In the early 60's there was a song that didn't get much play time. It
was one that told a story (there were several during that time). The
story was about a guy who met a girl (at a dance I think) and fell in
love. He took her home, then realized she had forgotten her sweater.
When he went back to return it, a lady came to the door who confirmed
the sweater was her daughter's, but her daughter had been dead for ?
years. I think the girl's name was Laura? Lora? Laurie? Does anyone
know the title or artist of this song? This is driving me crazy!

Dear volfan,

The title of the song is "Laurie (Strange Things Happen In This
World)", and the artist was singer Dickey Lee. It was the A-side of a
single (TCF Hall 102) that was released in 1965, with the B-side being
the song "Party Doll". The author of "Laurie" was Milton C. Addington.
The song was not too obscure: At least, it reached #14 on the charts
in May '65.

In case you want to buy a CD containing "Laurie": At Amazon.com, you
could get the sampler "Hard to Find 45s on CD, Vol. 6: More 60's
Classics", for $14.99:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00005Q6Q4/104-3410997-8015960


Here are the full lyrics:

LAURIE (STRANGE THINGS HAPPEN IN THIS WORLD)
(Milton C. Addington)
DICKEY LEE (TCF HALL 102, 1965)

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...

--

Sources:

Caro, "Spooky old '60s song...who remembers?" Online posting (13 Oct
2000). <alt.folklore.ghost-stories> via Google Groups.
http://groups.google.de/groups?hl=de&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&newwindow=1&selm=s7KF5.27812%24tl2.1799859%40bgtnsc07-news.ops.worldnet.att.net

BlackCat Rockabilly Europe: Laurie (Strange Things Happen) - Dickey
Lee
http://www.rockabilly.nl/lyrics2/l0147.htm

Century of Country: Dickey Lee
http://www.countryworks.com/artist_full.asp?KEY=LEED

Eric Records: Hard to Find 45s on CD, Vol. 6
http://www.ericrecords.com/HTF45sVol06/


Search terms used:
song sweater 60s
http://groups.google.de/groups?hl=de&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&newwindow=1&q=song+sweater+60s
"Strange Things Happen in This World" "dickey lee"
://www.google.de/search?hl=de&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&newwindow=1&q=%22Strange+Things+Happen+in+This+World%22+%22dickey+lee%22&meta=
"TCF HALL 102"
://www.google.de/search?q=%22TCF+HALL+102%22&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=de&btnG=Google+Suche&meta=
"laurie strange things" cd
://www.google.de/search?q=%22laurie+strange+things%22+cd&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=de&meta=
"dickey lee" 1965 "laurie strange" 15
://www.google.de/search?hl=de&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&newwindow=1&q=%22dickey+lee%22+1965+%22laurie+strange%22+15&meta=

Hope this answers your question!
Best regards,
Scriptor

This was a great answer! Gave me what I asked for, then provided
lyrics and a place to buy the song! Thank you!

Excellent work, Scriptor!

I remember the song "Laurie" vividly. When it was first released, some
of the girls in my dorm were convinced that it was a true story, and
there were several heated discussions about this.

The song is a variant on the age-old "vanishing hitchhiker" legend:

http://www.snopes.com/horrors/ghosts/vanish.htm

http://thefolklorist.com/horror/hitchhiker.htm