Old 97's have been heralded as a great live band. They included five live songs as a bonus disc on Satellite Rides, and released a live double CD set recorded at historic Gruene Hall in 2005, Alive and Wired. Singer/guitarist Rhett Miller has released three solo albums and singer/bassist Murry Hammond released his first solo effort in April 2008. Ken Bethea plays lead guitar for the band and playing the drums/singing is Philip Peeples.
For photographs and additional information see the official website, www.Old97s.com.
The Fool
Old 97's Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To be somebody or just be somebody who
Came from Phoenix in a borrowed VW bug
Just to prove that he was on her like she was a drug
Hallucinogenic with no hangover at all
She kept quarters in a jar in a drawer in her desk
In receipt a baby deep in the valley girl
He will give her what is left in his life of this mess
Which will end in no time at all
[Chorus]
There is love
Everywhere you go
But it is never enough
He met his tragic fate in an automobile
With a relatively innocent young girl who
Would of blamed all the fate sat behind the wheel
Just to prove the point, nothing, nothing is real
Except the very thing you can't believe at all
[Chorus]
He came from Phoenix in a borrowed VW bug
He was the kid voted most likely not to return
To Phoenix in a borrowed VW
What did he care
Tomorrow we're all gonna burn
Which you know, so it's no surprise at all
[Chorus]
Nah, it's never enough
Love is gonna come
You gotta work it out
You got to be a fool to be
A fool in
Love is gonna come
You gotta wait it out
You got be a fool to be a fool in
Love is gonna come
You gotta coax it out
You gotta be a fool to be a fool in
Fool to be a fool in
You got to be a fool to be a fool in
Fool to be a fool in love
The Old 97's song The Fool is a contemplative piece about the foolishness of love and the lengths we will go to prove ourselves. The song opens with the image of a man driving into town, "He came from Phoenix in a borrowed VW bug/To be somebody, or just be somebody who/Came from Phoenix in a borrowed VW bug/Just to prove that he was on her like she was a drug." The lyrics immediately establish a sense of purpose and a drive to succeed, fueled by the desire to capture the love of another person. The phrase "on her like she was a drug" highlights the idea that love can be addictive, and people will go to extreme lengths to obtain it.
The second verse focuses on the woman, who keeps quarters in a jar and has a baby. Despite her responsibilities, she is willing to give the man everything he wants if only he will ask. This indicates that the woman is also caught up in the thrill of a new relationship and is willing to risk everything for it. The verse ends with the line "which will end in no time at all," highlighting the brevity of their relationship and suggesting that it may be doomed from the start.
The chorus of the song underscores the central theme of the piece, that love is everywhere but it is never enough. The lyrics convey a sense of longing and inadequacy, with the repeated phrase "it's never enough" emphasizing the futility of trying to satisfy our deepest desires.
Overall, The Fool is a poetic meditation on the nature of love and the lengths we will go to pursue it. The song suggests that even though love may be a foolish pursuit, it is a crucial part of the human experience, and we must be willing to take risks and make sacrifices in order to find it.
Line by Line Meaning
He came from Phoenix in a borrowed VW bug
He traveled from Phoenix in a car that wasn't even his, probably to seek new experiences.
To be somebody or just be somebody who
Perhaps he wanted to make some name for himself or simply to live life as it comes.
Came from Phoenix in a borrowed VW bug
He did make it to his destination, seemingly just to prove himself to someone who he was infatuated with.
Just to prove that he was on her like she was a drug
He wanted to impress and woo his loved one, and he was totally into her.
Hallucinogenic with no hangover at all
He was so in love that it felt dreamlike and surreal, but a feeling that never fades.
She kept quarters in a jar in a drawer in her desk
The girl was a saver, down to small change, and was probably not wealthy.
In receipt a baby deep in the valley girl
It is unclear who the baby is and whether the girl has any affiliation with the child.
She will give him what she wants if he will only ask
She is willing to share, but the man needs to let her know what he wants.
He will give her what is left in his life of this mess
He will provide everything he has to give, even if it is a confusing situation.
Which will end in no time at all
The relationship is not expected to last long, even though both parties are willing to share.
There is love Everywhere you go
Love is everywhere, but it is rarely accessible.
But it is never enough
Even when it is found, it is never sufficient.
He met his tragic fate in an automobile
The man died in a car accident, which could symbolize how life seldom gives happy endings.
With a relatively innocent young girl who
Maybe she was at the wrong place at the wrong time and had no personal hand in the tragedy.
Would of blamed all the fate sat behind the wheel
She will take responsibility for the accident, even if she had nothing to do with it.
Just to prove the point, nothing, nothing is real
The situation, much like life, can be uncontrollable, and the individuals involved may find it hard to identify what is real or not.
Except the very thing you can't believe at all
Maybe the only thing that is genuine or has meaning is the one you cannot see or clearly comprehend.
He was the kid voted most likely not to return
The man was always perceived to have a wandering spirit, either in his personal or professional life.
To Phoenix in a borrowed VW
He will return, but only in someone else's car.
What did he care
He probably didn't care about his fate or societal expectations.
Tomorrow we're all gonna burn
The man may have a pessimistic view of the future, either concerning individual or global destruction.
Which you know, so it's no surprise at all
The idea of doom is not unknown to him.
Love is gonna come
The chorus repeats the idea of love coming into existence.
You gotta work it out
One has to put in effort to bring forth love.
You got to be a fool to be
Finding love may require taking risks and being foolish.
A fool in Love is gonna come
Love can be unpredictable and irrational.
You gotta wait it out
Sometimes it takes patience for the right person to come.
You got be a fool to be a fool in
One has to accept a degree of uncertainty or foolishness to be in love.
You gotta coax it out
It requires gentle persuading or coaxing to develop affection and love.
Fool to be a fool in
One has to embrace foolishness wholeheartedly to find love.
You got to be a fool to be a fool in love
True love requires acceptance of faults, taking bold risks, and effort to put the other person first.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: KENDALL DEWAYNE BETHEA, MURRAY HAMMOND, PHILIP WAYNE PEEPLES, STEWART RANSOM MILLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind