How Do I Extract Just the URL?

I am trying to theme a node display that includes the CCK Link field. I want to wrap some text (e.g., Read More About This) with an tag that includes in the href just the URL that is in the Link field. If I use ['field_fieldname_url']->url in the appropriate .tpl file, I get a complete with closing tag. If I use ->raw, I still get a closing "> at the end of the returned data. Is this a bug or by design? Is there a way to get JUST the URL?