Newman is noted for his practice of writing lyrics from the perspective of a character far removed from Newman's own biography. For example, the 1972 song "Sail Away" is written as a slave trader's sales pitch to attract slaves, while the narrator of "Political Science" is a U.S. nationalist who complains of worldwide ingratitude toward America and proposes a brutally ironic final solution. One of his biggest hits, "Short People" was written from the perspective of "a lunatic" who hates short people. Since the 1980s, Newman has worked mostly as a film composer. His film scores include Ragtime, Awakenings, The Natural, Leatherheads, James and the Giant Peach, Meet the Parents, Seabiscuit and The Princess and the Frog. He has scored many Disney-Pixar films: Toy Story, A Bug's Life, Toy Story 2, Monsters, Inc., Cars, Toy Story 3, Monsters University, Cars 3 and most recently Toy Story 4.
He has been awarded an Academy Award, three Emmys, four Grammy Awards, and the Governor's Award from the Recording Academy. Newman was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2002. In 2007, Newman was inducted as a Disney Legend.
Newman grew up in a musical family with Hollywood connections; his uncles Alfred and Lionel both scored numerous films. By age 17, Randy was staff writer for a California music publisher. One semester short of a B.A. in music from UCLA, he dropped out of school. Lenny Waronker, son of Liberty Records’ president, was a close friend and, later, as a staff producer for Warner Bros., helped get Newman signed to the label.
Newman’s early songs were recorded by a number of performers. His friend Harry Nilsson recorded an entire album with Newman on piano, Nilsson Sings Newman, in 1970. Judy Collins (“I Think It’s Going to Rain Today”), Peggy Lee (“Love Story”), and Three Dog Night - for whom “Mama Told Me (Not to Come)” hit #1 - all enjoyed success with Newman’s music.
Newman became a popular campus attraction when touring with Nilsson. His status as a cult star was affirmed by his critically praised debut, Randy Newman, in 1968, which featured his own complex arrangements for full orchestra, and later by 1970’s 12 Songs. He also sang “Gone Dead Train” on the soundtrack of Performance (1970). Live and Sail Away were Newman’s first commercial successes, but his audience has been limited to some degree because his songs are often colored by his ironic, pointed sense of humor, which is rarely simple and frequently misunderstood.
Good Old Boys, for example, was a concept album about the South, with the lyrics expressing the viewpoint of white Southerners. Lyrics such as “We’re rednecks, and we don’t know our ass from a hole in the ground” made people wonder whether Newman was being satirical or sympathetic. He toured (to Atlanta and elsewhere) behind the album with a full orchestra that played his arrangements and was conducted by his uncle Emil Newman.
Little Criminals, in 1977, contained Newman’s first hit single, “Short People,” which mocked bigotry and was taken seriously by a vocal offended minority. “Baltimore” from that album was covered by Nina Simone. Following that album’s release, Newman toured for the first time since 1974. He claimed that in the interim he’d done nothing but watch television and play with his three sons. In 1979 his Born Again featured guest vocals by members of the Eagles. In 1981 Newman composed the soundtrack for the film Ragtime (the first of many soundtrack assignments) and was nominated for two Oscars (Best Song, Best Score). His 1983 album, Trouble in Paradise, included guest appearances by Linda Ronstadt, members of Fleetwood Mac, and Paul Simon, who sang a verse of “The Blues.” That album’s “I Love L.A.” became something of an anthem, thanks in part to a flashy music video directed by Newman’s cousin, Tim Newman (who went on to shoot popular videos for ZZ Top, among others). Land of Dreams (#80, 1988) spawned a minor hit in “It’s Money That Matters” (#60, 1988). It would take Newman 10 more years to make another studio album, 1999’s critically acclaimed Bad Love. With that record peaking at #194, he continues to meet his biggest success in Hollywood, where he spent most of the ’90s becoming one of the town’s most sought-after film composers. Although the material on his own records is literate and biting, the songs he writes for movies are decidedly simpler and with a sunnier outlook - and they usually meet with more success. Both “I Love to See You Smile” from Parenthood and “When She Loved Me” from Toy Story 2, for instance, were nominated for Oscars; in 1998 alone, Newman garnered three Oscar nominations for three different movies.
In 1995 Newman wrote a musical adaptation of Goethe’s Faust. Both the play and the accompanying CD (which featured guests such as Bonnie Raitt, Linda Ronstadt, Elton John, Don Henley, and James Taylor in the role of God) were commercially unsuccessful. In 2000 he received the Billboard Century Award.
A Fool In Love
Randy Newman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Show me a man who's gentle and kind
And I'll show you a loser
Now, show me a man who takes what he wants
Ohhhhhhhhh how exciting
Ohhhhhhhhh how exciting
So the poet sings
And nothing goes the way you plan
And no one cares and no one understands
That you're a fool and you're in love
Never another spring for you,
Never a robin to sing for you,
You're out there on your own
When you're a fool in love
When you're a fool in love
Seems like the skies are always grey
You turn around there's someone in your way
And its you, and you're in love
Sometimes you think that your luck has changed
And a rainbow explodes 'cross the sky,
But when you're a fool in love
You'll be a fool 'til the day you die
Randy Newman's song, A Fool in Love, is a heartfelt portrayal of the emotions and struggles of being in love. The song paints a picture of the two contrasting sides of love - the gentle and kind side, and the exciting and impulsive side. Newman suggests that being gentle and kind may not get you far in love, but rather it is the ability to be assertive and take what you want that is desirable. He characterizes the former as a "loser" and the latter as "exciting."
However, the lyrics then go on to reveal the harsh realities of being a fool in love. Despite the initial excitement and passion, being in love can often leave a person feeling isolated and alone. Newman speaks to the feeling of being misunderstood and unappreciated when in love, as well as the fear of never finding love again. These emotions are all too familiar to anyone who has ever been head over heels for someone, and Newman captures them with utmost authenticity.
Overall, A Fool in Love is a nuanced exploration of love, highlighting both its highs and lows, and offering a reflection on the delicate balance between vulnerability and assertiveness in relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
Look at the light coming over me
The brightness of this moment and the hope of something good happening to me
Show me a man who's gentle and kind
Describe to me someone who is compassionate and benevolent
And I'll show you a loser
I'll prove to you that this kind of person is weak and unsuccessful
Now, show me a man who takes what he wants
If you can demonstrate to me someone who is assertive and takes control of their life
Ohhhhhhhhh how exciting
I'm thrilled at the thought of that
Ohhhhhhhhh how exciting
I'm repeating myself to emphasize how exhilarated I am
So the poet sings
As an artist, I'll express my ideas about the topic through my work
When you're a fool in love
Being foolishly infatuated with someone you care about
And nothing goes the way you plan
Things often go unexpectedly off-course when you have such strong emotions
And no one cares and no one understands
It feels like no one can relate to or sympathize with your situation
That you're a fool and you're in love
You're aware that you're in a foolish state because of love
Never another spring for you,
You may never experience the joy and optimism of the season again
Never a robin to sing for you,
No nature or pleasant presence to comfort you
You're out there on your own
You're left to deal with your heartbreak by yourself
When you're a fool in love
Being infatuated can bring pain and trouble
Seems like the skies are always grey
Even the sky above you looks dreary and hopeless
You turn around there's someone in your way
It feels like everyone and everything impedes your progress
And its you, and you're in love
But ultimately, your feelings are your own obstacle
Sometimes you think that your luck has changed
Sometimes, you believe that positive things have come your way
And a rainbow explodes 'cross the sky,
A sign of hope that something good is to come
But when you're a fool in love
But when you're blinded by love, reality can be harsh
You'll be a fool 'til the day you die
Love can influence our lives forever.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: RANDY NEWMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind