About The Song

Del Shannon released “Hats Off to Larry” as a single in 1961. The song spent 13 weeks on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and reached No. 5, while also reaching No. 1 on Canada’s CHUM Hit Parade, No. 2 in Australia, No. 6 on the UK chart, and No. 2 in New Zealand’s “Lever Hit Parade”.

The song narrates a tale of heartbreak and love lost. Shannon sings about a girl leaving him for another guy, Larry. Despite initial heartache, Shannon indicates he would take her back, acknowledging Larry’s role in her newfound situation. The lyrics express Shannon’s experience of losing a loved one to someone else.

Video

Lyrics

Once I had a pretty girl
Her name it doesn’t matter
She went away with another guy
Now he won’t even look at her

Hats off to Larry
He broke your heart
Just like you broke mine
When you said we must part
He told you lies,
Now it’s your turn to cry-cry-cry
Now that Larry’s said goodbye to you

I know this may sound strange
I want you back, I think you’ll change
But there’s one more thing I got to say

Hats off to Larry
It may sound cruel
But you laughed at me
When you said we were through
You told me lies,
Now its your turn to cry-cry-cry
Now that Larry’s said goodbye to you