What Kind of Fool Am I
Dean Martin/Frank Sinatra/Sammy Davis JR/The ratpack Lyrics
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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 clown am I?
What do I know of life?
Why can't I cast away the 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
The song “What kind of fool Am I” by the Rat Pack (Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis JR) is a song that speaks about the loneliness one feels when in pursuit of love. Theopening line “What kind of fool am I who never fell in love” sets the tone for the entire song, highlighting the sense of emptiness that comes when one is constantly looking for love and never finding it. The singer is questioning if something is wrong with them, given that they are constantly unsuccessful in their pursuit of love.
The second verse speaks about the emotional void the singer feels within themselves. They describe themselves as “an empty shell,” feeling as if they are nothing without love. This sense of emptiness is echoed in the final verse, where the singer describes themselves as a clown, “casting away the mask of play” to confront the true pain of loneliness. The final line of the song mentions that maybe the singer will know what kind of fool they are if they can fall in love and “not give a damn.” The song is a timeless message about the human need for love and the pain that can come when this need goes unfulfilled.
Line by Line Meaning
What kind of fool am I
Inexperienced in love and unsure of how to go about it
Who never fell in love
Has never experienced true love
It seems that I'm the only one
Feels like the only one without experience in love
That I have been thinking of
Has been consumed with thoughts of love and longing
What kind of man is this?
A man who is loveless
An empty shell
Feels hollow and meaningless inside
A lonely cell in which
Feels trapped and isolated in this state of being
An empty heart must dwell
Feels like there is no room for love in their life
What kind of lips are these
A person who has been dishonest with their words of love
That lied with every kiss
Each time they expressed love it was a lie
That whispered empty words of love
Said things that they didn't mean just to appease their partner
That left me alone like this
Their deceit has caused feelings of isolation and loneliness
Why can't I fall in love
Asks themselves why they haven't been able to find love
Like any other man
Wonders why it seems so easy for others
And maybe then I'll know what kind of fool I am.
Feels like finding love will help them understand themselves better
What kind of clown am I?
Feels like they're a joke when it comes to love
What do I know of life?
Feels inexperienced and unprepared for love
Why can't I cast away the mask of play
Wonders why they feel the need to put up a façade in relationships
And live my life?
Wants to be honest with themselves and with others about their feelings
Till I don't give a damn
When they stop caring about the opinions of others or the fear of rejection
And maybe then I'll know what kind of fool I am
Hopes that by opening themselves up to love without fear, they will find clarity about themselves
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
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