The Fool of the Year
Johnny Burnette Lyrics


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My friends all say, "How could you be so blind?"
I never thought she was the cheatin' kind
I lost my pride, & now I fear
That I'm the fool of the year

Ring, ring the bells & spread the word around
The king of fools has at last been found
Let's get together & give a cheer
For I'm the fool of the year

Get the blue ribbons, strike up the band
Come see the biggest fool; believe me, here I stand

(x2):
So you can see why I should get the prize
Since I'm the one who fell for all her lies
So clap your hands & I'll shed a tear
You're lookin' at the fool of the year





You're lookin' at the fool of the year
You're lookin' at the fool of the year

Overall Meaning

In Johnny Burnette's song "The Fool of the Year," the singer sings about being deceived by a woman he thought he loved. Despite warnings from his friends, the singer believed the woman was faithful and has now come to the realization that he was naive and foolish. The singer's sense of defeat and humiliation is palpable throughout the lyrics. He laments the loss of his own pride and his fear of being judged as foolish by those around him.


The chorus of the song brings a note of irony to the lyrics. The singer suggests that everyone should recognize him as the "fool of the year" and invite him to take a bow. The decision to turn his own defeat into a public spectacle is an interesting choice by the singer. It suggests that his pain may be balanced by a sense of humor or a desire for recognition. The lyrics to "The Fool of the Year" are a classic example of a traditional blues theme. The singer sings about his personal pain, but the lyrics resonate with anyone who has ever been deceived or misled by someone they loved.


Line by Line Meaning

My friends all say, "How could you be so blind?"
Johnny's friends are questioning why he couldn't see that his girlfriend was cheating on him.


I never thought she was the cheatin' kind
Johnny never had any suspicion that his girlfriend was the type to cheat on him.


I lost my pride, & now I fear
Johnny's self-esteem took a hit and he's now worried about what people think of him after being cheated on.


That I'm the fool of the year
Johnny feels like a complete idiot for not realizing his girlfriend was cheating on him, earning him the title of 'fool of the year.'


Ring, ring the bells & spread the word around
Johnny's announcement of his misfortune is like a rallying cry for others to join in on spreading the news and making fun of him.


The king of fools has at last been found
Johnny is being referred to as the 'king of fools' because he was so oblivious to his girlfriend's infidelity.


Let's get together & give a cheer
People are coming together to celebrate Johnny's humiliation and misfortune.


For I'm the fool of the year
Johnny's repeated statement of being the 'fool of the year' shows how much this title bothers him.


Get the blue ribbons, strike up the band
People are going all out to make this humiliation ceremony for Johnny as grand as possible, almost like a parade.


Come see the biggest fool; believe me, here I stand
Johnny acknowledges his foolishness and wants people to know that he is the person they should be laughing at.


So you can see why I should get the prize
Johnny thinks his idiocy deserves some sort of recognition, even if it is a negative prize.


Since I'm the one who fell for all her lies
Johnny admits that it was his fault for believing his girlfriend and falling for her lies.


So clap your hands & I'll shed a tear
Johnny is putting on a show of being emotional about the whole situation, but secretly enjoys the attention of being the center of the ridicule.


You're lookin' at the fool of the year
Johnny is reminding everyone again of his title, emphasizing how truly embarrassed and ashamed he is to have that label.


You're lookin' at the fool of the year
Johnny is repeating the line to fully drive home the point of his misery and humiliation.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DAVID GATES

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Catalina Martinez

Me encanta la portada , me recuerda a mi preadolescencia cuando empezaba a ser una chica rocker- rockabilly.Saludos a todos-as los-as adolescentes que están empezando a ser rockers.Johnny y su banda del Rock and rollo trío o él en solitario eran muy grande con sus canciones rockin, sus baladas bonitas o sus temas más countries.

Aeroclean

Rip johnny 😘

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