What a fool believes Lyrics
The sentimental fool don't see
Tryin' hard to recreate
What had yet to be created once in her life
For his nostalgic tale
Never coming near what he wanted to say
Only to realize
It never really was
He never made her think twice
As he rises to her apology
Anybody else would surely know
He's watching her go
No wise man has the power to reason away
What seems to be
And nothing at all keeps sending him¡
Where he can still believe there's a place in her life
Someday, somewhere, she will return
He never made her think twice
As he rises to her apology
Anybody else would surely know
He's watching her go
No wise man has the power to reason away
What seems to be
Is always better than nothing
There's nothing at all
But what a fool believes he sees
This person is hanging on to something that isn't there, and possibly never was. He is clinging to the idea that they had something, when in fact this woman is more like an unattainable goal. I think it's about unrequited love and wanting someone very badly that doesn't want you. Thus the fool believes...
The story of this song goes like this: McDonald was given an ultimatum by the Doobie Brothers that if he didn't write them a new hit song in time for Koko Goldstein's big party, he was out of the band. Kenny Loggins offered to help, but McDonald was wary as Loggins had ditched his old partner, Jimmy Messina, who had since become an alcoholic vagrant. Loggins had been unaware of Messina's despondancy and went to go patch things up. Messina refused to forgive Loggins prompting McDonald to say "Do you really believe you can just come here and try to recreate what has yet to be created? That's what a fool believes!" And a hit was born.
@hankpiece ????. Dude. You were there! Good insight????????lolol
@hankpiece ????. Dude. You were there! Good insight????????lolol
McDonald's original idea of the song was that of two people meeting in a restaurant - two people who had a passionate relationship a while before the meeting. To the man, the affair was the best thing in his life; to the woman, it was fun, but it was time to move on. In the conversation, the man would make a complete fool of himself.
Great p.o.v. or the nothing ever happened and it's unrequited?
Great p.o.v. or the nothing ever happened and it's unrequited?
Yes, tsllimit, exactly. I think of my ex every time I hear this song. I so long for our relationship to be restored but she will have none of it. So I'm a fool for holding on to what (likely) will never be.
"What a fool believes" has been a mystery to me, as to its meaning, for years. I just now read several interpretations, and they mostly make sense. However, I would like to get someone's response to the meaning I have concluded as to these two lines:
"She had a place in his life" to me, is from her point of view. A long time ago (somewhere back in her long ago), she cared a lot for him. But, he took her for granted.. and
"He never made her think twice" to me means, because she felt there was no commitment or future from him, she had no reason to stay, and moved on..she never had a reason to think twice about their relationship ever being more than a non-commitment from him. "She rises to her apology" when she has heard enough of his "nostalgic tale" which reminds her of that time, and had since given up and moved on.
As time went on, the fool believes she will return, and that he will never be able to understand why she leaves him. He is left with his own make-believe, and it is better have "what seems to be" than realizing she is never going to return. What a great song, it has so many ways to interpret it.
She was six years older and felt her clock ticking, which was ridiculous then, but hind sight is 20 20. He was younger and firey and ambitious. She was ready to settle down. They intimidated each other, both immature. They loved being together, but she felt she had to compete. She didn't totally trust his intentions. He never really articulated any. She got frustrated, not knowing where the relationship was going and if he really wanted one. He was like no one she had ever met before and he made her feel alive. She was very insecure. He was too.
They met other people. He had a child, and they both married their fall backs. She stopped talking to him because her husband knew better and said him or me. She obliged.
They reconnected, both in bad marriages. He had the child. She divorced the guy. She was ready. He wasn't. Once again, the feelings were there. Life had changed. Priorities changed. Once again her clock was ticking.
She was the fool this time. She actually believed that the vision of love was more. This song should have been her wake up call when he texted her the words a year ago.
Keeping the dream alive isn't enough. Life passes by. NO- it was really never meant to be.
Unless, of course, you are Camilla Parker Bowles
@imdoling ????. Remember tho…Charles was her lowly tampon for years lest we forget. Second in line to THE only thrown that matters. Being a Royal has its downside. “All’s Well That Ends Well” sometimes ????????
@imdoling ????. Remember tho…Charles was her lowly tampon for years lest we forget. Second in line to THE only thrown that matters. Being a Royal has its downside. “All’s Well That Ends Well” sometimes ????????
Hankpiece, you're absolutely right! I saw Hollywood Steve tell the same story!
"Jimmy, looks like you've inspired them to set sail on a voyage straight to the top of the charts." - Koko Goldstein (music industry mogul"
We people are not as smart or fascinating as we think we are, in fact we are mostly self-deluded.
This should be under The Doobie Brothers. Anyway, it's my favorite Doobies song.
You’re way off and you’re all wrong! But isn’t that how it’s supposed to be? The two protagonists had been married for years and believed from the start they’d be together forever. Enter sex drugs and rock n roll with the upside being quite a few great songs. It’s not Shakespeare but it was to some of those concerned! High drama ???? but no…not like Meatloaf drama.