Tell Laura I Love Her – Ray Peterson

About the song Tell Laura I Love Her – Ray Peterson

“Tell Laura I Love Her” is a 1960 rock and roll ballad written by Norman Petty and Bill Giant, and performed by Ray Peterson. The song is a tragic tale of a young man named Tommy who is in love with a girl named Laura. Tommy enters a stock car race in hopes of winning the prize money so he can buy Laura a wedding ring. However, during the race, his car overturns and bursts into flames. Tommy is fatally injured, but his last words are “Tell Laura I love her… My love for her will never die.”

The song’s history

The song was written by Norman Petty and Bill Giant, who were two of the most successful songwriters in rock and roll. Petty was a record producer who had worked with Buddy Holly, The Everly Brothers, and Carl Perkins. Giant was a songwriter who had written hits for artists such as Elvis Presley, Ricky Nelson, and Connie Francis.

The song was recorded by Ray Peterson in 1959. Peterson was a young singer from Minneapolis, Minnesota, who had been discovered by Petty. The song was released in 1960, and it quickly became a hit. It reached number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States, and it was also a hit in the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia.

The song’s impact

“Tell Laura I Love Her” is considered one of the most iconic songs of the early rock and roll era. It is a powerful and emotional ballad that has been covered by many artists, including Bobby Vinton, The Beach Boys, and Neil Diamond. The song has also been featured in numerous films and television shows, including “American Graffiti” (1973) and “The Simpsons” (1990).

The song’s legacy

“Tell Laura I Love Her” is a timeless classic that continues to resonate with listeners of all ages. It is a reminder of the power of love, and it remains a popular choice for weddings and other special occasions.

Here are some notable accolades for “Tell Laura I Love Her”:

• In 2004, “Tell Laura I Love Her” was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
• In 2010, the song was ranked number 449 on Rolling Stone’s list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
• In 2014, the song was selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the National Recording Registry, for being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.”

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Video Tell Laura I Love Her – Ray Peterson

Tell Laura I Love Her – Ray Peterson Lyrics

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