About the song
“Tell Laura I Love Her” is a classic pop song that has resonated with audiences for decades. Written by Jeff Barry and Ben Raleigh, this poignant ballad tells the tragic story of a young man named Tommy who is desperately in love with Laura. His determination to win her heart leads him to take a perilous risk that ends in a devastating accident.
The song’s narrative unfolds with a raw and emotional intensity. Tommy, a teenage driver with little experience, enters a stock car race in the hopes of winning the prize money and buying Laura a wedding ring. The second verse reveals the heart-wrenching outcome: Tommy’s car overturns and bursts into flames, leaving him fatally injured. As he lies dying, his final words are a plea to his friend: “Tell Laura I love her… My love for her will never die.”
The song’s emotional impact is further heightened by the haunting melody and Ray Peterson’s soulful vocals. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of teenage love, loss, and the enduring power of human emotion. The final verse, in which Laura prays for Tommy in a chapel, adds a touch of spiritual contemplation to the story.
“Tell Laura I Love Her” has become a timeless anthem of teenage tragedy, capturing the intensity of young love and the devastating consequences of reckless behavior. Its enduring popularity is a testament to the song’s ability to connect with listeners on a deep emotional level.
Video
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 ground
He was the youngest driver there
The crowd 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”
Now in the chapel where Laura prays
For her 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