WAKE UP IRENE
(Weldon Allard / Johnny Hathcock)

Hank Thompson

Also recorded by: The Maddox Brothers & Rose


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

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 your dead

Lot's 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

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 your dead