Newley had a successful pop music career, with two number one hits in 1960: "Why?" and "Do You Mind?". He won the 1963 Grammy Award for Song of the Year for "What Kind of Fool Am I", but he was also well-known for "Gonna Build a Mountain" and comic novelty songs such as his version of "Strawberry Fair". He wrote songs that others made hits including Goldfinger (the title song of the James Bond movie), and Feeling Good, which became a hit for Nina Simone. With Leslie Bricusse, he wrote the musical Stop the World - I Want to Get Off in which he also performed, earning a nomination for a Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Musical. His other musicals included The Roar of the Greasepaint—the Smell of the Crowd (1965) and Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971), based on the children's book by Roald Dahl. The play was released in a film version in 1971.
Newley's vocal style has been recognised as a major influence on that of David Bowie. In recognition of his creative skills and body of work, Newley was elected to the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1989.
The shortlived 1960 ATV series "The Strange World of Gurney Slade" in which Newley starred, continues to have a cult following due to its postmodern premise that the Newley character is trapped inside a television programme. Apart from a repeat of one episode on Channel 4 in 1992, it has not been seen in the UK in recent years. The show's theme tune by Max Harris may be better-known today than the series itself.
His last feature role in the cast of EastEnders was to be a regular role, but Newley had to withdraw after a few months when his health began to fail.
What Kind of Fool Am I
Anthony Newley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Who never fell in love
It seems that I'm the only one
That I have been thinking of
What kind of man is this
An empty shell
A lonely cell in which
What kind of lips are these
That lied with every kiss
That whispered empty words of love
That left me alone like this
Why can't I fall in love
Like any other man
And maybe then I'll know
What kind of fool I am
What kind of eyes are these
That could not see
What could be seen by everybody else but me
What kind of clown am I
What do I know of life
Why can't I cast away
This mask of play and live my life
Why can't I fall in love
Till I don't give a damn
And maybe then I'll know
What kind of fool I am
Anthony Newley's song "What Kind of Fool Am I" explores the inner turmoil of a man who has never been in love. The song starts with the man questioning himself as to why he has never fallen in love when it seems like everyone else has. He wonders whether he is a fool for never having experienced the emotions of being in love. He thinks about his empty heart and feels like an empty shell of a man who has no one to share his life with.
The second verse of the song focuses on the man's past relationships where he was lied to and left alone. He wonders why he was not able to see through the deceit in their words and actions. He feels like he has been played by the people he trusted and loved. The man questions himself as to why he can't fall in love like any regular man.
The song ends with the man finally acknowledging that he is a fool for not falling in love. He wants to take off his mask of play and live his life by experiencing the emotions of love that he has been missing out on for so long. Anthony Newley's "What Kind of Fool Am I" is a heartfelt plea of a man who longs for love and affection but has been denied it all his life.
Interesting Facts:
Line by Line Meaning
What kind of fool am I
What is wrong with me that I have never fallen in love?
Who never fell in love
I have never experienced the feeling of being in love.
It seems that I'm the only one
I am alone in this feeling of never having fallen in love.
That I have been thinking of
I spend a lot of time dwelling on my inability to love.
What kind of man is this
What kind of person am I?
An empty shell
I feel empty inside.
A lonely cell in which
My loneliness is like a prison.
An empty heart must dwell
My heart feels empty and unfulfilled.
What kind of lips are these
What kind of words have I spoken?
That lied with every kiss
I have deceived others with false expressions of love.
That whispered empty words of love
The words I spoke were meaningless and insincere.
That left me alone like this
My deceitful words have left me feeling alone.
Why can't I fall in love
What is wrong with me that I can't experience love?
Like any other man
Why can't I love in the same way that others do?
And maybe then I'll know
Perhaps if I experience love, I will understand myself better.
What kind of eyes are these
What have I failed to perceive?
That could not see
I have been blind to something that others see clearly.
What could be seen by everybody else but me
Others have seen something that I have missed.
What kind of clown am I
How foolish am I to have missed out on love?
What do I know of life
I feel incompetent to deal with life's challenges.
Why can't I cast away
Why can't I get rid of
This mask of play and live my life
This false persona I have created and live an authentic life.
Till I don't give a damn
Until I stop caring.
And maybe then I'll know
Perhaps only then will I understand myself.
What kind of fool I am
How foolish I was to have not allowed love into my life.
Lyrics © Kanjian Music
Written by: Anthony Newley, Leslie Bricusse
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@virghammer1
PS : Yes: Artist. ARTIST.
Unlike just about all the “artists” now 🙄 … (Ha ha lol). … Without sounding begrudging or anything… They may be somewhat decent, fairly competent performers… But they don’t know the meaning of the word and / in its true sense, a true Artist.
I’m just saying. That’s all. I say it without rancor. But one just has to be accurate about important, meaningful words like that. If you call all these poor schmuck “screaming weirdos “ - lol 😆 🤷♀️ - poor, freaky Twerking folk? imho, naturally- – lol – whatever… Nasal children who can’t write a song at all… lol — an “artist:” …. Well.
Then it degrades the word. And the colossal, magical effect that such a CREATOR: as Anthony Newley made/makes: on people.
An Artist: creates.
An Artist: doesn’t just: interpret.
An ARTIST: is able to create something new. Something original.
On a v., v., V. high Level: of hard-working: Q U A L I T Y. 🙏🏼 ✌🏽
So.
That’s all. ❤❤❤❤❤❤. … OK, folks: End of “rant!” Thx 🙏🏼 for reading. 👂 🙏🏼
Xo, VCH & Midlantic Theatre Co., Newark, NJ, US OF Bleeding A.
“(Lol.”). 🇺🇸 🙏🏼. Cheers, All: Bless us all, everyone, in this goofy 21st-century of ours! 🐸 🎭 🎥 ❤
@captaintanfastic
To all the detractors on here:
Tony Newley died in 1999. He was one of the most talented, creative, and prolific composers/actors/singers/writers ever to come out of the UK. I very much doubt if any of his detractors have even seen him perform, and are therefore hardly qualified to judge.
You've been watching Tony's cabaret version of What Kind of Fool Am I. He wrote the song. He sang it in the West End and on Broadway and in Las Vegas hundreds of times. I have witnessed and appreciated his talent in all these places.
In more intimate cabaret rooms, he felt he could relax a little and parody himself - all part of the entertainment, and very entertaining it was. He had a unique sense of humour which is clearly neither understood nor appreciated by some of the people who've been unkind enough to write abusive comments on this page.
You are of course all entitled to your views. So am I. His body of work has been amazing right from the time he played the Artful Dodger in 1948 and throughout his subsequent career. Other entertainers can only dream of equalling his achievements, and very few of them are ever likely to do so.
In my opinion, Tony Newley was a genius, and that's that.
@gabriellewarden6485
Along with his wonderful voice and unique personality he had a certain vulnerability which made him completely irresistible..........
@5micky2
A singer of the old school, oozing class. And he wrote it too. Frank Sinatra was great but he didn't write the songs he sang.
And Mr Newley was no one-hit wonder, he just kept producing one masterpiece after another. Brilliant.
@laineywright2696
David Bowie loved this singer and channeled Anthony's stylings into his own unique sound.
It's been so long since I heard Anthony sing... I completely forgot how fantastic Mr. Newly was.
@LordWilsonVILLA
Yes, he sang The Laughing Gnome in Anthony Newley style.
@susandonb58
I saw him live at a small outdoor theater in the round back in the 70s. He was wonderful. Brilliant artist.
@virghammer1
Ahhhh, Susan ! Wistfully jeeealous here … W o W …. 🙏🏼
@virghammer1
PS : Yes: Artist. ARTIST.
Unlike just about all the “artists” now 🙄 … (Ha ha lol). … Without sounding begrudging or anything… They may be somewhat decent, fairly competent performers… But they don’t know the meaning of the word and / in its true sense, a true Artist.
I’m just saying. That’s all. I say it without rancor. But one just has to be accurate about important, meaningful words like that. If you call all these poor schmuck “screaming weirdos “ - lol 😆 🤷♀️ - poor, freaky Twerking folk? imho, naturally- – lol – whatever… Nasal children who can’t write a song at all… lol — an “artist:” …. Well.
Then it degrades the word. And the colossal, magical effect that such a CREATOR: as Anthony Newley made/makes: on people.
An Artist: creates.
An Artist: doesn’t just: interpret.
An ARTIST: is able to create something new. Something original.
On a v., v., V. high Level: of hard-working: Q U A L I T Y. 🙏🏼 ✌🏽
So.
That’s all. ❤❤❤❤❤❤. … OK, folks: End of “rant!” Thx 🙏🏼 for reading. 👂 🙏🏼
Xo, VCH & Midlantic Theatre Co., Newark, NJ, US OF Bleeding A.
“(Lol.”). 🇺🇸 🙏🏼. Cheers, All: Bless us all, everyone, in this goofy 21st-century of ours! 🐸 🎭 🎥 ❤
@stephaniesadie832
And this, dear Millenials, is why the dross churned out by Simon Cowell's acts will all be forgotten in 50 years, and Anthony newly will still be here.
@jancolman3307
An incredible artist. We must remember him.
@danielbrown1366
Wonderful performance. The theatrics of hands, the suit, the awkwardness was really great - and then the end note....... 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻