Fool
Kaleo Lyrics

The song "Fool" is a classic rock inspired song by the Icelandic band Kaleo, from their album A/B. The lyrics revolve around a love interest who the lead singer, JJ Julius Son, has his "eyes on". The first verse is directed towards this person, complimenting them and questioning if they would keep their word. However, Julius Son also acknowledges that he is "messed up" but doesn't want the other person to take advantage of him. He has been hurt before and doesn't want to be seen as a "fool". The chorus repeats the phrase "I got eyes on you" which signifies that the singer is watching this person closely, and they are not the one being fooled in this situation.

The second verse implies that the song is about a bargaining relationship. This person is trying to convince the singer to be with them but the singer knows they are being played, with the "joke is on you" line. The singer refers to the other person as "daddy" which could be a power dynamic reference, as well as calling them "groovy" - this references '60s language that suggests being "cool" or "hip". However, they assert that they are "nothing bad", which could imply that the other person is not being truthful about who they are. The chorus repeats and then the bridge has Julius Son singing about their love they have for each other. The song ends with repeated "gotta be cool" lines, which implies that the singer has to keep their wits about them and not be taken advantage of by the other person.

A surprising fact about the song is that it was released as a non-album single in 2018, even though it was first recorded in 2015. The song is still deeply beloved by fans of the group due to their unique fusion of blues, rock, and folk elements in the instrumentation. The song has been used on Netflix show "The Umbrella Academy" and has over 80 million views on Youtube. The band Kaleo purposely wanted to create more up-tempo rock songs, hence influencing Fool's groovy and bluesy sound. The song's main riff is played on an electric guitar with a high-reverb effect, giving it its signature sound. The song was produced by Jacquire King, who has worked with musical giants such as Kings of Leon and Modest Mouse.

Kaleo formed in 2012 but did not become popular until their release of "Way Down We Go," which made them gain a major following. The lead singer, JJ Julius Son, famously wrote this song in his car while he was parked outside of a coffee shop in LA. The song "Fool" shows how the relationship politics of the song reflect uncertainty and unease, with the singer attempting to keep their ground as they clue into the other person's dishonest behavior. The use of words like "daddy" has had some critics suggest that it could be seen as problematic by encouraging a power dynamic in relationships. The song's message, on the other hand, is much more affirming towards self-worth and noting when others are trying to play games. The chords used in the song are G, Bm, C, D, and Em, with a capo on the 1st fret.

Chords:
Verse: G, Bm, C
Chorus: G, D, Em, C
Bridge: D, Em, C, D