Wake Me, Shake Me

Album: Coast Along with the Coasters (1960)
Charted: 51
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • "Wake Me, Shake Me" is a lighthearted plea to be woken up in time for work. Coasters frontman Billy Guy, who wrote the song, sings about his miserable job as a sanitation worker (a profession sometimes called "a garbage man") and his fears of sleeping in and failing to punch the clock on time. He dreams of garbage trucks bearing down on him and reminds us repeatedly that his boss is a "big, fat slob." Still, he can't be a minute late because he needs the money.
  • The Coasters had a run of jovial hit sin the late '50s that were written by the team of Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. In the early '60s, they could still earn some airplay, but they weren't nearly as popular. "Wake Me, Shake Me" was one of several minor hits for the group in this era. Leiber and Stoller are merely listed as "supervisors" on the album it came from.

Comments: 1

  • Larry E from Boulder, CoSee the 'Song Facts' under the Blues Project [song arranged by Al Kooper from a public domain gospel tune about getting into heaven] for the true origin of this song. First known recording by Alan Lomax in 1930's and on an album of gospel recordings by various groups in the 1940's. The Wikipedia entry on this song is also lacking in any research on the origin of the melody, words and message.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Allen Toussaint - "Southern Nights"

Allen Toussaint - "Southern Nights"They're Playing My Song

A song he wrote and recorded from "sheer spiritual inspiration," Allen's didn't think "Southern Nights" had hit potential until Glen Campbell took it to #1 two years later.

Richard Marx

Richard MarxSongwriter Interviews

Richard explains how Joe Walsh kickstarted his career, and why he chose Hazard, Nebraska for a hit.

Commercials

CommercialsFact or Fiction

Was "Ring Of Fire" really used to sell hemorrhoid cream?

John Doe of X

John Doe of XSongwriter Interviews

With his X-wife Exene, John fronts the band X and writes their songs.

Yoko Ono

Yoko OnoSongwriter Interviews

At 80 years old, Yoko has 10 #1 Dance hits. She discusses some of her songs and explains what inspired John Lennon's return to music in 1980.

Loreena McKennitt

Loreena McKennittSongwriter Interviews

The Celtic music maker Loreena McKennitt on finding musical inspiration, the "New Age" label, and working on the movie Tinker Bell.