What's the most bitter, vengeful song you can think of? I know what mine is, Hats Off To Larry by Del Shannon. Odd to think it comes in a happy sounding early 1960s pop song, but the fact that it sounds so happy is what makes the song so fucked up.
The reason Del's so happy is that Larry broke up with a girl. The girl Larry broke up with is Del's ex, who broke his heart. When she left him for Larry. You'd think he'd hate Larry, but no. He hates the girl who left him. Normally people write sad or angry songs about the girl who broke their heart and the asshole who stole her away from them. Not Del. He bitterly bides his time, waiting for her life to take a down turn and then applauds the source, even though it happens to be the guy who caused his own misery. Now that's an impressive grudge.
"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 said goodbye to you."
The craziest thing? "I know this may sound strange/I want you back/I think you'll change/But there's one more thing I gotta say/ Hats off to Larry..." He still loves her. Even while writing a song that so publicly, bitterly, and joyously celebrates her dumping, he still wants her back.
So twisted. So good.
Del Shannon's Hats Off To Larry
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