Fool's Paradise
Oingo Boingo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Try and live / On razor's edge
Find a mountain / Or cross a valley
Why bother? / It's all for sale
True love was in her eyes
Burning truth was on her face
Even thought it was late at night
Saw her once There's no mistake
Now that we've found this precious place . . . .
How do we keep from going crazy now?
My life was leading to this day
Watching the whole thing slip away
It's just a fool's paradise
It's just a fool's paradise
It's just a fool's paradise anyhow
Dirty stains / On brand new linen
Fresh tracks / On virgin snow
Caught a saint / While he was sinning
People scream / What do they know
Turn it off and find religion
Tune it out and find a cause
Get it up and tell the world
Don't stop, Don't ever pause
Here in this place from all our dreams
It doesn't seem to make us better now
If it will get us through the night
With all our conscience still intact
It's just a fool's paradise . . . (etc.)
Two heads / Are better than one . . .
Two hearts / Bleed so much more
Serious / But no one laughing
Why run / When you can crawl
(True love around the corner--out of reach, so hard to hold)
My life's an open letter
Tear it up--and throw it away
The opening lines of "Fool's Paradise" by Oingo Boingo aptly illustrate the human quest for meaning and fulfillment, whether through religion, adventure, or love. The reference to the holy Grail likens this search to a spiritual pilgrimage, fraught with danger and uncertainty, and balanced on the razor's edge of hope and despair. Whether one endeavors to climb a mountain or cross a valley, the tantalizing promise of reaching a higher plane of existence propels them forward, even though it's all for sale - a nod to the commercialization of spirituality and adventure.
However, the true meaning of life, encapsulated in "true love" as embodied by the "burning truth" in the eyes and face of the mysterious stranger the singer encounters, cannot be bought or sold. Even though he sees her only "once" and "late at night," the singer is struck by her presence and understands that he has glimpsed something profound. Once he and his companions have arrived in this "precious place," they must grapple with the age-old question faced by all seekers - how to keep from going crazy when they find what they've been looking for. The singer's life, leading up to this moment, has seemingly slipped away, leaving him with the harsh reality that perhaps the search was the only thing that gave it meaning.
The theme of disillusionment continues in the second verse, with the reference to "dirty stains on brand new linen" questioning the purity of our intentions and the effectiveness of our actions. Caught between the saint and the sinner, people often scream with righteous indignation, but in reality, "what do they know?" The solution, according to the lyrics, is to "turn it off and find religion" or "tune it out and find a cause." In other words, to escape the confusion and moral ambiguity of reality by retreating into ideology or belief. However, this is ultimately a dead end, for the "fool's paradise" of certainty and righteousness is just that - a false illusion to distract us from the messy, complex reality of life.
Line by Line Meaning
On the quest / For the holy Grail
In search of something of great importance and value
Try and live / On razor's edge
Living boldly, taking risks
Find a mountain / Or cross a valley
Overcome obstacles and challenges
Why bother? / It's all for sale
What's the point in pursuing something of value when everything can be bought and sold
True love was in her eyes
The artist sees genuine affection in someone's gaze
Burning truth was on her face
The singer sees honesty and sincerity in someone's expression
Even thought it was late at night
Despite the time of day when this occurred
Saw her once There's no mistake
Certain of what the artist saw, as if it was meant to be
Now that we've found this precious place . . . .
Referring to a location filled with promise
How do we keep from going crazy now?
How do we maintain our sanity in this new space
My life was leading to this day
The singer feels their life has been leading up to this moment
Watching the whole thing slip away
Seeing their aspirations fade away
It's just a fool's paradise
This location isn't as perfect as it seems
Dirty stains / On brand new linen
Something pure or clean has been tainted
Fresh tracks / On virgin snow
A pristine landscape has been disturbed
Caught a saint / While he was sinning
Witnessed a person committing a harmful act, despite their presumed good nature
People scream / What do they know
Rebuking those who criticize or judge actions they don't understand
Turn it off and find religion
Detaching from cynicism and seeking spiritual solace
Tune it out and find a cause
Tuning out negativity and dedicating oneself to a larger purpose
Get it up and tell the world
Encouraging others to act and share their beliefs
Don't stop, Don't ever pause
Urging others to keep pushing forward and never give up
Here in this place from all our dreams
The artist is in a space that should fulfill all they've wanted
It doesn't seem to make us better now
Despite being in this space of opportunity, it hasn't improved their situation
If it will get us through the night
If being in this space will help them deal with their current struggles
With all our conscience still intact
Without losing their moral values
Two heads / Are better than one . . .
Two people working together can be more effective than separately
Two hearts / Bleed so much more
Two people can be hurt more deeply than just one
Serious / But no one laughing
The situation is important, but nobody's finding it humorous
Why run / When you can crawl
Even a slow pace is better than not moving at all
(True love around the corner--out of reach, so hard to hold)
Finding real love is difficult
My life's an open letter
The singer's life is transparent, they don't keep secrets
Tear it up--and throw it away
Getting rid of what defined them, starting over again
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DANNY ELFMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Kino
on make it right
I believe this line says "If I have to, then I'll fight!"
Kino
on make it right
I believe this line says "I go where I'm not wanted"