Pitney, a pop rock pioneer, had his greatest success overall in Britain, first travelling there after his first self penned hit in 1961. "I Wanna Love My Life Away" hit #26 on the UK singles chart & just broke into the top 40 in the US.
His early music recorded for the "musicor" label was romantic, lonely and dramatic, fitting in alongside contemporaries like Buddy Holly, Neil Sedaka, Roy Orbison & serves as an audio time capsule of a more innocent time.
Gene Pitney - Yesterday's Hero...
Gene was a Brill Building songwriter who even before his singing career took off, had written one of Ricky Nelson's biggest hits "Hello Mary Lou". He had been helped out initially in his career by Burt Bacharach & Hal David, and later recorded some of their songs which became big hits like "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance" and the classic "Only Love Can Break A Heart". At the time his "Only Love..." recording was a #2 chart hit, he had written the number 1 song that week; "He's A Rebel" (A Phil Spector production recorded by The Crystals). All in all Pitney himself recorded 16 top 40 songs in the US from 1961 to 1968.
Gene's biggest popularity was in England, where he used the Rolling Stones publicist Andrew Loog Oldham to get his fame established, which lasted there to the day of his death. In the UK, Gene had 40 top-40 charting hits through 1974. He finally hit #1 in the UK in 1990, performing a duet with Marc Almond of Soft Cell. Pitney died April 5 on tour in 2006. He was found by his tour manager fully clothed on his bed at a Hilton Hotel in Cardiff , shortly after performing a concert.
Fool Killer
Gene Pitney Lyrics
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And he ran away 'cause he felt life was cruel
A killer of fools was walking close behind him
The boy was afraid that he'd be thought a fool
Oh the fool killer is a giant they say
He chops down a fool and he goes on his way
Better runaway boy was a runaway boy
So, he claimed the hills and roamed the woods and valleys
Just get up and go became his golden rule
A killer of fools was walking in the shadows
The boy was afraid that he'd be thought a fool
Then there came a day a man and woman found him
Lovingly they smiled and then they called him son
No more did he fear that wicked old fool killer
I know that it's true because I was the one
Oh the fool killer is a giant they say
He chops down a fool and he goes on his way
Well who was the fool tell me the boy in his bed
Or the boy who used to roam
Runaway boy listen, runaway boy better go on home
The song Fool Killer by Gene Pitney tells the story of a boy who, feeling disillusioned and mistreated, runs away from home into the woods. The boy is haunted by the fear of being considered a fool, and a mythological creature known as the Fool Killer follows him wherever he goes. The Fool Killer is described as a giant figure who chops down fools and moves on. The boy's fear is palpable, and he runs as fast as he can to escape the killer's threat.
The boy lives alone in the woods, claiming the hills and valleys as his own, and the only rule he has is to get up and go. The Fool Killer still follows him, lurking in the shadows, and the boy remains terrified of being considered a fool. One day, a man and a woman find him and embrace him, calling him son. In that moment, the boy's fear dissipates, and he no longer feels threatened by the Fool Killer. He realizes that he's no fool; he's simply a lost boy in search of love and acceptance.
The song Fool Killer is a poignant and thought-provoking commentary on the fear of being an outsider and the lengths that some people go to avoid being considered foolish. It also touches on the need for love and acceptance, and the healing power of being welcomed into a family. The Fool Killer is a metaphor for the fear that haunts so many people, and the song encourages listeners to embrace their own sense of self-worth and search for their place in the world.
Line by Line Meaning
Once there was a boy who left the bed he slept in
There was a boy who decided to leave his comfortable life behind and venture out into the world.
And he ran away 'cause he felt life was cruel
He left because he thought the world was tough and unforgiving.
A killer of fools was walking close behind him
He was afraid of being seen as foolish and vulnerable.
The boy was afraid that he'd be thought a fool
He didn't want to be seen as naive or foolish by others.
Oh the fool killer is a giant they say
The ‘fool killer’ is a metaphor for the harsh realities of life that can destroy people who are not careful.
He chops down a fool and he goes on his way
The killer of foolishness destroys people who are not careful but then moves on.
Better runaway boy was a runaway boy
The boy was better off leaving his privileged life behind.
Very much like you
The boy and the listener have something in common, perhaps a sense of restlessness and a desire for adventure?
So, he claimed the hills and roamed the woods and valleys
The boy decided to explore the world and take on new adventures.
Just get up and go became his golden rule
He decided to live his life following only the motto of exploring and being constantly on the move.
A killer of fools was walking in the shadows
The idea of harsh realities and dangers of the world was always present in his mind.
Then there came a day a man and woman found him
Eventually, the boy met kind people who guided him in the right direction.
Lovingly they smiled and then they called him son
He found people who loved him and provided him with a sense of belonging.
No more did he fear that wicked old fool killer
He no longer had to worry about the dangers of the world because he had support and security.
I know that it's true because I was the one
The singer is revealing that he himself was the once wayward boy who found his place in the world.
Well who was the fool tell me the boy in his bed
The song is questioning the notion of being foolish or brave in life, and calls into question the idea of following the status quo.
Or the boy who used to roam
Instead, the song glorifies the notion of exploring, taking risks and finding one's true place in the world.
Runaway boy listen, runaway boy better go on home
The song ends with the idea of finding a true sense of home, whether it's in a physical place or within oneself.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: BURT BACHARACH, HAL DAVID
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind