Fool's Gold
Briston Maroney Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

I hate to say it, but I think I'm getting too old
The conversations that my mind won't even let me hold
Your attention isn't worth my weight in fool's gold
Wanna let go, can I let go?
Started talking and you couldn't look in my eyes
Told me stories 'bout you drinking on the 4th of July
Every little truth, it turned into a big lie
Why do I try? Why do I try?

If I hold my breath 'til I fall asleep
Will it be there when I wake?

Maybe we can take some time
Move out west where we can do this right
Broken clock still keeps the time
Who says I've got to stay in a line?
I'm so sick of these city lights
Everything here's black and white
I don't know where I went wrong
But I surely did tonight

It just me or is this music playing too loud?
All the kids dressed in black really getting me down
Mother warned about hanging with the wrong crowd
Gotta get out, gotta get out
Don't give a fuck if you intended to ignore me
Wish that I could close my eyes and just go back to sleep
That's your best friend and she's passed out in the backseat
She needs you more than me

If I fall asleep with my hands held tight
They'd be there when I wake

Maybe we can take some time
Move out west where we can do this right
Broken clock still keeps the time
Who says I've got to stay in a line?
I'm so sick of these city lights
Everything here's black and white
And she's calling me to bed
But I will not sleep tonight

I have a tendency to overthink in my head
Let's just listen to some music and go back to bed




Probably didn't hear a single word that I said
Just forget it til the morn

Overall Meaning

The song "Fool's Gold," by Briston Maroney, talks about feeling out of place and disconnected in society. The opening verses tell us that the singer feels like he's getting too old - like he's reached a point where he can no longer hold meaningful conversations with people. He also feels like his efforts to connect with others are not worth the time or energy, like he's trading his worth for fool's gold. The bridge provides solutions to his problems: he suggests taking some time and moving out west to do things right, rejecting the idea that he has to follow a predetermined path. He's tired of being surrounded by the monotony of city life, where everything is black and white.


In the next verse, the singer seems to be at a party surrounded by people - children and his friend's drunk girlfriend are mentioned - but he still feels lonely and disconnected. He knows he's hanging out with the wrong crowd, and he can't escape the noise and the darkness that follows him. The last few lines suggest that he's not looking for a big solution to his problems. All he wants is to listen to some music and forget about his anxieties.


The lyrics' theme in "Fool's Gold" is a feeling of being disconnected from the world, the monotony of life, and the need to break free from what is safe and conventional. Briston Maroney worries about being unable to hold meaningful conversations and the fear of missing out on what life offers. It's a confession about the uneasiness of a generation that is lost in the tricky balance of having too much but at the same time, having nothing at all.


Line by Line Meaning

I hate to say it, but I think I'm getting too old
The artist acknowledges that he is reaching an age where certain thoughts and conversations seem to be beyond him.


The conversations that my mind won't even let me hold
The artist finds himself unable to engage in certain conversations or thoughts reflecting a possible sense of disconnect with his environment.


Your attention isn't worth my weight in fool's gold
The artist feels that the value he puts on himself surpasses that which he perceives he is being offered, likening the worth of the attention provided to minor trinkets.


Wanna let go, can I let go?
The artist attempts to distance himself emotionally from an undesired situation and wonders whether he is capable of doing so.


Started talking and you couldn't look in my eyes
The artist observes that his conversation partner has difficulty being honest or transparent with him and therefore cannot maintain eye contact.


Told me stories 'bout you drinking on the 4th of July
The artist is exposed to tales of revelry and indulgence in America's Independence holiday but suspects these tales to be exaggerated or false.


Every little truth, it turned into a big lie
The artist feels that the trust he placed on others has been continually betrayed culminating in significant falsehood.


Why do I try? Why do I try?
The artist questions his continued efforts to make a relationship work that appears to be failing.


If I hold my breath 'til I fall asleep Will it be there when I wake?
The artist posits whether certain aspirations or goals he has can ever be realized if he is unwilling to take action or risks.


Maybe we can take some time Move out west where we can do this right Broken clock still keeps the time Who says I've got to stay in a line?
The artist proposes radical change and upheaval, moving to another part of the country and rejecting what others consider the norm in a bid to seek authenticity.


I'm so sick of these city lights Everything here's black and white I don't know where I went wrong But I surely did tonight
The artist expresses his disdain for city life and its supposed lack of vibrancy and spontaneity. Simultaneously, he is regretful about the current state of his relationship.


It just me or is this music playing too loud? All the kids dressed in black really getting me down Mother warned about hanging with the wrong crowd Gotta get out, gotta get out
The artist feels overwhelmed by his current surroundings wherein he is bombarded by loud and garish sound and color. He becomes apprehensive that he is being influenced by the negative energy around him, mindful of the warnings his mother gave about associates he should not be with.


Don't give a fuck if you intended to ignore me Wish that I could close my eyes and just go back to sleep That's your best friend and she's passed out in the backseat She needs you more than me
The artist is angry and frustrated that he is being ignored, hoping to escape from his current situation. He becomes alarmed when he discovers that his partner's friend is in a compromising situation and seeks his partner's help.


If I fall asleep with my hands held tight They'd be there when I wake
The artist seeks comfort in a position of vulnerability, hoping he will wake up with his hands still held tightly.


And she's calling me to bed But I will not sleep tonight
Despite being summoned to go to bed, the artist is lying awake, unable to rest and grapples with his inner conflicts.


I have a tendency to overthink in my head Let's just listen to some music and go back to bed Probably didn't hear a single word that I said Just forget it til the morn
The artist acknowledges his propensity for overthinking and instead of focusing on his problems and relationship worries, proposes to listen to music and retire to bed. He suspects that his partner did not understand him during the earlier conversation and urges her to forget about it until the morning.




Contributed by David L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@chloeford6971

Lyrics:

I hate to say it, but I think I'm getting too old
The conversations that my mind won't even let me hold
Your attention isn't worth my weight in fool's gold
Wanna let go, can I let go?
Started talking and you couldn't look in my eyes
Told me stories 'bout you drinking on the 4th of July
Every little truth, it turned into a big lie
Why do I try? Why do I try?
If I hold my breath 'til I fall asleep
Will it be there when I wake?
Maybe we can take some time
Move out west where we can do this right
Broken clock still keeps the time
Who says I've got to stay in a line?
I'm so sick of these city lights
Everything here's black and white
I don't know where I went wrong
But I surely did tonight
It just me or is this music playing too loud?
All the kids dressed in black really getting me down
Mother warned about hanging with the wrong crowd
Gotta get out, gotta get out
Don't give a fuck if you intended to ignore me
Wish that I could close my eyes and just go back to sleep
That's your best friend and she's passed out in the backseat
She needs you more than me
If I fall asleep with my hands held tight
They'd be there when I wake
Maybe we can take some time
Move out west where we can do this right
Broken clock still keeps the time
Who says I've got to stay in a line?
I'm so sick of these city lights
Everything here's black and white
And she's calling me to bed
But I will not sleep tonight
I have a tendency to overthink in my head
Let's just listen to some music and go back to bed
Probably didn't hear a single word that I said
Just forget it 'til the morn



All comments from YouTube:

@P03333

This could quite possibly be the best song ever written

@evelyngrace9404

I seriously have never heard a more true statement

@rebekahdoyel7885

some of y’all haven’t sobbed to this song and it shows

@reaganmullins1710

music isn't supposed to be this good

@Epileptick0

Yes it is. It used to be this good all the time. The only reason it's good again is because humans are starting to notice again.

@zacharyhambright2241

You worded it perfect

@sosukestudios8929

This is EXACTLY how good music should always be

@riparonishaqaroni6322

Why so underrated??? This my new favorite artist just sayin

@dabordietrying

it's a good thing i think. you'll get to say you've been here since day 1 and actually be telling the truth. that's a good feeling

@cloudnineunicorn1365

im so glad i discovered u man

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