Who was Susie Q?
The early surge of rock ‘n’ roll in the 1950s and 1960s gave rise to some of the most influential works in rock music, some of which became hand-me-downs, their origins as hazy as the clouds they emerged from, leaving behind only raw energy and power. One of these was ‘Susie Q’, which was more than just a fleeting moment: it became a hallmark of rock music.
Initially written by Dale Hawkins, ‘Susie Q’ adopted everything characteristic of the era’s rock ‘n’ roll music, with a thumping rhythm, a driving beat, an endearing consistent riff, and a catchy melody. The lyrics were simple to follow, placing more importance on how the overall sound made you feel than any deeper meaning lurking beneath the surface.
Everything about it was entirely timeless. James Burton, who later earned his own fame by playing alongside Elvis Presley, claimed that he initially wrote the song as an instrumental, which not only explains the way its distinctive guitar work draws you in and hooks you from beginning to end but also spotlights the essence and energy at the crux of rock ‘n’ roll, capturing the attention of those who staked their claim during this era.
One of the most notable renditions was the version delivered by Creedence Clearwater Revival. Released in 1968 on their debut album, CCR’s ‘Susie Q’ not only marked their first major hit but drew a mass of attention to the forgotten track, namely its instrumental appeal, with an extended part in the mid-section highlighting the guitar riff at the heart of the original version.
So, who was Susie Q?
However, despite instating a more classic rock feel to the rockabilly composition and achieving more popularity as a result, the original ‘Susie Q’ came together as a result of lyrics written by Hawkins and his bandmate Robert Chaisson set to Burton’s instrumental. The inspiration came from label owner Stan Lewis’ daughter, Susan, whose name enabled them to explore a creative set of lyrics that felt upbeat, energetic, and free from the weight of any deeper meaning.
After all, most of the lyrics centre around the repeated phrase, “Oh Susie Q, I love you, my Susie Q,” making it feel somewhat childlike in nature. This was likely a deliberate choice to spotlight its effortlessly simple feel, with the lyrics existing as a playful accompaniment rather than the centrepiece. While CCR’s version pushed it further into the cultural zeitgeist, its detachment from its original source almost doesn’t matter, considering its power to capture from the opening notes alone.
That said, one unfortunate development along the way was Hawkins getting left behind, as most now associate the song with the Californian rock band, diminishing his initial impact on the rock scene and another, more tangible benefit—royalties.
“You just couldn’t stop that song,” the musician told Westword in 2000. “I never saw any money from [the song].”
