A Fool Such As I
Jo Stafford (born Jo Elizabeth Stafford, 12 November 1917, in Coalinga, Cal… Read Full Bio ↴Jo Stafford (born Jo Elizabeth Stafford, 12 November 1917, in Coalinga, California and died July 16, 2008 at Century City, California) was an American jazz and big band singer whose career spanned the late 1930s through the early 1960s. She was known especially as a fond favorite of name bandleaders during World War II and in the years immediately after. Stafford was greatly admired for the purity of her voice and was considered one of the most versatile vocalists of the era. Even now, hers are widely held as the supreme versions of jazz standards "It Could Happen to You" and "Blue Moon." She sang with male partners on occasion, including Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby. She was also considered a pioneer of modern musical parody, having won a Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album in 1961 (with husband Paul Weston) for their album Jonathan and Darlene Edwards in Paris.

A Fool Such As I
Jo Stafford Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

(Now and then there's a fool such as I)

Pardon me, if I'm sentimental
When we say goodbye
Don't be angry with me should I cry
When you're gone, yet I'll dream
A little dream as years go by
Now and then there's a fool such as I

Now and then there's a fool such as I am over you
You taught me how to love and now
You say that we are through
I'm a fool, but I'll love you dear
Until the day I die
Now and then there's a fool such as I

Now and then there's a fool such as I am over you
You taught me how to love
And now you say that we are through
I'm a fool, but I'll love you dear
Until the day I die
Now and then there's a fool such as I




Now and then there's a fool such as I
Now and then there's a fool such as I

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "A Fool Such as I" by Jo Stafford are about the pain of heartbreak and how sometimes we become foolish in love. The first few lines show the sadness and emotion that come with saying goodbye to a loved one. The song acknowledges that crying and feeling sad after a break-up is common and nothing to be ashamed of. Despite this pain, the singer holds onto the hope of love and the possibility of dreaming about their former love in the years to come.


The chorus speaks to the main theme of the song: the foolishness of loving someone who has decided to leave. The singer admits that they are a fool for continuing to love someone who has already let them go. However, this foolishness is also a part of the human experience of love. The song emphasizes that even when someone is hurt, they can still hold onto love and hope for a future with their former love. The repeated line, "now and then there's a fool such as I," suggests that the experience of heartbreak and foolishness in love is universal and happens to everyone at some point.


Overall, "A Fool Such as I" is a reflection on the pain of heartbreak and the human tendency to hold onto love, even when it is no longer reciprocated. The song acknowledges the foolishness of this behavior, but also celebrates the power of love and its ability to endure even in difficult times.


Line by Line Meaning

(Now and then there's a fool such as I)
Occasionally, there are individuals like myself that act foolishly


Pardon me, if I'm sentimental
Forgive me if I become overly emotional


When we say goodbye
At the end of our relationship


Don't be angry with me should I cry
Please don't be upset if I shed tears


When you're gone, yet I'll dream
Even after you leave, I'll continue to dream of us


A little dream as years go by
A small hope that may last for years to come


Now and then there's a fool such as I am over you
From time to time, I act foolishly due to my love for you


You taught me how to love and now
You were the one who taught me how to love, but


You say that we are through
You have decided to end our relationship


I'm a fool, but I'll love you dear
I may be foolish, but I will still love you


Until the day I die
Until my final breath


Now and then there's a fool such as I
Occasionally, there are individuals like myself that act foolishly




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: William Marvin Trader

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Obscure Showtunes

Ms. Stafford swings on this one!

Darryl C Preston

For Jo Stafford fans only. It's not that she doesn't sing well; but she included none of the wistful feeling that Hank Snow, correctly, put into the original. Of course, Miss Stafford was singing in the pop 'genre' but that shouldn't change the emotion of the song.

Freeman Griffin

I prefer Jo Stafford's version. Her phrasing is phenomenal! Everything she sings is enhanced by that amazing voice of hers!

loverofcountry506070

I prefer the Hank Snow version on this one.