Yvette Marie Stevens (born March 23, 1953), better known as Chaka Khan, and… Read Full Bio ↴Yvette Marie Stevens (born March 23, 1953), better known as Chaka Khan, and frequently referred to as the "Queen of Funk", is a 10-time Grammy Award winning American singer-songwriter from Chicago, Illinois who gained fame in the 1970s as the frontwoman and focal point of the funk band Rufus.

In 1964, at the age of 11, Khan formed her first musical group, the Crystalettes. While still in high school, she joined the Afro-Arts Theater, a group which toured with Motown great Mary Wells; a few years later, she adopted the African name Chaka Khan while working on the Black Panthers' breakfast program. After quitting high school in 1969, Khan joined the group Lyfe, soon exiting to join another dance band, the Babysitters — neither was on the fast track to success, but her fortunes changed when she teamed with ex-American Breed member Kevin Murphy and Andre Fisher to form Rufus.

Debuting in 1973 with a self-titled effort on the ABC label, Rufus was among the preeminent funk groups of the decade. Distinguished by Khan's dynamic vocals, the group earned half a dozen gold or platinum albums.

While still a member of the group in 1978, Khan embarked on a successful solo career. Her signature hits, both with Rufus and solo, include "Tell Me Something Good", "Sweet Thing", "Ain't Nobody", "I'm Every Woman", "I Feel for You" and "Through the Fire".

Foolish Fool
Chaka Khan Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Foolish, foolish, foolish, foolish, foolish
Fool
If she thinks that she, can take you from me
She got to be a foolish, foolish, foolish, foolish, foolish
Foolish, foolish, fool

She's crazy, crazy, crazy, crazy, crazy, girl
If she thinks that she, can destroy my world

she got to be a crazy, crazy, crazy, crazy, crazy, crazy, crazy girl

My love for you, is too strong
We been together for oh too long
I told my mother, and father too
I'd give them both up, before I lose you

She got to be foolish, foolish, foolish, foolish, foolish
Foolish, fool

If she thinks that she, can take you from me
She's got to be crazy, crazy, crazy, crazy
Crazy, crazy girl

I told my mother, my father too
I'd give them both up, I'd give them both up
Before I lose you
She's got to be crazy
My, my she's foolish
She's crazy, crazy, crazy, crazy
Foolish, foolish, foolish, foolish
She's a fool to think that she can take you from me

She's got to be crazy, crazy
My, my, my

Overall Meaning

Chaka Khan's Foolish Fool is a song about a woman who is fiercely protective of her man, who she fears might be taken away by another woman. In the song, she describes the other woman as foolish for thinking that she can have her man, and crazy for thinking that she can destroy her world. She has been with her man for too long, and her love for him is too strong to give him up for anyone else.

The song is a classic example of a soulful, bluesy ballad that is fueled by the power of the singer's emotions. Khan's voice is full of passion and conviction as she sings about the depth of her love, and the lengths to which she is willing to go to protect it. The lyrics are simple but effective, using repetition and rhythmic phrasing to create a hypnotic effect that draws the listener into the emotional depth of the song.

Overall, Foolish Fool is a powerful ode to the strength of love, and the power of a woman's will to fight for what she believes in. It is a song that speaks to the power of human emotions, and the ability of music to tap into the deepest parts of ourselves.

Line by Line Meaning

Foolish, foolish, foolish, foolish, foolish
Reiteration is used to emphasize how foolish the person is

Fool
Addressing the foolish person

If she thinks that she, can take you from me
The singer is warning someone who is trying to steal her partner

She got to be a foolish, foolish, foolish, foolish, foolish Foolish, foolish, fool
Reiteration is used to emphasize how foolish the person is

She's crazy, crazy, crazy, crazy, crazy, girl
The singer is using reiteration to emphasize how crazy the person is

If she thinks that she, can destroy my world
The singer is warning someone who is trying to ruin her life

she got to be a crazy, crazy, crazy, crazy, crazy, crazy, crazy girl
The singer is emphasizing the craziness of the person

My love for you, is too strong
The singer is expressing her strong love for her partner

We been together for oh too long
The singer mentions how long they have been together

I told my mother, and father too I'd give them both up, before I lose you
The singer is willing to sacrifice her family for her partner

I told my mother, my father too I'd give them both up, I'd give them both up Before I lose you
The singer is committed to not losing her partner

She's got to be foolish, foolish, foolish, foolish, foolish Foolish, fool
Reiteration is used to emphasize how foolish the person is

She's got to be crazy, crazy, crazy, crazy Crazy, crazy girl
The singer is emphasizing the craziness of the person

She's a fool to think that she can take you from me She's got to be crazy, crazy
The singer reiterates that the person is foolish and crazy for trying to come between her and her partner

My, my, my
An expression of frustration or disbelief

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ED TOWNSEND

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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