Richard "Billy" Vaughn was a singer, multi-instrumentalist and orchestra le… Read Full Bio ↴Richard "Billy" Vaughn was a singer, multi-instrumentalist and orchestra leader.

He was born in Glasgow, Kentucky, where his father was a barber who loved music and inspired Billy to teach himself to play the mandolin at age 3, while suffering a case of the measles. He went on to learn a number of other instruments.

In 1941, Vaughn joined the United States National Guard for what had been planned as a one-year assignment, but when World War II broke out, he was sent abroad till the war ended in 1945. He decided to make music a career when he was discharged from the army at the end of the war, and attended Western Kentucky State College, now known as Western Kentucky University, majoring in music composition. He had apparently learned barbering from his father, because he did some while studying at Western Kentucky to support himself financially, when he was not able to get jobs playing the piano at local night clubs and lounges. While he was a student there, three other students, Jimmy Sacca, Donald McGuire and Seymour Spiegelman, who had formed a vocal trio, The Hilltoppers, recruited Vaughn to play the piano with them. He soon added his voice to theirs, converting the trio to a quartet. As a member of the group, he also wrote their first hit song, Trying, which charted in 1952.

In 1954 he left the group to join Dot Records in Gallatin, Tennessee as music director. He subsequently formed his own orchestra, which had a big hit in that same year with Melody of Love. He went on to have many more hits over the next decade and a half, and based purely on chart successes, was the most successful orchestra leader of all time.

A Fool Such As I
Billy Vaughn Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Pardon me if I'm sentimental when we say goodbye
Don't be angry with me should I cry
When you're gone, yet I'll dream a little dream as years go by
Now and then there's a fool such as I

Now and then there's a fool such as I am over you
You taught me how to love and now you say that we are through
I'm a fool but I'll love you dear until the day I die

Now and then there's a fool such as I

Now and then there's a fool such as I am over you
You taught me how to love and now you say that we are through

I'm a fool but I'll love you dear until the day I die
Now and then there's a fool such as I

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of the song "A Fool Such as I" by Billy Vaughn are about a man who is saying goodbye to the one he loves. He is feeling sentimental and emotional as they part ways, and he apologizes if he appears to be overly emotional. However, he cannot help but cry because he will miss her so much. Although he knows he will eventually move on with his life, he will always carry a little dream of her with him as the years go by. Despite his heartache, he acknowledges that there are fools like him who fall in love easily.

The man confesses that he became a "fool" when he fell in love with the woman, but she taught him how to love. Despite her decision to end their relationship, he knows he will always love her until the end of his life. He recognizes that there are always fools like him who love unconditionally, even when it hurts.

The lyrics are poignant and heartfelt, painting a vivid picture of love and loss. They remind the listener that falling in love and being hurt are all part of the human experience. The song is a classic love ballad that has stood the test of time, resonating with generations of listeners.

Line by Line Meaning

Pardon me if I'm sentimental when we say goodbye
Please don't mind if I get emotional when it's time to say goodbye

Don't be angry with me should I cry
Please don't be upset with me if I shed some tears

When you're gone, yet I'll dream a little dream as years go by
Even when you're gone, I'll still cherish dreams of you as the years pass by

Now and then there's a fool such as I
Every once in a while, someone like me is foolishly in love

Now and then there's a fool such as I am over you
Occasionally, someone like me falls foolishly in love with someone like you

You taught me how to love and now you say that we are through
You showed me what love is, but now you want to end our relationship

I'm a fool but I'll love you dear until the day I die
I may be a fool, but I'll love you until the end of my life

Now and then there's a fool such as I
Every once in a while, someone like me is foolishly in love

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: William Marvin Trader

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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