold and lonely in the deep dark night
Paradise by the dashboard light
You got to do what you can
And let mother nature do the rest
Aint no doubt about it
We were doubly blessed
Cause we were barely seventeen
And we were barely –
Were gonna go all the way tonight
Were gonna go all the way tonights the night
Were gonna go all the way tonight
Were gonna go all the way tonights the night
Were gonna go all the way tonight
Were gonna go all the way tonights the night
Were gonna go all the way tonight
Were gonna go all the way tonights the night
Radio broadcast:
Ok here we go, we got a real pressure cooker going
Here, two down, nobody on, no score, bottom of the ninth, theres the wind-up,
And there it is, a line shot up the middle, look at him go. this boy can really
Fly! hes rounding first and really turning it on now, hes not letting up at
All, hes gonna try for second; the ball is bobbled out in center, and here
Comes the throw, and what a throw! hes gonna slide in head first, here he
Comes, hes out! no, wait, safe – safe at second base, this kid really makes
Things happen out there. batter steps up to the plate heres the pitch – hes
Going, and what a jump hes got, hes trying for third, heres the throw, its
In the dirt – safe at third! holy cow, stolen base! hes taking a pretty big
Lead out there, almost daring him to try and pick him off. the pitcher glances
Over, winds up, and it bunted, bunted down the third base line, the suicide
Squeeze is on! here he comes, squeeze play, its gonna be close, heres the
Throw, heres th
E play at the plate, holy cow, I think hes gonna make it!
Ii. let me sleep on it
Girl:
Stop right there!
I gotta know right now!
Before we go any further –!
Do you love me?
Will you love me forever?
Do you need me?
Will you never leave me?
Will you make me so happy for the rest of my life?
Will you take me away and will you make me your
Wife?
Do you love me?
Will you love me forever?
Do you need me?
Will you never leave me?
Will you make me so happy for the rest of my life?
Will you take me away and will you make me your
Wife?
I gotta know right now
Before we go any further
Do you love me !!!?
Will you love me forever !!!?
Boy:
Let me sleep on it
Baby, baby let me sleep on it
Let me sleep on it
Ill give you an answer in the morning
Let me sleep on it
Baby, baby let me sleep on it
Let me sleep on it
Ill give you an answer in the morning
Let me sleep on it
Baby, baby let me sleep on it
Let me sleep on it
Ill give you an answer in the morning
Girl:
I gotta know right now!
Do you love me?
Will you love me forever?
Do you need me?
Will you never leave me?
Will you make me so happy for the rest of my life?
Will you take me away and will you make me your
Wife?
I gotta know right now!
Before we go any further
Do you love me?
Will you love me forever?
Whats it gonna be boy?
Come on
I can wait all night
Whats it gonna be boy yes or no?
Whats it gonna be boy yes or no?
Boy:
Let me sleep on it
Baby, baby let me sleep on it
Let me sleep on it
And Ill give you an answer in the morning
L
Girl:
I gotta know right now!!!
Do you love me?
Boy:
Let me sleep on it!!
Girl:
Will you love me forever?
Boy:
Baby baby let me sleep on it
Girl:
Do you need me?
Will you never leave me?
Boy:
Let me sleep on it
Girl:
Will you make me so happy for the rest of my life?
Boy:
Let me sleep on it Ill give you an answer in the morning!! morning!!!!
Ill tell you in the morning!!!!!
Girl:
Will you take me away, will you make me your wife?
Girl:
I gotta know right now
Before we go any further
Do you love me?
Will you love me forever?
Boy:
Let me sleep on it
Girl:
Will you love me forever?
Boy:
Let me sleep on it
Girl:
Will you love me forever?
Iii. praying for the end of time
Boy:
I couldnt take it any longer
Lord I was crazed
And when the feeling came upon me
Like a tidal wave
I started swearing to my God and on my mothers
Grave
That I would love you to the end of time
I swore that I would love you to the end of time!
So now Im praying for the end of time
To hurry up and arrive
Cause if I gotta spend another minute with you
I dont think that I can really survive
Ill never break my promise or forget my vow
But God only knows what I can do right now
Im praying for the end of time
Its all that I can do
Praying for the end of time, so I can end my time
With you!!!
Boy:
It was long ago and it was far away
And it was so much better than it is today
Girl:
It never felt so good
It never felt so right
And we were glowing like
A metal on the edge of a knife
Three parts
“Paradise”
This three-part epic opens with part one “Paradise,” Ellen Foley and Meat Loaf reminiscing their days as a young high school couple on a date, going for a drive to the lake. Everything is well, and they are getting along just fine. “And now our bodies are oh so close and tight/It never felt so good it never felt so right…” However, as the song progresses it’s clear that the boy has a bit more on his mind than just holding his girlfriend. “Baby don’t you hear my heart/You’ve got it drowning out the radio/I’ve been waiting so long for you to come along and have some fun/And I gotta let you know, no you’re never gonna regret it/So open up your eyes I’ve got a big surprise, it’ll feel all right/ I wanna make your motor run.”
He continues to push the matter, and makes some progress, mirrored by New York Yankees announcer Phil Rizzuto broadcasting a portion of a baseball game that serves as a metaphor at his attempts (see: Baseball metaphors for sex).
Things are looking up, and it appears the boy is going to ‘score’: “Here he comes, squeeze play/ It’s gonna be close/ Here’s the throw, here’s the play at the plate/ Holy cow, I think he’s gonna make it” when suddenly Ellen Foley bursts to life telling him to “Stop right there!”
“Let Me Sleep on It”
The girl begins refusing to go any further unless the boy promises that he will marry her, love her forever, and stay faithful to her. Part two “Let Me Sleep On It” begins, as the boy can’t make up his mind, begging her to continue on for the time being and he’ll tell her in the morning. This answer doesn’t satisfy the girl and a song/argument takes place.
Finally, everything gives way for the boy and he begins “I couldn’t take it any longer/ Lord, I was crazed / When the feeling came upon me like a tidal wave / Started swearing to my God/ And on my mother’s grave/ That I would love you till the end of time / I swore I would love you till the end of time.”
“Praying for the End of Time”
As part three “Praying for the End of Time” begins, things snap back to the present instead of reminiscing the long-ago date. Things are not perfect like they were before, but the boy and the girl are sticking to their vows, despite wanting everything to be over and done with. So now I’m praying for the end of time / To hurry up and arrive / ’cause if I got to spend another minute with you I don’t think that I can really survive/ I’ll never break my promise / Or forget my vow / But God only knows what I can do right now/ I’m praying for the end of time / It’s all that I can do! / Praying for the end of time / So I can end my time with you!
Patti Russo and Meat Loaf singing “Paradise” Live at Melbourne with their Orchestra.
It was long ago and it was far away and it was so much better than it is today…repeat…repeat as the song fades out.
As song fades you hear a male voice (Meat Loaf) singing “It was long ago and it was far away and it was so much better than it is today.” While Foley sings, “It never felt so good it never felt so right and we were glowing like the metal on the edge of a knife.” The male voice is in the left channel and female in the right channel.
Music video
Although Ellen Foley is recorded on the album, another woman, Karla DeVito, was used for the video and for performances.
Success
The single had limited success in the US, peaking at number 39 in the Billboard Hot 100. In the UK, it didn’t chart at all. However, in The Netherlands, the single became Meat Loaf’s biggest all time hit, reaching number one at the end of 1978. “Paradise” became a hit again in 1988 and is still a huge party favorite in The Netherlands. In various all time charts, such as the Radio 2 Top 2000 or Radio Veronica’s All Time Top 1000, it consistently charts inside the top ten. The song was also used numerous times at high school dances.
Miscellaneous
* This has been one of the most requested karaoke songs for a male/female duo.
* This is one of the longest songs to ever be put uncut on one side of a 45 RPM record. The only minor difference is the song fades out almost immediately after the final line is sung.
* In a nod to the Yankees/Red Sox baseball rivalry, some radio stations in Boston created a version where Phil Rizzuto’s part was substituted with Red Sox announcer Dick Stockton describing the baseball play.
* This song is currently used by AT&T in commercials for the Go-Phone, in which a father and mother (Meat Loaf and singer Tiffany) argue over buying the son a phone. The commercial uses altered lyrics.
* Rob Evan and Patti Russo have performed this song at live shows, and as part of a show called The Rock Tenor
* The song has been translated into Dutch by singer and master translator Jan Rot.
Recent Comments