About the song
Skeeter Davis and “Tell Tommy I Miss Him”: A Country Music Classic
In the realm of country music, there are songs that touch the heart with their simple melodies and heartfelt lyrics, and then there are those that transcend genre and time, becoming anthems for generations. Skeeter Davis’s “Tell Tommy I Miss Him” falls into the latter category.
Released in 1961, this poignant ballad was an answer song to Ray Peterson’s hit “Tell Laura I Love Her.” Both songs topped the charts in the same year, making Davis and Peterson the first artists to have dueling number one singles simultaneously.
“Tell Tommy I Miss Him” was written by Bob Hilliard and Lee Pockriss, a songwriting duo known for their knack for crafting emotional ballads. The song’s lyrics capture the raw ache of a woman longing for her lost love, Tommy. With lines like “I’m lost without you, Tommy, my heart is breaking in two,” Davis delivers the song with a sincerity that resonates deeply with listeners.
The song’s success was not limited to the United States. It charted in several other countries, including the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia. It has also been covered by numerous artists, including Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn, and Emmylou Harris.
“Tell Tommy I Miss Him” remains a staple of country music radio and has been featured in numerous films and television shows. It is a timeless classic that continues to touch the hearts of listeners worldwide.
Additional details about the song:
Album: “Here’s the Answer” (1961)
Genre: Country music
Length: 2:42
Record label: RCA Victor
Songwriters: Bob Hilliard, Lee Pockriss
Producer: Chet Atkins
Video
Lyrics
Tommy my sweetheart has gone now
He’s up in the heaven somewhere so little star high above
If you see Tommy tell him all my love
‘Tell Tommy I love him, tell Tommy I miss him
Tell him thro’ I may cry, My love for him will never die’
He drove his car in the stock car race
To win money so we could wed
He wanna so much to make me his wife
Now my lovely Tom though he lost his life
I’m so lonely without him near
Oh, how I miss his warm embrace
I love no other, I want him to know
Oh little star please tell him so
Although he wanted to give me the world
Why did he do such a reckless thing
Little star he should realize
I was wretched and mean when he looked into my eyes
‘Tell Tommy I love him, tell Tommy I miss him
Tell him thro’ I may cry, My love for her will never die.