Think Of Laura by Christopher Cross

Album: Another Page (1983)

Charted: 9

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Songfacts®:

Christopher Cross wrote this song about Laura Coffin Carter, an 18-year-old student at Denison University in Granville, Ohio who was killed by a stray bullet on April 17, 1982. She was riding in a car with her parents and three friends when gunfire broke out a block away and the bullet hit her in the chest.

Cross was dating Paige McNinch, who was Laura's best friend and one of her sorority sisters. He wrote this song to honor Laura's memory:

A friend of a friend, a friend to the end
That's the kind of girl she was
Taken away so young
Taken away without a warning

Think of Laura but laugh, don't cry
I know she'd want it that way
Cross released this song on his second album, Another Page, in January 1983. Later that year, the song was used on the popular soap opera General Hospital as the love theme for the characters Luke and Laura, who were arguably the most well known of all daytime TV couples - their 1981 wedding was the highest-rated episode in American soap opera history. Its use on the show vaulted the song up the charts, and in February 1984 it reached #9 on the US Hot 100 and went to #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart, where it stayed for four weeks.
Boyz II Men recorded a new version of this song called "Think of Aaliyah (The Aaliyah Song)" in honor of the singer Aaliyah after she died in 2001. The song was never officially released, but appeared on various download sites and can be found on YouTube.
This wasn't the first song General Hospital pushed up the charts. In 1979, the Herb Alpert song "Rise" was used in a scene (and subsequent flashbacks) where Luke rapes Laura (yes, that's how their story arc started - strange things happened on daytime TV), sending it to #1 in the US. In 1982, "Baby, Come To Me" by Patti Austin and James Ingram stalled at #73 US, but when the show started using it for some of Luke's scenes, it revived the song, which made #1 in February 1983.

Comments: 12

Stavros from Melbourne AustraliaOh gosh, what a poignant and moving song, I first heard it at school when I was 10, but at that time, I couldn't really understand the meaning of the words because of my hearing impairment and my mild autism, but I sat down and listened to it through earphones earlier this evening and began to weep when Chris started singing the chorus, I felt like the song was calling out to me and speaking directly to me, I lost someone I considered a true friend to murder in 2010, so I know exactly how Laura's friends and family, and particularly Cris felt, grief is a very powerful emotion and it definitely does not do to hold it in, and not talk about your feelings, a quick word of advice for those with friends who are currently grieving a loss, do not under any circumstance tell them things like: everything happens for a reason, or that death is the cycle of life, or it was their destiny to die so move on, (yes, I actually had someone say that to me about my friend. Just be there for them, let them talk and sort their feelings out, do not try to interrupt the discussion or change the subject, just be empathetic.
Thank god the culprits in both crimes were promptly caught and dealt with.
George Sever from Mesa ArizonaI was a Junior in High School, when this song first came out, and it moves me equally to this day, 40 years later. There is very strong positive emotion to the music sang by this artist. Listening to this song tells people of how strong of a person that Laura was, and also of her very good personal character. Blessings to Laura and Peace.
AnonymousLaura such a beautiful song such a tragedy
Cece from Milwaukee Baby come to me was technically Holly’s song and was used for Luke & Holly and Robert & Holly
Simon from Los AngelesBaby, Come To Me was used as the theme song for Robert & Holly not Luke & Laura.
Mike from Santa BarbaraLaura Coffin Carter was the 18 y/o woman this song was written in honor of. She was the only daughter of Edward Carols Carter, a professor and author, and Teresa Howard Carter, an archaeologist.
Rene from Vargem Grande Paulista - Sao Paulo - BrasilThe singer said himself that Laura was a very good friend of his who died very early but was someone who just knew how to feel happiness.
Matt from Dalton, PaLalah,

Genie Francis first left the show in January 1982 which was when her character was abducted and presumed dead. The song, "Think of Laura", was not released until the fall of 1983. When Genie Francis made her dramatic return to the show in November 1983, this song featured prominently in that storyline. It was then that the song became a hit.
Kel from Kansas City, MoWhat a fabulous way to pay tribute to someone you cared about. This song is so beautiful it makes me feel like I knew her myself. By far one of the most beautiful voices as well. Bravo!
Miz Lady from Oakland, CaI remember walking on the playground at recess in fifth grade listening to this song on my Walkman and crying. I knew at even that age that this song was about someone very special that the writer had lost and he wrote this song to have everyone remember her the way he did.
Mike from Hastings, NeWhen I was going to college, a fellow education student by the name of Laura was killed in a VERY stupid off-road vehicle accident that wasn't her fault. She was one of those people who was a friend to everyone and she always had a smile. It was senseless. I got to write a guest column for the school newspaper and I divided my thoughts up in the column with lyrics from this great song. It really helped the campus learn what a great person she was.
Lalah from Wasilla, AkI'm not certain but wasn't this song used so Genie Francis could exit General Hospital at the height of her popularity? When her character was "abducted" in came two new actresses, playing sisters, Demi Moor and Jenine Turner. Then the song was given a reprieve so Genie could return as a guest or else that's when it was played. Anybody? Anyway, I was hooked on the show from the time Laura stole Scotty from Luke's sister, Bobbie. It took moving to Alaska when TV was two weeks behind the rest of the US to lose interest. For two weeks I knew what was going to happen then I found a job and didn't have time to watch anymore. I'm glad this song gets air time.

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