Roe was raised in Atlanta, Georgia where he attended Brown High School and was part of band. Greatly influenced by the sounds of the late Buddy Holly, Tommy Roe developed a unique style that, combined with his All-American clean-cut image, made him a popular musical performer throughout the 1960s. In April of 1961 he became a father to daughter Cynthia; he has 3 grandchildren.
Roe had a Billboard No.1 hit record hit in the United States and in Australia in 1962 with the song, "Sheila" and the following year scored two Top 10 hits with "Everybody" and the critically acclaimed "The Folk Singer" written by Merle Kilgore. Following the enormously successful tour of the United Kingdom by friend Roy Orbison, Tommy Roe toured there and then moved to England where he lived for several years. In 1965, he and Jerry Lee Lewis combined with Orbison to create an LP for the Pickwick International label. During the 1960s, he had several more top forty hits. In 1969, his song "Dizzy" went to No.1 on the UK Singles Chart as well as to Billboard's No.1 in the USA. His final Top 40 single was "Jam Up and Jelly Tight" in 1970.
A resident of Beverly Hills, California, Roe is married to Josette Banzet, an actress from France who won a Golden Globe Award for best supporting for her performance in the 1976 television mini-series, Rich Man, Poor Man. His daughter Cynthia still resides in Georgia with her family.
In 1986, Tommy Roe was inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame and his pioneering contribution to the genre has been recognized by the Rockabilly Hall of Fame.
Although his style of music declined in popularity with the 1970s mass market, Tommy Roe maintained a following and continued to perform at a variety of concert venues, sometimes with sixties nostalgia rock and rollers such as Freddy Cannon and Bobby Vee.
Partial discography (singles)
* "Sheila" (1962)
* "Everybody" (1963)
* "The Folk Singer" (1963)
* "Sweet Pea" (1966)
* "Hooray for Hazel" (1966)
* "Dizzy" (1969)
* "Jack And Jill" (1969)
* "Jam Up and Jelly Tight" (1970)
Hooray For Hazel
Tommy Roe Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hooray for Hazel, she made me her clown
Hooray for Hazel, she's up to her tricks
Hooray for Hazel, she's getting her kicks
Hazel's been in love with many a guy
She tells them that she loves them and then says goodbye
Hooray for Hazel, I'm now on her list
I'm just another fool that couldn't resist
Hooray for Hazel, she put me down
Hooray for Hazel, she made me her clown
Hooray for Hazel, she's up to her tricks
Hooray for Hazel, she's getting her kicks
Hazel never feels any pity or shame
A broken heart is just a part of her evil game
Hooray for Hazel, she did it again
I'll join the ranks of broken hearts that she put me in
Hooray for Hazel, she put me down
Hooray for Hazel, she made me her clown
Hooray for Hazel, she's up to her tricks
Hooray for Hazel, she's getting her kicks
Hazel only does things she wants to do
She's selfish and spoiled and she knows that she's cute
Hooray for Hazel, she still gets her way
But there's a time a coming we'll be able to say
Hooray for Hazel, there's tears in her eyes
Hooray for Hazel, she knows how to cry
Hooray for Hazel, she's meek as a dove
Hooray for Hazel, she's begging for love
Hooray for Hazel, there's tears in her eyes
Hooray for Hazel, she knows how to cry
Hooray for Hazel, she's meek as a dove
Tommy Roe's song "Hooray for Hazel" is a bittersweet ode to a young woman named Hazel who has put the singer down after making him her clown. The first verse introduces Hazel as a woman who is up to her tricks and getting her kicks. The second verse reveals that Hazel has been in love with many guys and is known for telling them she loves them before saying goodbye. The chorus repeats the phrase "hooray for Hazel," highlighting her ability to manipulate and break hearts without feeling any shame or remorse. The third verse describes Hazel as selfish and spoiled, but acknowledges that there may come a time when she will need to beg for love and affection from others.
The song ultimately conveys a sense of ambivalence towards Hazel, highlighting both her charming and manipulative qualities. From the singer's perspective, Hazel is simultaneously someone to be celebrated and someone to be wary of, which reflects the complex nature of many romantic relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
Hooray for Hazel, she put me down
I'm cheering for Hazel because she rejected me.
Hooray for Hazel, she made me her clown
I'm happy that Hazel made me look foolish.
Hooray for Hazel, she's up to her tricks
I'm celebrating Hazel's mischievous behavior.
Hooray for Hazel, she's getting her kicks
I'm excited that Hazel is having fun at my expense.
Hazel's been in love with many a guy
Hazel has had multiple romantic relationships in the past.
She tells them that she loves them and then says goodbye
Hazel expresses her affection for her partners but eventually leaves them.
Hooray for Hazel, I'm now on her list
I'm happy that Hazel has added me to her list of former lovers.
I'm just another fool that couldn't resist
I admit that I was foolish to fall for Hazel's charms.
Hazel never feels any pity or shame
Hazel is not empathetic and is unashamed of her actions.
A broken heart is just a part of her evil game
Hazel sees breaking hearts as a part of her manipulative behavior.
Hooray for Hazel, she did it again
I'm celebrating Hazel breaking my heart once again.
I'll join the ranks of broken hearts that she put me in
I am now another person with a broken heart from being with Hazel.
Hazel only does things she wants to do
Hazel is self-centered and only does what she wants.
She's selfish and spoiled and she knows that she's cute
Hazel is aware of her good looks and uses them to her advantage.
Hooray for Hazel, she still gets her way
I'm celebrating the fact that Hazel always gets what she wants.
But there's a time a coming we'll be able to say
I believe that there will be a time when Hazel won't get her way anymore.
Hooray for Hazel, there's tears in her eyes
I'm cheering for Hazel now that she's crying.
Hooray for Hazel, she knows how to cry
I'm happy that Hazel is expressing sadness.
Hooray for Hazel, she's meek as a dove
I'm celebrating Hazel's newfound gentleness.
Hooray for Hazel, she's begging for love
I'm happy that Hazel is now seeking love and affection.
Hooray for Hazel, there's tears in her eyes
I'm still happy that Hazel is crying even more.
Hooray for Hazel, she knows how to cry
I'm still cheering for Hazel's display of emotion.
Hooray for Hazel, she's meek as a dove
I'm still celebrating Hazel's newfound meekness.
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Tommy Roe
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@theiceman6941
Hooray for Hazel, she put me down
Hooray for Hazel, she made me her clown
Hooray for Hazel, she's up to her tricks
Hooray for Hazel, she's getting her kicks
Hazel's been in love with many a guy
She tells them that she loves them and then says goodbye
Hooray for Hazel, I'm now on her list
I'm just another fool that couldn't resist
Hazel never feels any pity or shame
A broken heart is just a part of her evil game
Hooray for Hazel, she did it again
I'll join the ranks of broken hearts that she put me in
Hazel only does things she wants to do
She's selfish and spoiled and she knows that she's cute
Hooray for Hazel, she still gets her way
But there's a time a coming we'll be able to say
Hooray for Hazel, there's tears in her eyes!
Hooray for Hazel, she know how to cry!
Hooray for Hazel, she's meek as a dove
Hooray for Hazel, she's begging for love
Hooray for Hazel, there's tears in her eyes
Hooray for Hazel, she know how to cry!
@randywest7252
I will always remember in grade school coming back in the bus from a basketball game.Players and the cheerleaders all started singing this song.
@dustin1385
My beloved grandma Hazel passed away earlier this year. I always used to bring up these forgotten songs from long before my time to her and she knew every word to all of them, whether she liked them or not. She was the best. I'll never get to ask her about this one, but at least it makes me think of her.
@user-mz1pm1ge3i
I was in the army with Tommy he is a real good person.
@Tiffmidon
I work at a daycare and we've had a four year old singing this song for the past two days. I had to look it up and see if it was real. I'm not surprised a four year old knows this song. His parents listen to 60s music around him. After all, his name IS Jude..
@jubileelennon
Tiffmidon such a cute story! 😀
@peopleddiagram2920
Much more refreshing in hearing such a young kid appreciating music and harmony as opposed to the caterwauling gaga of recent. Thank you for sharing.
@ACatherine66
Kids pick up on so much, I'm glad that people are still listening to the groovy tunes from the 60s and 70s.
@AJAXKID123
I would’ve swore you were talking about my son if the timeline wasn’t off. I used to have this on a playlist and my son loved this song when he was little. As time went by, he sort of forgot about it and then, as an adult, asked me about “that Hazel song”. He was so excited to hear it again. He was born in 1997, though.
I was born in 1970 and this was released in 1966. These old gems were still heard on the radio as I grew up and they are as much mine as those who were alive when they were released. I felt compelled to share them with my kids. I know I wasn’t the only one. They were so harmless and so catchy!
@randysprehe6337
I listened to this song on my mom's record player as a kid. I'm 51.
@hazelgreenfield1862
a very embarrassing time for me in school...I had it sung to me at least 3 times a day...lol...