What Kind of Fool Am I
Dean Martin Frank Sinatra & Sammy Davis Jr Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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" questions the singer's worth as a lover, a man, and as an individual. The singer wonders why he has never fallen in love and how it seems that he is the only one he has ever thought of. He then wonders what kind of man he is, an empty shell with an empty heart. The singer questions the lies he has been told and the empty words of love that left him alone. He is trying to understand why he cannot fall in love like any other man, and through that perhaps understand the kind of fool he really is.
In the subsequent verse, the singer goes on to ask what kind of clown he is, not knowing much about life, and why he can't cast away the mask of play and simply live his life. The refrain repeats both that question and the earlier question of what kind of fool he is. The whole song is a questioning of the meaning of life and the singer's place in it.
Line by Line Meaning
What kind of fool am I
What is wrong with me?
Who never fell in love
Why haven't I been able to find love?
It seems that I'm the only one
I am alone in my thoughts and feelings.
That I have been thinking of
My mind is always consumed by my lack of love.
What kind of man is this?
What kind of person am I?
An empty shell
I feel hollow inside.
A lonely cell in which
My loneliness is like a prison.
An empty heart must dwell
My heart is devoid of emotions.
What kind of lips are these
Why do I say things I don't mean?
That lied with every kiss
I have misled others with false affection.
That whispered empty words of love
My words of love were not sincere.
That left me alone like this
My actions have caused my loneliness.
Why can't I fall in love
What is preventing me from experiencing love?
Like any other man
Why can't love come naturally for me?
And maybe then I'll know what kind of fool I am.
Finding love may provide clarity for me.
What kind of clown am I?
Am I just a joke?
What do I know of life?
Do I truly understand the meaning of life?
Why can't I cast away the mask of play
Why do I use humor and play to hide my pain?
And live my life?
Am I truly living or just existing?
Till I don't give a damn
When will I stop caring about my inability to find love?
And maybe then I'll know what kind of fool I am
Perhaps being indifferent will provide insight about myself.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
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