A few words from Laura*
*no, not that Laura!
Let me begin by clarifying an important point
- "Tell Laura I Love Her" was actually not the first Jeff Barry-composed record to chart. Although "Tell Laura" is widely
described as Jeff Barry's first hit, that honor belongs to "Teenage Sonata," released by Sam Cooke more than four months previously,
in February 1960. "Teenage Sonata" reached #50 on the U.S. pop charts and peaked at #22 on the R&B charts.
I also must mention that I was not named
after the heroine of "Tell Laura I Love Her." Nor was she named after me. I was born a year and a half
before Jeff Barry composed this tale of teen tragedy with Ben Raleigh in New York City; still a baby in Paterson, New Jersey
(just a half-hour bus ride away ... so close and yet so far) when the song was written, I can't claim that I'm the protagonist
in the story, any way you look at it.
Actually, neither is the fictional Laura.
This dubious honor belongs to Tommy, who was so besotted with his girl that he wanted to "give her everything," and to this
end he entered a stock-car race and paid the ultimate price for his love.
Except that this wasn't the way the story went
at first.
Jeff observes: "I wrote it originally
with Tommy entering a rodeo instead of a stock car race, and getting gored to death by a Brahma bull. My publisher, Arnold
Shaw, suggested that not many people would relate to that, so ..."
As Jeff explains, the lyrics were modified,
and publisher Shaw brought the song to the attention of producers Hugo (Peretti) and Luigi (Creatore), who gave the song to
Ray Peterson, who took the song to the #7 spot on the U.S. charts. Just a few months later, in September 1960, British singer Ricky
Valance (not to be confused with Ritchie Valens) brought his version of "Tell Laura" all the way to the top spot of the U.K.
charts, and Jeff Barry was well on his way to a career as songwriter (and, later, producer) extraordinaire.
Being under two years of age, however, and
not yet listening to pop music much less evincing any interest in it, I wasn't familiar with "Tell Laura I Love Her," nor
even aware that the song existed until I was in my mid-teens. Curiosity led me to purchase a used copy of the 45; and
as the sad words poured out of the speakers of my portable record player, I dissolved into tears. I mourned for Tommy
as fiercely as my counterpart in song.
Years later, I had the opportunity to question
Jeff Barry, rhetorically, as to why the tale of Laura and Tommy had to end so tragically. Couldn't the songwriting
team have simply given Tommy amnesia and be done with it?
Except that the song would no longer make
any lyrical sense. "Tell ... ummmm ... what's her name I love her" just doesn't have the same impact.
TELL LAURA I LOVE HER
(Jeff Barry/Ben Raleigh)
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
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
And 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 ...
Copyright 1960 Edward B. Marks Music Company, administered
by BMI.
