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.