Rock Music

The song  was written by Robert B. Sherman and Richard M. Sherman, who went on to compose many songs and film scores for Walt Disney endeavors (e.g., The Parent Trap, Mary Poppins, The Jungle Book, Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree, and many more). Johnny Burnette’s recording of “You’re Sixteen” went to #8 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1960 and #3 in the U.K. in 1961. It was featured in the soundtrack of the 1973 film American Graffiti. Ringo Starr did a popular cover.

Musician, singer-songwriter Johnny Burnette was born John Joseph Burnette in Memphis in 1934. He had been in the music business since 1952 and was part of a group called Rock ‘N Roll Trio, which consisted of Johnny, his brother Dorsey on bass, and guitarist Paul Burlison. The group disbanded in 1957.  Ricky Nelson recorded Burnette’s songs “Waitin’ In School,” “Believe What You Say,” “Just a Little Too Much,” and “It’s Late.” (The story is that Johnny and his brother Dorsey camped out in front of Nelson’s home to have him hear and record some of their songs. Nelson did.)  In the early 1960s, Burnette had success as a singer, particularly with “Dreamin’” and “Sweet Sixteen.”  He died in a boat accident in 1964.

Here are the lyrics to “You’re Sixteen” by Johnny Burnette:

“Ooh, you come out of a dream,
Peaches and cream,
Lips like strawberry wine,
You’re sixteen,
You’re beautiful and you’re mine.

You’re all ribbons and curls,
Oh, what a girl!
Eyes that twinkle and shine,
You’re sixteen,
You’re beautiful and you’re mine.

You’re my baby, you’re my pet,
We fell in love on the night we met.
You touched my hand, my heart went ‘pop,’
And ooh, when we kissed we could not stop.

You walked out of my dream,
Into my arms,
Now you’re my angel divine,
You’re sixteen,
You’re beautiful and you’re mine.

You’re my baby, you’re my pet,
We fell in love on the night we met,
You touched my hand, my heart went ‘pop,’
Ooh when we kissed we could not stop.

You walked out of my dreams, and into my car,
Now you’re my angel divine,
You’re sixteen, you’re beautiful, and you’re mine.”

For More Golden Oldies Music                                

The Daily Doo Wop Rec Room has daily featured doo wop music, rock and roll hits, R&B, or rockabilly songs that werewere hits during the first era of rock and roll (that is, from about 1952 until the British invasion in 1964). After a song is featured, it then goes into the juke box. You are welcome to listen to any of the 40+ selections there. Every weekend, there is a Golden Oldies Juke Box Saturday Night, and the juke box is full of song requests from the 1950s and 1960s.

Please click here for the Daily Doo Wop YouTube channel, to which you can subscribe. Thank you for stopping by The Daily Doo Wop. Hope you enjoyed “You’re Sixteen” by Johnny Burnette.