Mary Frances Penick was born on December 30, 1931 in the small Appalachian town of Dry Ridge, Kentucky. As a child, her grandfather nicknamed her "Skeeter" because she was always active and buzzing around like a mosquito. She got her start in music as part of the duo, The Davis Sisters, along with childhood friend, Betty Jack Davis. Thus, Skeeter Davis was born to the rest of the world.
The Davis Sisters sang in the local Lexington, Kentucky area and appeared on local radio WLAX in 1949. From there, they earned radio and television appearances in Detroit, Cincinnati and Wheeling, WV, where they were part of the WWVA Wheeling Jamboree.
In 1952, Skeeter and Betty Jack recorded for Fortune, but won a recording contract with RCA the following year and achieved their first chart success. "I Forgot More Than You'll Ever Know" went to number one on the U.S. country chart and number eighteen on the U.S. pop chart.
Sadly, on August 23, 1953, Skeeter and Betty Jack were involved in a serious car accident in which Betty Jack died and Skeeter was critically injured. It took Skeeter more than a year to recover both physically and mentally. With great difficulty and a lot of persuasion, Skeeter returned to singing with Betty Jack's sister, Georgia Davis, to briefly resume the Davis Sisters' act. But, within a year, the duo broke up and Skeeter pursued a solo career.
She continued to record on the RCA label where she worked with Eddy Arnold and Elvis Presley. In 1955, she toured for RCA on the Caravan of the Stars. Davis teamed up with producer, Chet Atkins and scored her first solo country chart hit in 1958 with "Lost To A Geisha Girl." This was during a time when the female acts were surging forward with "response" songs to some of the biggest hits by male artists. As Kitty Wells had answered Hank Thompson's "Honky Tonk Angels," with "It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels" in 1952, Skeeter Davis put out this answer to Hank Locklin's "Geisha Girl."
A few years later, Davis recorded another answer to a Hank Locklin song and gained another huge hit. Locklin sang "Please Help Me I'm Falling" and Davis' response was, "I Can't Help You, I'm Falling Too."
In 1959, Davis achieved one of her greatest ambitions when she moved to Nashville and became a regular member of the Grand Ole Opry. In 1960, she married WSM personality, Ralph Emery, but the tumultuous marriage ended in 1964.
During the 1960's, Davis was one of RCA's most successful country artists. She harvested 26 U.S. country hits, 12 of which crossed over to the U.S. pop charts. Among these was what was to become her trademark song, the million-selling record "The End Of The World" which peaked at number two in both the U.S. country and pop charts in 1963. She also earned her only UK chart presence with "The End Of The World" which topped out at number eighteen in only thirteen weeks on the chart.
Davis has also acheived songwriting success. Her co-written song "Set Him Free" became her first country Top 10 hit in 1959. She also co-wrote "My Last Date" with Boudleaux Bryant and Floyd Cramer. Cramer, famed pianist and member of the original A-team, recorded it as an instrumental solo and had a million-selling record on it in 1960.
During the 60's and 70's, Davis toured extensively in the U.S., Canada, Europe and Far East. Her solo career started to wane in the 70's, but she still had several more hits such as "Bus Fare To Kentucky," "I'm A Lover, Not A Fighter," and "One Tin Soldier." Her duets with Bobby Bare, George Hamilton IV, and The Bee Gees gave her a few more hits, but by the mid-70's, Davis was reaching the end of her illustrious career. She ended her twenty-two year relationship with RCA in 1974 and charted her last hit for Mercury in 1976 with "I Love Us."
In 1967, Davis recorded a tribute album to Buddy Holly, which featured Waylon Jennings on the guitar. Later in 1972, she also did a tribute album to her friend, Dolly Parton. In 1985, she re-recorded an old Davis Sisters' hit, "May You Never Be Alone," with the group NRBQ. She married Joey Spampanito of NRBQ, but this marriage ultimately ended in divorce as well.
In 1973, Davis was dropped from the Grand Ole Opry's roster due to her strong criticisms of the Nashville Police Department during one of her performances. Her membership was later reinstated.
Davis has also taken to writing about her real life experiences. Her autobiography, "Bus Fare To Kentucky," was published in 1993. Davis pulls no punches in this brutally honest account of her life. She tells how she endured a family history of alcoholism, incest and murder. She also tells her side of the story regarding her four year marriage to Ralph Emery, following the heavy criticism which she received in Emery's autobiography. In 1997, she co-wrote a children's Christmas book, entitled "The Christmas Note," based on her own childhood.
Skeeter Davis passed away September 19th 2004 after a long battle with cancer.
Written by Sherry Anderson. June 2001
* Article appears courtesy of www.countrypolitan.com
Love Love Love
Skeeter Davis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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 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 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
The song, "Tell Laura I Love Her" by Skeeter Davis, tells a tragic story of a young couple, Laura and Tommy. Tommy loved Laura more than anything and wanted to give her everything, including a wedding ring. However, he saw a sign for a stock car race with a thousand-dollar prize and decided to participate, hoping to win the money to buy the ring. Unfortunately, he crashed during the race, and no one knows what happened that day. But before he died, he asked someone to tell Laura that he loved her and that his love for her would never die.
The song is a heartbreaking tale of young love cut short by a tragic accident. It shows us how fleeting life can be and how important it is to tell our loved ones how we feel about them. The lyrics are simple yet powerful, and Skeeter Davis's voice adds a touch of melancholy to the story. The song also highlights the importance of communication in a relationship. If Tommy had been able to reach Laura and tell her about his plans, he might have avoided the accident and could have gone on to live a long and happy life with her.
Line by Line Meaning
Laura and Tommy were lovers
Laura and Tommy were in a romantic relationship.
He wanted to give her everything
Tommy was deeply in love with Laura and wanted to provide her with the best of everything.
Flowers, presents, and most of all, a wedding ring
Tommy desired to gift Laura with flowers, presents and most importantly, a wedding ring to symbolize their undying love.
He saw a sign for a stock car race
While traveling, Tommy noticed an advertisement for a car race.
A thousand dollar prize it read
The sign advertised a one thousand dollar cash prize for the car race.
He couldn't get Laura on the phone
Tommy was unable to contact Laura to inform her of his desire to participate in the contest.
So to her mother Tommy said
Unable to speak to Laura, Tommy shared his message with Laura's mother.
Tell Laura I love her, tell Laura I need her
Tommy's message to Laura was that he loved her and required her presence in his life.
Tell Laura I may be late
Tommy explained to Laura that he might not arrive on time because of his participation in the car competition.
I've got something to do that cannot wait
Tommy had an urgent task to fulfill, participating in the car race for a chance to win the cash prize.
He drove his car to the racing grounds
Tommy drove his car to the location of the car race.
He was the youngest driver there
Tommy was the youngest among all the drivers in the race.
The crowd roared as they started the race
The spectators excitedly cheered as the race began.
'Round the track, they drove at a deadly pace
The drivers of the car race were charging ahead at a perilous speed.
No one knows what happened that day
There is no accurate knowledge of the events that led to Tommy's death during the race.
How his car overturned in flames
Tommy's car flipped over and caught fire during the race.
But as they pulled him from the twisted wreck
Eventually, others retrieved Tommy from the car wreck.
With his dying breath, they heard him say
In his dying moments, Tommy uttered some final words.
Tell Laura I love her, tell Laura I need her
Tommy's dying wish was an assurance of his love for Laura and his need for her.
Tell Laura not to cry
Tommy implored his message through his chant for Laura not to weep for him.
My love for her will never die
Tommy declares his love will continue indefinitely, even beyond death.
And in the chapel where Laura prays
The scene shifts and depicts Laura in a church where she prays.
For Tommy who passed away
Laura prays for Tommy who recently passed away.
It was just for Laura he lived and died
Tommy lived and died for Laura, the love of his life.
Alone in the chapel, she can hear him cry
It seems to Laura as though she can still hear the sorrowful cries of Tommy while she prays alone.
Tell Laura I love her, tell Laura I need her
The tune ends by repeating Tommy's endlessly loving and yearning message for Laura.
Tell Laura not to cry
Tommy's endless message for Laura not to cry and mourn his death.
My love for her will never die
Tommy repeats one last time, his love will continue to be deep-rooted in his afterlife.
Lyrics © Round Hill Music Big Loud Songs
Written by: Jeff Barry, Ben Raleigh
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Eric Kaski
So many songs by Skeeter Davis make me swing and cry, but this song is more than all that!!! Oh, and one of my favorite Skeeter Davis songs is not available, it's called "I Say a Little Prayer"
Eric Kaski
Ok, thanks! That's also what I like about youtubers like you. They respond to their comments and I don't ever get that! Oh and I totally subscribed!!! 👍👍👍
Skeeter Davis
Do not worry! I heared and loved her for the first time at 19 years old. Now I'm 22 years old! The song "I Say A Little Prayer" is uploaded but Youtube bolcked the video due to copyright's claim :/. I'll upload a video of that song and others blocked like "I Can not Help It (If I'm Still In Love With You)"
Eric Kaski
I also think it's weird that I'm a 12 year old listening to this music!!! It's so good though!!!