A member of the National Youth Jazz Orchestra during her youth, Winehouse signed to Simon Fuller's 19 Management in 2002 and soon recorded a number of songs before signing a publishing deal with EMI. She also formed a working relationship with producer Salaam Remi through these record publishers. Winehouse's debut album, Frank, was released in 2003. Many of the album's songs were influenced by jazz and, apart from two covers, were co-written by Winehouse. Frank was a critical success in the UK and was nominated for the Mercury Prize. The song "Stronger Than Me" won her the Ivor Novello Award for Best Contemporary Song from the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors.
Winehouse released her follow-up album, Back to Black, in 2006, which went on to become an international success and one of the best-selling albums in UK history. At the 2007 Brit Awards it was nominated for British Album of the Year, and she received the award for British Female Solo Artist. The song "Rehab" won her a second Ivor Novello Award. At the 50th Grammy Awards in 2008, she won five awards, tying the then record for the most wins by a female artist in a single night and becoming the first British woman to win five Grammys, including three of the General Field "Big Four" Grammy Awards: Best New Artist, Record of the Year and Song of the Year (for "Rehab"), as well as Best Pop Vocal Album.
Winehouse was plagued by drug and alcohol addiction. She died of alcohol poisoning on 23 July 2011, at the age of 27. After her death, Back to Black temporarily became the UK's best-selling album of the 21st century. VH1 ranked Winehouse 26th on their list of the 100 Greatest Women in Music.
Fool
Amy Winehouse Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That her man will leave his mark on her hand
He's not all he seems
But she's seen a dress, she has the flowers planned
Now she won't be happy
Till she look down and sees the engagement ring
It's for security
But she will be waiting years for her wedding
[Chorus]
For me it ain't real
It's fools gold
There too many fools sold
Not an excuse oh
For me it ain't real
It's fools gold
I don't hear everything I'm told
He won't change her life
He just chasing tail
And wasting her time
She calls herself his wife
He calls her at 8 says be here by 9
She don't notice how when she gets the ring
It's not a good fit
So next time that they row
She throws it out
It goes to the last girl he hit
[Chorus]
So take the gold you find
And for your own sake
Hold it in your hand
Now make sure you bite down
And watch your tooth don't break on that wedding band
For me it ain't real
It's fools gold
There too many fools sold
Not an excuse oh
For me it ain't real
Yes it's fools gold
The song Fool's Gold by Amy Winehouse is a cautionary tale about a woman who wants nothing more than to have a ring on her finger. She sits at home dreaming about the engagement ring that she believes will bring her security and happiness, all while ignoring the red flags that her partner is continuously displaying. Her partner isn't all he seems, and he won't change her life nor make her happy. He's just using her as a placeholder while he chases other women, wasting her time, and eventually leading her to throw the ring out after their next argument.
The song's lyrics show how the woman in the song is blinded by the idea of a relationship and marriage while ignoring her partner's constant warning signs. The end result is her losing her ring and realizing that it wasn't worth the wait because it was never real to begin with. The catchy chorus reinforces this idea, with the repeated phrase "For me it ain't real, it's fools gold." The song delivers a powerful message to listeners that they must be careful not to fall for the false promises of a relationship that will never deliver on its promises.
Line by Line Meaning
She sits home and dreams
The woman spends her time daydreaming about a future with her man.
That her man will leave his mark on her hand
She hopes that he will propose, and she will have an engagement ring to show off.
He's not all he seems
The man is not trustworthy, and he has many flaws.
But she's seen a dress, she has the flowers planned
Despite the red flags, she continues to plan her upcoming wedding as a way to deceive herself.
Now she won't be happy
Her happiness is dependent on the man’s commitment to her.
Till she looks down and sees the engagement ring
She believes that the ring will symbolize the man's love and commitment to her.
It's for security
She wants the engagement and wedding band as security for her future.
But she will be waiting years for her wedding
The man will not commit to a wedding any time soon.
[Chorus] For me, it ain't real It's fool's gold
The woman realizes that the love she seeks is not genuine.
There are too many fools sold Not an excuse oh
The woman acknowledges that others have made the same mistake leveraging other’s deceit.
I don't hear everything I'm told
The woman is acknowledging that she is not actively listening to others' advice.
He won't change her life
The man does not have the potential to bring excitedly positive changes to her life.
He's just chasing tail
The man is given to his desires, both physical and sexual, maintaining himself to be unfaithful.
And wasting her time
The woman is wasting her time waiting and hoping for a change in the man.
She calls herself his wife
The woman has deluded herself into thinking that she is already married to the man.
He calls her at 8 says be here by 9
The man is giving his woman little notice and control over the time they spend together.
She doesn't notice how when she gets the ring
The woman does not realize that the ring she wears is a wrong fit for her finger.
It's not a good fit
The ring does not suit the woman and she is likely settling.
So next time that they row
If or when they fight again,
She throws it out
she may throw out the engagement ring.
It goes to the last girl he hit
The engagement ring may have a bad history as it was from the last girl who was hit by her man.
[Chorus] For me, it ain't real It's fool's gold
The woman understands that the immediate gratification of being engaged or married is not worth the negative future consequences.
Yes, it's fool's gold
The woman emphatically repeats this understanding.
So take the gold you find
The woman advises others to be cautious and prudent as they search for relationships
And for your own sake
For their own benefit.
Hold it in your hand
Handle and evaluate it thoroughly before making decisions.
Now make sure you bite down
Make sure to test its authenticity and real value.
And watch your tooth don't break on that wedding band
Moreover, watch out not to lose yourself in the desire to be married, adopting consequences that would impair one's dignity.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: AMY WINEHOUSE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind