As the son of a vicar, he had his first singing experiences in a church choir. He attended Ripon College, where he also sang non-professionally with a group called the Indigos, and graduated in 1962. He went on to earn a master's degree in Vocational Rehabilitation from the University of Iowa, and worked as a rehabilitation counselor in San Francisco before joining a small jazz club trio headed by George Duke and deciding that he would make professional singing his life in 1968
He appeared in such Los Angeles hot spots as Dino's, the Troubador and Bitter End West. Television exposure came from Mike Douglas, Merv Griffin and David Frost, while he expanded his nightclub appearances to include performing at the Improv between the acts of such rising-star comics as Bette Midler, Jimmie Walker, and John Belushi, among others.
He was spotted by Warner Bros. in 1975 and soon thereafter released his critically acclaimed debut album, We Got By, which catapulted him into international fame and garnered him a German Grammy Award. A second German Grammy would follow with the release of his second album, Glow.
One of Jarreau's most commercially and artistically successful albums is Breakin' Away (1981), which includes the hit song "We're in This Love Together." He wrote and performed the Grammy-nominated theme to the 1980s American television show Moonlighting. Among other things, he is well-known for his scat singing and the ability to perfectly imitate conventional guitar, bass and percussive instrumentation. He was also a featured vocalist on USA for Africa's "We are the World" and sang the line, "...and so we all must lend a helping hand."
He has toured and performed with such greats as Joe Sample, Kathleen Battle, Miles Davis, David Sanborn and Rick Braun. He also performed the role of the Teen Angel in a 1996 Broadway production of Grease. On March 6, 2001 he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. His star is located at 7083 Hollywood Boulevard on the corner of Hollywood Boulevard and La Brea Avenue.
I Must Have Been a Fool
Al Jarreau Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There's no deceivin', there's no disguise
What you need is a what you want
You hide behind what you put up front
So we find ourselves together
I'm the only one to blame
What I thought would last forever
I must have been a fool
I must have broke some rule
Now I'm losing you to the wind
So I'm all alone with my yesterday, once again
I'm back to the bottom line
Sometimes love can make or break you
Can build you up or shake you down
If it?s real you don't need to fake it
If it?s not no need to hang around
If you're with me for a reason
The time has come to let me know
?Coz it seems your heart is freezin?
But you still don't wanna let me go
And you say no more rainy days
(So you say)
Go your way and you send me mine
(Go your way)
Too much too soon, was I too out of tune
With your plans
Too much too soon, too out of tune
With your plans
I must have been a fool
I must have broke some rule
Now I'm losing you to the wind
So I'm all alone with my yesterday, once again
I'm back to the bottom line
The song "I Must Have Been a Fool" by Al Jarreau is about the end of a love affair. The verses suggest that the singer believed in the relationship more than his partner did, and that he is now paying the price for being too invested. The first verse's lyrics "You hide behind what you put up front" indicate that the partner was not authentic or truthful about what she truly wanted or needed, leading to a breakup or separation. The chorus phrase "I must have been a fool" reflects the singer's self-blame and feelings of foolishness for investing so much in someone who turned out not to be fully committed to the relationship.
Through the lyrics, the singer also tries to encourage his partner to be honest about her feelings, whether to stay or to leave. The lines "If you're with me for a reason, the time has come to let me know" and "But you still don't wanna let me go" express how confused and helpless the singer feels, needing his partner's clarity on her feelings. The last verses mention that the singer is willing to be independent and walk away despite the pain of the breakup, knowing that he gave the relationship his all, but independence means being back to the "bottom line."
In conclusion, "I Must Have Been a Fool" is a sad and poignant song about a one-sided love affair that ends in heartbreak. It highlights the importance of openness, honesty, authenticity, and reciprocity in romantic relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
I can tell by the look in your eyes
From your eyes, I can sense your true feelings
There's no deceivin', there's no disguise
You're not trying to hide your true self
What you need is a what you want
You desire exactly what you require
You hide behind what you put up front
Your outward façade conceals your true nature
So we find ourselves together
Our relationship has led us to this moment
I'm the only one to blame
I accept fault for what has happened between us
What I thought would last forever
I expected our love to endure infinitely
Just another part of your game
Our relationship was merely a ploy used by you
I must have been a fool
I was naïve and gullible
I must have broke some rule
I probably violated some unspoken agreement between us
Now I'm losing you to the wind
You're disappearing from my life like the wind
So I'm all alone with my yesterday, once again
I'm left with only my memories of the past
I'm back to the bottom line
I'm back to where I began, with nothing to show for our relationship
Sometimes love can make or break you
Love can either help or harm you
Can build you up or shake you down
Love can either lift you up or bring you down
If it’s real you don't need to fake it
Authentic love does not require pretense
If it’s not no need to hang around
If there's no love, it's best to leave the relationship behind
If you're with me for a reason
If your presence in my life serves a purpose
The time has come to let me know
It's time to reveal your true motives
?Coz it seems your heart is freezin?
You appear to be emotionally distant
But you still don't wanna let me go
Despite that, you cling to our relationship
And you say no more rainy days
You promise to end the hardship and difficulty
(So you say)
You claim to be genuine with your words
Go your way and you send me mine
You want us to go our separate ways
(Go your way)
You emphasize your desire for us to go our separate ways
Too much too soon, was I too out of tune
Our relationship might have escalated too quickly for me
With your plans
Your goals for our relationship were not in alignment with mine
I must have been a fool
Once again, I was foolish
I must have broke some rule
I likely made another mistake
Now I'm losing you to the wind
Again, I'm losing you like the wind
So I'm all alone with my yesterday, once again
I'm left alone to deal with my own memories and feelings
I'm back to the bottom line
Back where I started with nothing to show for our relationship
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: B CHAMPLIN WILLIAM, DENNIS MATKOSKY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind