‘Tell Laura I Love Her’ (1960) by Ray Peterson

About the Song

Ray Peterson was an American rock and roll singer who had a string of hits in the late 1950s and early 1960s. He is best known for his 1960 single “Tell Laura I Love Her”, which reached number seven on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

“Tell Laura I Love Her” is a doo-wop ballad that tells the story of a young man who is killed in a car accident. As he dies, he thinks of his girlfriend Laura and asks his friends to tell her that he loves her. The song’s catchy melody and heartfelt lyrics made it a popular hit with teenagers at the time.

The song’s success helped to launch Peterson’s career, and he went on to release several more hit singles, including “Corrine, Corrina” and “I Could Have Loved You So Well.” However, he was never able to match the success of “Tell Laura I Love Her,” and his career eventually faded away.

“Tell Laura I Love Her” is a classic example of a teenage tragedy song**. These songs were popular in the 1950s and 1960s, and they often told stories of young people who died in tragic accidents. The songs were often sentimental and melodramatic, but they also resonated with teenagers who were dealing with the death of friends or loved ones.

“Tell Laura I Love Her” is a reminder of a time when rock and roll music was still in its early days. The song is simple and unpretentious, but it has a timeless quality that has made it endure for over 60 years. It is a song that will continue to be enjoyed by generations of music lovers.

Some interesting facts about the song:

• The song was written by Jeff Barry and Ben Raleigh.
• The song was originally recorded by The Rivingtons, but it was Peterson’s version that became the hit.
• The song has been covered by many other artists, including Elvis Presley, Bobby Vee, and Neil Diamond.
• The song was used in the 1973 film “American Graffiti.”

Video

Lyrics: Tell Laura I Love Her

Laura and Tommy were lovers
He wanted to give her everything
Flowers, presents and most of all, a wedding ring
He saw a sign for a stock car race
A thousand dollar prize it read
He couldn’t get Laura on the phone
So to her mother, Tommy said

Tell Laura I love her, tell Laura I need her
Tell Laura I may be late
I’ve something to do, that cannot wait

He drove his car to the racing grounds
He was the youngest driver there
And the crowed roared as they started the race
‘Round the track they drove at a deadly pace
No one knows what happened that day
How his car overturned in flames
But as they pulled him from the twisted wreck
With his dying breath, they heard him say

Tell Laura I love her, tell Laura I need her
Tell Laura not to cry
My love for her will never die

And in the chapel where Laura prays
For Tommy who passed away
It was just for Laura he lived and died
Alone in the chapel she can hear him cry

Tell Laura I love her, tell Laura I need her
Tell Laura not to cry
My love for her will never die
Tell Laura I love her
Tell Laura I love her
Tell Laura I love her