Foolin' Myself
Billie Holiday and Teddy Wilson & His Orchestra Lyrics

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I try to keep you out of my heart
But somehow I find
Trying to keep you out of my heart
I'm out of my mind
I tell myself "I'm through with you
And I'll having nothing more to do with you"
I stay away, but every day
I'm just foolin myself

Tell my friends that I don't care
I shrug my shoulders at the whole affair
But all know it isn't so
I'm just foolin myself

And every time I pass
And see my face in a looking glass
I tip my hat and say
"How do you do, you fool
You're trowing your life away"
I'm acting gay
I'm acting proud
And every time I see you in a crowd
I may pretend

But in the end
I'm just fooling myself

Overall Meaning

In "Foolin' Myself," Billie Holiday and Lester Young sing about the difficulty in letting go of a loved one. Although the singer tries to convince herself that she is over her former love, she finds that she cannot keep him out of her mind or heart. She tells herself and her friends that she is through with him, but she knows deep down that she is only fooling herself.

The song's lyrics are introspective and personal, as the singer grapples with her own feelings of heartbreak and denial. The use of repetition in the chorus emphasizes her struggle to come to terms with her emotions. The metaphor of looking in the mirror and tipping her hat to her reflection highlights the personal nature of the song's reflection and the sense of isolation that the singer feels.

Overall, "Foolin' Myself" deals with themes of love, loss, and the struggle to move on. The song's intimate lyrics and jazzy melody capture the emotions of the singers and express the challenges of coping with heartbreak in a relatable and honest way.

Line by Line Meaning

I try to keep you out of my heart
I attempt to prevent you from getting inside my heart

But somehow I find
Despite my efforts, I still let you get in

Trying to keep you out of my heart
Continuing with my attempt to keep you out of my heart

I'm out of my mind
I have lost all sense of logic in regards to you

I tell myself 'I'm through with you
I try to convince myself that I am finished with you

And I'll having nothing more to do with you'
I plan to cut all ties with you

I stay away, but every day
I avoid you, but my desire for you remains constant

I'm just foolin myself
I am lying to myself

Tell my friends that I don't care
I inform my friends that I am not upset

I shrug my shoulders at the whole affair
I maintain an indifferent attitude about the whole situation

But all know it isn't so
Everyone knows that I am pretending

And every time I pass
Every instance I walk by

And see my face in a looking glass
I catch a glimpse of my reflection in a mirror

I tip my hat and say
I greet myself and acknowledge reality

'How do you do, you fool
I address myself as a fool

You're trowing your life away'
I acknowledge that my obsession with you is leading to my own ruin

I'm acting gay
I am pretending to be lighthearted

I'm acting proud
I am pretending to be dignified

And every time I see you in a crowd
Whenever I come across you in public

I may pretend
I may act like it doesn't bother me

But in the end
Ultimately

I'm just fooling myself
I am still lying to myself

Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JACK LAWRENCE, PETER TINTURIN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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Comments from YouTube:

da19lila38

14y↑1

Wonderful music, marvelous musicians, divine and sinful Billy Holliday! ! I am always on the verge of tears when I hear her inimitable voice. No one can sing like her. And her touching friendship with Lester Young...