Album: Wings At The Speed Of Sound (1976)

Charted: 2 3

License This Song 

Songfacts®:

• Paul McCartney "shouted out" to several of his relatives and friends in this song: his aunt ("Auntie Gin") and brother ("Brother Michael"), the Everly Brothers ("Phil and Don"), Keith Moon ("Uncle Ernie") and his famous former bandmate ("Brother John"). His reference to "Sister Suzie" was a reference to Linda, who once recorded a song under the name "Suzie And The Red Stripes."
  
  Paul McCartney told The Mail on Sunday's Event magazine: "When we went to Jamaica on holiday, a lot of the local guys used to call Linda 'Susie' for some reason. And we kind of liked that. Then 'brother John' – I would be thinking either of John Lennon, or Linda's brother, John. But the weirdest thing is, my wife now, Nancy, has a sister Susie and a brother John." >>

  Suggestion credit:
  Ken - Louisville, KY
• Along with "Silly Love Songs," this was one of two singles released from the Wings At The Speed Of Sound album. A catchy, nostalgic song, it caught on with listeners and helped the album reach #1 in America, the fourth consecutive Wings album to do so.

Comments: 27

• George from Vancouver BcWho is the Martin Luther referred to? MLK Jr's dad, or to the priest who started the Protestant Reformation against the ruling Catholic Church? Or maybe a family member named in honour of one of thos?
• John Clarke from EssexMy Nan ( Rose Martin ) was Paul’s housekeeper since the early 60’s.
  The real story of the lyrics “ Sister Susie Brother John I have kept for many years but hey ho here you go ! Although when I was young at school all my friends were aware of our family friendship and connection to the McCartneys.
  My name is John and my younger sister Susie so I declared the song referenced us.. however that was not strictly true, the real Sister Susie Brother John is my Mother ( Susie and her brother John ) Roses only 2 Children. Rose told me they were all at the house in St John’s Wood. Paul was at the piano in the lounge asking Linda Denny Laine and Rose to throw names at him and voila ! My nan said Susie & John. That’s where that lyric came from.
• Lord Piddlepuck from Bardstown, KentuckyI told my mom on the way to Louisville for our annual Fall trip to get our school clothing for the following year when this song “Let’em In” came on the radio. I rode shotgun, and I managed the radio control, I told her the mention of MLK indicates it's about knocking on Heaven’s door, and St. Pete was too busy, so, he said “Let’em In.” My mom bought it, and I cranked it up, love this song too.
• Steve from Louisville KentuckyIn the song - Let Em In - was Paul referring to Martin Luther or Martin Luther King Jr.?
• Ron from Fort Worth TexasI always thought it was a nod to America and the bicentenial.The drums and fife portion of the song plus Let em in is what the Statue of Liberty says.
  
• Mark Mckendrick from LondonIn the song 'Let 'Em In' by Wings... the reference to 'Brother John' is *not* a reference to John Lennon. Lennon is referenced in the song by 'Martin Luther' - a 'pet name' the other Beatles referred to him as. The 'Brother Johhn' referenced in the song is, in fact, John Eastman, Linda's brother, who looked after McCartney's affairs while the other three Beatles went with Alan Klein.
• Robert from Mswhat movie was this in
• Steve from MissouriI always thought this was about dead people being let into heaven and the names were people who had recently died. After all, Paul was long dead by this time, so he could let them in.
• Mahatma Koat from West Chester,penn.Rock History says that Sister Suzy was Linda McCartney,Brother John was Linda's Brother,Martin Luther was Lennon's nickname,Phil & Don were the Everly Brothers,Brother Michael was Paul's brother,Auntie Gin was Paul's Aunt,Uncle Ernie were nicknames for Ringo and Keith Moon,Uncle Ian is a mystery because it sounds like Lyn and Ian is pronounced Ein in British.Only Paul and Ringo know the correct answer...Lin or Ein?
• Sparkina from South FloridaUm, B, Billy Paul's departed twin sister was named PAULINE.
• Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn June 28th 1976, "Let'em In" by Wings entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #59; and August 8th, 1976 it peaked at #3 (for 4 weeks) and spent 16 weeks on the Top 100 (and for 7 of those 16 weeks it was on the Top 10)...
  It also reached #3 (for 3 weeks) on the Canadian RPM Top Singles chart...
  And on August 1st, 1976 it reached #1 (for 1 week) on Billboard's Adult Contemporary Tracks chart.
• Don from Sevierville, TnWhen I think of Martin Luther (without King), I think of the former German monk who founded the Lutheran Church, and was one of the original leaders in the Protestant Reformation.
• Johnny from Amarillo, TxWow. It's amazing what some folks can conjure up! The initial info about the names in this song (top of page) is 100% correct! Phil Ackrill? REALLY? That's a bit of a stretch. The Beatles were MAJOR Everly Brothers fans. "Phil and Don" Everly. And "Sister Suzie" is TOTALLY Linda! ("Suzie & the Red Stripes") Paul has a brother named "Michael" and he is forever bound to a fellow songwriter named "John" -- Try to remember Ockham's Razor: "All things being equal, the simplest explanation is usually correct" -also- "Don't drink bong water before posting on SongFacts!"
• B from Terrebonne, OrSister Suzy is NOT about Linda. The song was covered in 1977 by Billy Paul with a list of notable African-American figures, plus Billy Paul's own departed twin sister, Suzy. Also, Martin Luther is THE Martin Luther King NOT John. Sheesh!!
• Rayna from Pembroke Pines, FlBrother Michael and Auntie Jin were indeed relatives of Don Paolo's (Jin, nickname for Jane was Paul's paternal aunt, and Michael was his kid bro) but I thought Brother John referred to Paul's brother-in-law rather than the Great John L. As an aside, "Brother Michael" recorded some music under the name "Mike McGear." No doubt he used a pseudonymous last name to avoid comparison with Sir Paul.
• Carmelo from Genova, ItalyI remember I went crazy when I first heard the fake fade out turning into a high tone two note close. That was a real gas for a 14 year old teenager like me.
• Valentine from St Louis, MoEveryone's really close, but "Phil" is actually a reference to "Phil Ackrill" of Denny Laine and the Diplomats (Sometimes referred to as "Phil Ralston"). To my knowledge, he IS still alive and well. Denny Laine was in Wings, with a few other ex-members of the "Diplomats".
• Harold from University Park, Paso close with the references, but the correct list is as follows: Sister Suzie (Linda McCartney), Brother John (John Eastman), also a lead-in to Martin Luther (John Lennon, bandmates used to call him this), Phil & Don (Everly Brothers), Brother Michael (Mike McCartney), Auntie Jin (Paul's aunt), Uncle Ernie (Keith Moon, in The Who's Tommy), Uncle Ian (Auntie Jin's son)
• Crazyc63312 from Why Do You Want To Know?, RiEvery time i hear the begining, I think of a horror movie sceen where it shows a door, then when the piano comes in, a pshyco murderer breaks the door down and attacks everybody! CREEPY!!!
• Leigh from Ny, Nywhen paul mccartney says martin luther he is refering to john lennon.paul and his band mates use to call john this
• S.d. from Denver, CoMy sister once heard a stand-up comedian, whose routine consisted mainly of making fun of bad songs, say that McCartney was listening to a metronome ticking one day and said to himself, "Wow! That thing's got a really good beat!" Then he threw in the names of some relatives and the rest is history.
• Kevin from Reading , PaWhen this song came out I found it tedious, but I've come to like it more over the years. McCartney songs do have a way of growing on you.
  In concert, Denny Laine would strap on a drum and march around while playing the martial drum part heard on this record.
  
• Scott from Kings Park, NyHe used Martin in Get Back...Martin Luther is different than Marting Luther King. Guess he like the way Martin sounded in the songs.
• Gunther from Ikapa, South AfricaThe spoken intro, "you've been had, you've been misled, you've been took", on the Billy Paul version is from a speech by Malcolm X in Detroit in 1964. Political speeches run through Billy's black consciousness version, ending with Martin Luther King's cry of "I have a dreeeeaaaam".
• George from Bo'ness, ScotlandIn the Billy Paul version he opens by saying "you've been had, you've been misled, you've been took" before starting the song.Is there anyone out there who knows why?
• Jay from Syracuse, NyMcCartney doing a kind of Henry Mancini bit--and every bit as good. Remarkably witty music and lyrics, but not canned or stilted. Like in Mancini, the instrumental refrain becomes its own character. The structure of this song is interesting in that it has two de facto refrains--the chorus-list of friends, and the fife and drums-like "march." I tip my cap when this song goes by.
• Mark from London, EnglandAlso a top 30 hit for Billy Paul.

More Songfacts:

Freedom Of ChoiceDevo

The Devo song "Freedom Of Choice" is about mindless consumerism - how people like to make frivolous choices, but otherwise want to be told what to do.

Groove Is in the HeartDeee-Lite

One of the last hits with a track made up almost entirely of uncleared samples is "Groove Is In The Heart" by Deee-Lite in 1990. Soon after, courts ruled that samples needed to be cleared.

Baby LoveThe Supremes

When "Baby Love" reached the top spot, The Supremes became the first Motown act with two #1 hits on the Hot 100.

Black Or WhiteMichael Jackson

Weird Al Yankovic proposed a parody of "Black Or White" called "Snack All Night," but Michael Jackson asked him not to.

YesterdayThe Beatles

The melody to "Yesterday" came to Paul McCartney in a dream, but the lyrics he had to write consciously. His first attempt at the title was "Scrabble Eggs."

Ms. JacksonOutKast

The "Ms. Jackson" in the OutKast song is Erykah Badu's mother. Andre 3000 had a child with Badu, and felt she was portraying him as a lousy dad.

Editor's Picks

Amy Lee of EvanescenceSongwriter Interviews

The Evanescence frontwoman on the songs that have shifted meaning and her foray into kids' music.

Phil Hurtt ("I'll Be Around")Songwriter Interviews

Phil was a songwriter, producer and voice behind many Philadelphia soul classics. When disco hit, he got an interesting project: The Village People.

Mac Powell of Third DaySongwriter Interviews

The Third Day frontman talks about some of the classic songs he wrote with the band, and what changed for his solo country album.

Rob Thomas of Matchbox TwentySongwriter Interviews

Rob Thomas on his Social Distance Sessions, co-starring with a camel, and his friendship with Carlos Santana.

Sub Pop Founder Bruce Pavitt On How To Create A Music SceneSong Writing

With $50 and a glue stick, Bruce Pavitt created Sub Pop, a fanzine-turned-label that gave the world Nirvana and grunge. He explains how motivated individuals can shift culture.

Barry Dean ("Pontoon," "Diamond Rings And Old Barstools")Songwriter Interviews

A top country songwriter, Barry talks about writing hits for Little Big Town, Tim McGraw and Jason Aldean.