Peak
2
Weeks
16
Score
3,283
Chart Year
1958
Berry wrote this song when he was on a package tour, and came across a teenaged autograph-seeker who was insistent upon getting the autograph of each headliner on the tour. Said Berry: "She couldn't have seen one act on the show - unless it was mine!" The Beach Boys used the melody for this song on their 1963 hit "Surfin' U.S.A.." Berry got composing credit on the Beach Boys song in the mid-'70s as a result of a threatened lawsuit. Peaking at #2, it was Berry's biggest hit until "My Ding-a-Ling" was a surprise #1 hit in 1972.
They're really rockin' Boston In Pittsburgh, PA Deep in the heart of Texas And 'round the 'Frisco Bay All over St. Louis And down in New Orleans All the cats wanna dance with Sweet Little Sixteen Sweet Little Sixteen She's just got to have About half a million Famed autographs Her wallet filled with pictures She gets 'em one by one Becomes so excited Watch her, look at her run, boy Oh, mommy, mommy Please, may I go? It's such a sight to see Somebody steal the show Oh, daddy, daddy I beg of you Whisper to mommy It's all right with you 'Cause they'll be rockin' on Bandstand In Philadelphia, PA Deep in the heart of Texas And 'round the 'Frisco Bay All over St. Louis Way down in New Orleans All the cats wanna dance with Sweet Little Sixteen 'Cause they'll be rockin' on Bandstand Philadelphia, PA Deep in the heart of Texas And 'round the 'Frisco Bay All over St. Louis Way down in New Orleans All the cats wanna dance with, ooh Sweet Little Sixteen Sweet Little Sixteen She's got the grown up blues Tight dresses and lipstick She's sportin' high heel shoes Oh, but tomorrow morning She'll have to change her trend And be sweet sixteen And back in class again But they'll be rockin' in Boston Pittsburgh, PA Deep in the heart of Texas And 'round the 'Frisco Bay Way out in St. Louis Way down in New Orleans All the cats wanna dance with Sweet Little Sixteen
| Week | Chart Date | Position | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Feb 17, 1958 | 46 | 80 |
| 2 | Feb 24, 1958 | 19 | 107 |
| 3 | Mar 3, 1958 | 6 | 120 |
| 4 | Mar 10, 1958 | 3 | 123 |
| 5 | Mar 17, 1958 | 2 | 124 |
| 6 | Mar 24, 1958 | 2 | 124 |
| 7 | Mar 31, 1958 | 3 | 123 |
| 8 | Apr 7, 1958 | 2 | 124 |
| 9 | Apr 14, 1958 | 3 | 123 |
| 10 | Apr 21, 1958 | 14 | 112 |
| 11 | Apr 28, 1958 | 22 | 104 |
| 12 | May 5, 1958 | 34 | 92 |
| 13 | May 12, 1958 | 50 | 76 |
| 14 | May 19, 1958 | 62 | 64 |
| 15 | May 26, 1958 | 68 | 58 |
| 16 | Jun 2, 1958 | 83 | 43 |