I have been searching for this song for about 50 years and today I finally found it. Such a sad song,but a good one. It's true, when you hear it,you never forget it
My mama used to sing this song to me starting as a baby and well into my childhood. I always had a very hard time falling asleep but this song set to my mama’s sweet voice in my memory calms me to sleep every time. It’s so tragically beautiful, will always be one of my favorite songs ever because of my dear Mama😊🙏
This is my most favorite song!!! I was 8 years old and this song brings back a memory of my big brother, We would love to listen to this song!! When we heard it we would stop what we were doing and run to lay on the floor in front of my dads old RCA radio and stare at it while listening to this great song!!! I can't believe I was only 8! Good memories!! It was sooo mystical and romantic at the same time. We just loved it!!
One of the saddest songs to come out of the 1960's. I was 7 when I heard it for the first time and cried when my mom explained it to me. Sad, but a very sweet song.
This song has haunted me for years I've always remembered the sad and spooky story about a girl named Laurie but I never knew who made it. After all these years I finally know.
I will never forget this song. My best friend in high school - Laurie Gail Green would play this song at my home repeatedly from 1967-1970. She perished in a (leftover cigarette) fire at midnight August 1971, after her younger brother went home. She was alone on an Anchorage Alasska mountain road when 2 young men saw the fire. One got out and emptied an outdoor 3 foot swimming pool while the other drove to call the fire department. He was devastated when he found out she was just on the other side of the door, passed out from smoke inhalation - all because she was afraid to jump out her bedroom window! She had everything going for her, 18 with 2 year college degree, new bank job as a loan officer trainee, at 16 trained in Italy at Maria Montessori school, (skipping high school) sub-teacher for parent's Montessori school. Her parents passed in 2011 and 2013.
I Have ALWAYS LOVED THIS SONG!THANKS FOR SHARING IT! IT SEEMS VERY RELEVANT TO ME AS I APPROACH THE END OF A VERY LONG AND WINDING ROAD THEY CALL LIFE!R.K.
It's amazing how many old artists are releasing their old songs on new albums.But it's so good to hear them released again. I lost a lot of my old records moving
My grandma used to sing this song to me while sitting on the swing outside on the porch. She left in 2018 but I still hear her voice when I listen to this song.
This is the sweetest and most tender of all the sad teen songs . . . it just brings tears to my eyes everytime I hear it. Perhaps, we all may remain teenagers in another place, after this life is over . . . searching, and then finding the love of your life at the special dance where dreams come true.
Dickie Lee was more than just a songwriter he was a master storyteller in a time when innocence and young love were a treasured part of growing up in America..
Some songs just stick in your head your entire life...songs not to be forgotten. I remember this song vividly...even though I was around 7 when I first heard it.
A cabin mate sang this song at summer camp in 1965. I was ten. I never heard it again, but never forgot it. So glad that You Tube brings old stuff back.
Lisa P I was a 70s kid Partridge Family was my first music. I found this great Quote ( FRIENDS ARE THE SIBLINGS GOD FORGOT TO GIVE US ) RIP DAVID CASSIDY
Were we at the same summer camp - Camp Cazadero Congregational Church Camp? Not likely, but that was when I was there. No need to answer. Also, Boston's WROR DJ Julie Devereaux does a special request show every Hallowe'en night. I requested this one, but couldn't remember its name. She only said, "Yes. I've got it". I wondered whether it would ever come on. She dedicated it to me, the last song of the night, just before midnight, declared it the best Hallowe'en song of all time, and signed off.
Around the time this song was released, we suffered a horrific,family tragedy. I was only 5 but vividly remember laying in my bed,sobbing as this song played on my transistor radio.😔
Patches was a sweet tear jerker that made me swear to never let my parents mess with my love life but this one gave me a goosebumpy chill, - plus we kids all loved it. Went out & got the record which i still have. 'I Saw Linda Yesterday' was good too. And yeah, 'Laurie' is unforgettable indeed
Last night at the dance I met Laurie, So lovely and warm, an angel of a girl. Last night I fell in love with Laurie - Strange things happen in this world. As I walked her home, She said it was her birthday. I pulled her close and said "Will I see you anymore?" Then suddenly she asked for my sweater And said that she was very, very cold. I kissed her goodnight At her door and started home, Then thought about my sweater And went right back instead. I knocked at her door and a man appeared. I told why I'd come, then he said: "You're wrong, son. You weren't with my daughter. How can you be so cruel To come to me this way? My Laurie left this world on her birthday - She died a year ago today." A strange force drew me to the graveyard. I stood in the dark, I saw the shadows wave, And then I looked and saw my sweater Lyin' there upon her grave. Strange things happen in this world.
I have been singing this song probably since the age of 12 word for word, almost every day, I love it and I Love keeping it alive and not forgotten , im 53 now..
I still have this song on 45rpm on vinyl! I loved it then, I love it now. One of the best things about it, is the fact that every sung word is crystal clear. My old school chum and I just loved it and discussed it all the time. I seem to remember that the b side was a song called Party Doll. (I am still looking for my little vinyl record!) Does anyone know what happened to Dickie Lee?
This song really moved me when it came out...I was a younger-than-typical 13 at the time, but the idea truly haunted me. Hadn't heard it in 51 years, and it just gave me the chills!
I was in 9th grade when I first heard this. It was the year of my 1st crush. Nice song though weird. My girlfriend and me loved sitting and listening, and dancing to, songs on the radio. This would have been in 1969. The next year she went to one high school and I to another. I hope life has treated her well.
I too was 7 when I first heard this song and remember the words still. My mom’s cousins Nancy and Joretta made me sing this, Our Last Kiss And Silhouettes On the Shade over and over with them until I knew the words.
I recently connected on facebook with a cousin who I haven't seen in many years.....but I remember her playing this record while my family was visiting her family ....must have been early 70's....
This is a cool song! It s a freakiest story by things like that can happen any time anywhere! Love u Dickey Lee!🐿🐿🐿🐿🐿🐿🐿🐿🐿🐿🐿🐿🐿🐫🐫🐘🐘🐫🐘🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐘🐘🐘
I was also born in 61. My name is Laurie, and my older sisters used to torture me with this song when I was really little to make me cry. (Still works! LOL!)
I believe I read a story very similar to this song years before it was recorded. I love the harpsichord and the haunting back up vocals especially the lone soprano with a bit of echo added for a spooky ambience.
I dedicate this song to my good friend Jerry McQuwin, Pensacola, FL. He moved to Miami and we moved on, but the time we spent together...and the night we sang this song with a band in your back yard...you were the greatest!
The first time I heard this song I was 12 yrs. old and still remember exactly where I was, even the time of day. I think it may have given me my interest in music. Thanks for the life long obsession.
OH MY GOD!!!!!!!! I cannot frikkin believe it! I was thinkin' bout memories. I just decided to type this in and WALLA!!!!What a trip!One day when I was little, another little kid came over and told me that she HAD to sing me a song. She did. We cried, and she taught me the words so that I could sing it too....and I DID to many friends! thankyou for posting this!
I have been looking for this song for years. I heard it as a kid and could never find it again. One thing the internet has been useful for. Kind of haunted me for years.
I knew this song well when I was ten--sang it all the time. Then I lost track of it for many decades. Glad to have it back. It's right up there with Patches. :)
I've been looking for this song forever!!! It has an amusing tone to it, though--the guy realizes he was on a date with a ghost, and all he has to say about it is "strange things happen in this world!"? Still, I love the song--heard it for the first time when I was about seven years old. Brings back some good memories.
I've always loved, and cried, to 'Patches,' rocked to 'I Saw Linda Yesterday,' but this is the first I've heard of 'Laurie' and I'm gobsmacked. Overwhelming beautiful.
I have been searching for this song for about 50 years and today I finally found it. Such a sad song,but a good one. It's true, when you hear it,you never forget it
Increase volumm
All I did was put the name Lori in give a few of the words in the song and it popped up. Why can’t you do that?
I’m on 50 years you’ve been searching and somebody didn’t tell you that’s all you had to do. Yeah I don’t. I don’t believe it.
Same here. I too have been looking for this song for decades and finally today (3/2/24) I finally found it (with help from friends).
I always remember this song since I was a little boy. I get goosebumps when I listen to it .
Loved this song as a teen. I’m 68 and still 😍
Peggy I'm 68 will be 69 in July I'm still listening to
My mama used to sing this song to me starting as a baby and well into my childhood. I always had a very hard time falling asleep but this song set to my mama’s sweet voice in my memory calms me to sleep every time. It’s so tragically beautiful, will always be one of my favorite songs ever because of my dear Mama😊🙏
I'm 69 and ditto! My husband introduced it to me and Dickey Lee's Patches😊
@@toddlear9073DITTO!!!😢
I turn 68 this year. I've loved this song since I was knee-high to a puddle duck!
I have to believe that the 60's was the greatest era of music ever! Nothing since has compared and this song is just one of hundreds that prove it!
Yes, you are 100% correct. I am not even sure if todays so-called talent could even write or play music like this anymore. Sad world today.
@@rljrl '60s songs were great until BtB (before the beatles)
I loved this song when I was a kid. So sad and so romantic.
According the songwriter ,the song is based on Resurrection Mary
this was based on the story about Resurrection Mary of Chicago
This is my most favorite song!!! I was 8 years old and this song brings back a memory of my big brother, We would love to listen to this song!! When we heard it we would stop what we were doing and run to lay on the floor in front of my dads old RCA radio and stare at it while listening to this great song!!! I can't believe I was only 8! Good memories!! It was sooo mystical and romantic at the same time. We just loved it!!
I LOVE A GIRL NAMED Laurie
my big brother played it for me too!
I'm glad you and brother got to share this song.
Well I heard this song when it first came out .and im just shy of 72 and i still listen to it today😊
Dear Lord, I love this song. Still haunts me after all these years.
Reached #14 in 1965. One of the great story songs -- uniquely touching and moving.
Yes, strange things happen in this world. Better things are waiting for us in the next. Keep the faith.
One of the saddest songs to come out of the 1960's. I was 7 when I heard it for the first time and cried when my mom explained it to me. Sad, but a very sweet song.
It was sad, but you never forgot it, neither did I! That is what makes it so special!
Patches by Dickie Lee is Sad also.
I was 11, it took me decades to find out Dickey Lee sang it. Been on my playlist ever since.
I get chills every time I listen to this song... every. single. time.
I am a 20 year old football player...
Lol me too!andi thought I was weird lol
oh, ur 33 now...
This song has haunted me for years I've always remembered the sad and spooky story about a girl named Laurie but I never knew who made it. After all these years I finally know.
So glad you got closure!
Only Dickie could write and sing such a good song. Dickie Lee, RIP
I believe Dickey Lee is still living, as of December, 2023.
I will never forget this song. My best friend in high school - Laurie Gail Green would play this song at my home repeatedly from 1967-1970. She perished in a (leftover cigarette) fire at midnight August 1971, after her younger brother went home. She was alone on an Anchorage Alasska mountain road when 2 young men saw the fire. One got out and emptied an outdoor 3 foot swimming pool while the other drove to call the fire department. He was devastated when he found out she was just on the other side of the door, passed out from smoke inhalation - all because she was afraid to jump out her bedroom window! She had everything going for her, 18 with 2 year college degree, new bank job as a loan officer trainee, at 16 trained in Italy at Maria Montessori school, (skipping high school) sub-teacher for parent's Montessori school. Her parents passed in 2011 and 2013.
That is a very sad story.
I haven't heard this song in 47 years! Wow and I still know EVERY single word! LOL! It was and is a GREAT song!
I didn't think anyone remembered this.
How could you forget this gem!
My Dad used to sing this to me when I was a kid. Patches too.
Me either! I used to cry to this many years ago! Love it, still! Wow, a blast from the past!
As soon as I heard first few notes, knew the song! Never forgot the words!
I Have ALWAYS LOVED THIS SONG!THANKS FOR SHARING IT! IT SEEMS VERY RELEVANT TO ME AS I APPROACH THE END OF A VERY LONG AND WINDING ROAD THEY CALL LIFE!R.K.
It's amazing how many old artists are releasing their old songs on new albums.But it's so good to hear them released again. I lost a lot of my old records moving
Sorry to hear you lost your records but bless TH-cam for saving our memory music.
I remember this and "Patches" when I was in school.
This song was spooky BUT Patches was a real tear jerker. ♣
My grandma used to sing this song to me while sitting on the swing outside on the porch. She left in 2018 but I still hear her voice when I listen to this song.
This is the sweetest and most tender of all the sad teen songs . . . it just brings tears to my eyes everytime I hear it. Perhaps, we all may remain teenagers in another place, after this life is over . . . searching, and then finding the love of your life at the special dance where dreams come true.
My feelings exactly just to go back for that special dance!!!!❤❤❤
This one and "Tell Laura I Love Her"
Dickie Lee was more than just a songwriter he was a master storyteller in a time when innocence and young love were a treasured part of growing up in America..
"PATCHES" is another sad song
This is based on a true story.
Some songs just stick in your head your entire life...songs not to be forgotten. I remember this song vividly...even though I was around 7 when I first heard it.
Never forget this song, or the words!
I just searched Laurie because my name is Laurie and this came up. But anyway this is a very sad song ):
Same, new name buddy
This is a beautiful song, I use to listen to it in my younger days,oh they were indeed the good old days,when music was music
I just found this song after 49 years.. I knew it existed. I still remember the words... I was 6 yrs old . Gave me goosebumps.
I am 42 and I remember the song. My parents had the 45 and I used to play it a lot. I also still remember all the words.
I was six and moving cross country. I wanted to hear this over and over.
Karen. I am with u I was 6 also loved it then an still today
The first few notes made me remember this song! Loved it!
Strange things do happen!
I say that this song, and Last Kiss by J. Frank Wilson still freak me out. but they are great! great songs never die!
How about "Patches" or "I Want My Baby back"?
Last Kiss is the best "Teen Tragedy" song.
I heard it once in 1965 when i was in my teens and i never forgot it...Everybody i've sung this song is always impressed and amazed at the lyrics..!!
I have thought of this song for years. Finally found it. I remember hearing it on the radio when I was in grade school.
Same here!!!
This song still gives me chills 60 plus year's later!" The shit they call music today is total garbage! Dickey lee,,,,,,
A cabin mate sang this song at summer camp in 1965. I was ten. I never heard it again, but never forgot it. So glad that You Tube brings old stuff back.
When I read your comment...I remember thinking back to being a kid and thinking whatever happened to that song...finally found it!
Lisa P I was a 70s kid Partridge Family was my first music. I found this great Quote ( FRIENDS ARE THE SIBLINGS GOD FORGOT TO GIVE US ) RIP DAVID CASSIDY
Were we at the same summer camp - Camp Cazadero Congregational Church Camp? Not likely, but that was when I was there. No need to answer.
Also, Boston's WROR DJ Julie Devereaux does a special request show every Hallowe'en night. I requested this one, but couldn't remember its name. She only said, "Yes. I've got it". I wondered whether it would ever come on. She dedicated it to me, the last song of the night, just before midnight, declared it the best Hallowe'en song of all time, and signed off.
Oh man--this is one of the classics of the time--Dickey Lee was a legend
WOW! How wonderful to find this old classic here! Thanks for uploading it!
Around the time this song was released, we suffered a horrific,family tragedy. I was only 5 but vividly remember laying in my bed,sobbing as this song played on my transistor radio.😔
This is one of my most-treasured songs to hear. Thank you so very much for keeping it posted here at TH-cam. 🙂🙂🙂 (Chase)
Patches was a sweet tear jerker that made me swear to never let my parents mess with my love life but this one gave me a goosebumpy chill, - plus we kids all loved it. Went out & got the record which i still have. 'I Saw Linda Yesterday' was good too. And yeah, 'Laurie' is unforgettable indeed
Love this song from my childhood. Thank you for sharing!
my dad would sing this to me when tucking me in, i have so many lovely memories with it
@Microsoft, Many thanks for sharing your lovely story. I can picture your Dad singing it to you. Absolutly beautiful..
What an incredibly beautiful memory with your dad and from such a sweet and wonderful man. I can't think of a better memory to cherish forever.
its Sammy Morrison here my dad let me here this song its so sad thank you for this music
Last night at the dance I met Laurie,
So lovely and warm, an angel of a girl.
Last night I fell in love with Laurie -
Strange things happen in this world.
As I walked her home,
She said it was her birthday.
I pulled her close and said
"Will I see you anymore?"
Then suddenly she asked for my sweater
And said that she was very, very cold.
I kissed her goodnight
At her door and started home,
Then thought about my sweater
And went right back instead.
I knocked at her door and a man appeared.
I told why I'd come, then he said:
"You're wrong, son.
You weren't with my daughter.
How can you be so cruel
To come to me this way?
My Laurie left this world on her birthday -
She died a year ago today."
A strange force drew me to the graveyard.
I stood in the dark,
I saw the shadows wave,
And then I looked and saw my sweater
Lyin' there upon her grave.
Strange things happen in this world.
+Sabrina Marie Thanks for the words I cannot hear well so I needed the words . Thank you
Gracias sabrina por la letra from PERU
I have been singing this song probably since the age of 12 word for word, almost every day, I love it and I Love keeping it alive and not forgotten , im 53 now..
I loved this song when I was 15 years old beautiful ❤ still know all the lyrics 🇺🇸
I still have this song on 45rpm on vinyl! I loved it then, I love it now. One of the best things about it, is the fact that every sung word is crystal clear. My old school chum and I just loved it and discussed it all the time. I seem to remember that the b side was a song called Party Doll. (I am still looking for my little vinyl record!) Does anyone know what happened to Dickie Lee?
This song really moved me when it came out...I was a younger-than-typical 13 at the time, but the idea truly haunted me. Hadn't heard it in 51 years, and it just gave me the chills!
A truly beautiful and special song 💞
I still remember all the words! Loved this song as a kid! Bless all who remember!
I haven't heard this song since I was about 14! Goosebumps
There's a short film called "The Sweater" based on this song. It's very well done.
Saw him in a free concert mid 90's He Sang this and everyone just stood and listened to it.. At Boone Iowa's Pufferbilly Days
Have loved this song since I was a young teen!
Is it a true story?
@@johnwillis782 Not sure!
Maybe, back then things were more regulated than today! Sorry to say!
Thank you for posting this song, takes me back when I was a little kid and I first heard it.
quite a dark song for the 60s. its a beautiful song
I have a tradition of listening to this every Halloween
I love this song and will never forget the song Rocky, this kind of music can never be replaced or duplicated
Love this song and remember it so well. Who could forget it!!
I was 9 years old when i heard this song, I can never ever forget it. It so sweet of a song!
preach
so, did someone say it came out in 1965?
I was 7, I think --- and I was learning to ride my 2 wheeler bike up at the park. I have always associated that song with that time in my life.
its an international urban legend - theres variations of it all over the world
I could cry! haha Dickie Lee was cool. Loved this tune...spooky as it is.
I was in 9th grade when I first heard this. It was the year of my 1st crush. Nice song though weird. My girlfriend and me loved sitting and listening, and dancing to, songs on the radio. This would have been in 1969. The next year she went to one high school and I to another. I hope life has treated her well.
pm
Just curious, what does "pm" stand for?
Charles did you ever try to find her?
Released summer 65.
I used to call the radio station and ask for this. back in the day when djs were local and played requests.
A perfect song to listen to on Halloween . It gives me chills when I listen to it. I love it.
This is such a well-written song. It’s so sad and scary all at once.
I too was 7 when I first heard this song and remember the words still. My mom’s cousins Nancy and Joretta made me sing this, Our Last Kiss And Silhouettes On the Shade over and over with them until I knew the words.
I play this song every time Halloween 🎃 comes around. Love the ghost 👻 walking down the stairs.
Love this song, still. Took me awhile to find it! I read this was inspired by Chicago's famous Resurrection Mary.
I recently connected on facebook with a cousin who I haven't seen in many years.....but I remember her playing this record while my family was visiting her family ....must have been early 70's....
This is a cool song! It s a freakiest story by things like that can happen any time anywhere! Love u Dickey Lee!🐿🐿🐿🐿🐿🐿🐿🐿🐿🐿🐿🐿🐿🐫🐫🐘🐘🐫🐘🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐘🐘🐘
This has been my favorite sung since it came out love it
Mine, too!
I was also born in 61. My name is Laurie, and my older sisters used to torture me with this song when I was really little to make me cry. (Still works! LOL!)
I was only 10 years old. I Loved this song and it still haunts me to this day
Same here.Heard it for the first time at the lakes, and blew me away.The summer of 65 was a great time to be a kid.
I was 16 y.o. and had just lost a dear friend in a car accident. It reminded me (still does) of her. Rest in Peace, Sandy, my love.
Yeah, it was and many more years to follow!
Scotty Bklyn, yeah 65 was a fun year! Even late 50's were! I got to see all Elvis's movies at the Drive-in! Mom and Dad loved Elvis, too!
^65 was a good time to be alive!
I believe I read a story very similar to this song years before it was recorded. I love the harpsichord and the haunting back up vocals especially the lone soprano with a bit of echo added for a spooky ambience.
Hard to listen to this song without a tear in my eye.
I love this song after all these years!!!!!
This song makes me cry every time...
Unforgettable. heard it in the '80s, still great, especially around Halloween. Dr. Demento plays it on his Halloween special.
A Hauntingly Beautiful Song!! Thanks for the Upload! R.K.
I dedicate this song to my good friend Jerry McQuwin, Pensacola, FL. He moved to Miami and we moved on, but the time we spent together...and the night we sang this song with a band in your back yard...you were the greatest!
I'm 72 dickey and I love all of your songs. Please make more
This was my very favorite song when I was a teenager.
been trying to find this for years its been in my head its good to hear it again
SO GOOD, GOLDEN AND HEART-RENDING! 😎😎😎😎😎😍😍😍😍😍😁😁😁😁😁😂😂😂😂😂😭😭😭😭😭💀💀💀💀💀👼👼👼👼👼🔔🔔🔔🔔🔔👦👦👦👦👦👧👧👧👧👧🎵🎵🎵🎵🎵🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎹🎹🎹🎹🎹🎙🎙🎙🎙🎙🎼🎼🎼🎼🎼🌇🌇🌇🌇🌇🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
The first time I heard this song I was 12 yrs. old and still remember exactly where I was, even the time of day. I think it may have given me my interest in music. Thanks for the life long obsession.
OH MY GOD!!!!!!!!
I cannot frikkin believe it! I was thinkin' bout memories. I just decided to type this in and WALLA!!!!What a trip!One day when I was little, another little kid came over and told me that she HAD to sing me a song. She did. We cried, and she taught me the words so that I could sing it too....and I DID to many friends!
thankyou for posting this!
Beautiful and haunting.
My mom used to sing this to me when I was a kid. Fascinated me and freaked me out at the same time. So good to find it. Thanks for posting.
I have been looking for this song for years. I heard it as a kid and could never find it again. One thing the internet has been useful for. Kind of haunted me for years.
Thanks
I love this song
I knew this song well when I was ten--sang it all the time. Then I lost track of it for many decades. Glad to have it back. It's right up there with Patches. :)
I first heard this when i was a kid. It's haunted me forever - then I learned it's based on a true story.
THANKS FOR POSTING ,LOVE THIS SONG AND PATCHES......
What An Incredible song! You can almost predict the end but you have to listen to every last word.
Loved it all my life brings back a lot of memorys been my favorite all my life
THIS SONG FREAKED ME OUT BACK THEN. GOOD SONG THOUGH. THERE ARE MANY GHOST LEGENDS IN DIFFERENT STATES WITH A SIMILAR STORY.
+frank ferro yes and if you can please comment on them...thanx..jim
I grew up with music! Will never forget it!
Oh wow, I haven't heard this since I don't know when! I remember it so clearly from my youth.
I've been looking for this song forever!!! It has an amusing tone to it, though--the guy realizes he was on a date with a ghost, and all he has to say about it is "strange things happen in this world!"? Still, I love the song--heard it for the first time when I was about seven years old. Brings back some good memories.
It is a dark song.There are stories like this all over the country.My favorite urban legend.
I've always loved, and cried, to 'Patches,' rocked to 'I Saw Linda Yesterday,' but this is the first I've heard of 'Laurie' and I'm gobsmacked. Overwhelming beautiful.
I could never find this song anywhere! I'm so grateful to TH-cam for this. I was 11 when I first heard it and it really moved me...
I've looked for this song for years. My big sister used to sing it.
54 years later and I still get a chill!!
This is the very first time I have ever heard this song. I love it. It is going into my favorites. Thank you for posting it.
Google play my girlfriend's back and you're going to get a beating