What Kind of Fool Am I?
Rat Pack Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

What kind of fool am I
Who never fell in love
It seems that I'm the only one
That I have been thinking of

What kind of man is this?
An empty shell
A lonely cell in which
An empty heart must dwell

What kind of lips are these
That lied with every kiss
That whispered empty words of love
That left me alone like this

Why can't I fall in love
Like any other man
And maybe then I'll know what kind of fool I am.

What kind of clown am I?
What do I know of life?
Why can't I cast away the mask of play
And live my life?

Why can't I fall in love




Till I don't give a damn
And maybe then I'll know what kind of fool I am

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Rat Pack's song "What Kind of Fool Am I" explore themes of unrequited love, self-reflection, and a longing for emotional connection. The singer questions their own actions and emotions, lamenting their inability to fall in love despite desiring it like any other person. They see themselves as a fool for never experiencing love and wonder why they are different from everyone else.


The lyrics depict the singer as feeling isolated and alone, describing themselves as an empty shell and a lonely cell. They long for love and companionship but seem unable to find it. The line "An empty heart must dwell" emphasizes the emptiness they feel inside due to the lack of love in their life.


The lyrics further criticize the person they have been involved with, describing their lips as lying with every kiss. The whispered words of love turned out to be empty, leaving the singer abandoned and alone. This betrayal adds to their self-perceived foolishness and heightens their longing for genuine love.


The song also touches upon the singer's self-awareness as they question their own understanding of life. They see themselves as a clown, someone who does not truly understand the complexities of human emotions and relationships. They yearn to cast away their mask of play and live their life authentically, free from the frustration and confusion of unrequited love.


In the final lines, the singer expresses a desire to fall in love without hesitation or reservation, not caring about the consequences. They believe that by experiencing this kind of unconditional love, they will finally understand what kind of fool they truly are.


Overall, the lyrics of "What Kind of Fool Am I" depict a person grappling with their inability to find love, questioning their own actions and emotions, and desiring a genuine connection. The song explores themes of loneliness, self-reflection, and the longing for authentic love.


Line by Line Meaning

What kind of fool am I
I am reflecting on my own foolishness and lack of wisdom


Who never fell in love
I have never experienced the feeling of being in love


It seems that I'm the only one
I feel like I am the only person who feels this way


That I have been thinking of
I have been consumed by my own thoughts and emotions


What kind of man is this?
I question my own identity as a man


An empty shell
I am devoid of true substance and depth


A lonely cell in which
I am trapped in a state of loneliness


An empty heart must dwell
My heart is devoid of love and happiness


What kind of lips are these
I am questioning the nature of my own words and actions


That lied with every kiss
I have deceived others with insincere gestures of affection


That whispered empty words of love
I have spoken meaningless words of love


That left me alone like this
My actions have resulted in me being alone and isolated


Why can't I fall in love
I wonder why I am unable to experience the feeling of love


Like any other man
Just like every other person


And maybe then I'll know what kind of fool I am.
Perhaps if I fall in love, I will truly understand my own foolishness


What kind of clown am I?
I question my own existence and purpose in a comical and foolish manner


What do I know of life?
I am inexperienced and ignorant about life


Why can't I cast away the mask of play
I struggle to remove the facade of pretending and playfulness


And live my life?
To truly experience and embrace my own existence


Why can't I fall in love
I still question my inability to experience love


Till I don't give a damn
Until I reach a point where I no longer care or worry


And maybe then I'll know what kind of fool I am
Only when I no longer care about love, will I truly understand my own foolishness




Lyrics © Kanjian Music
Written by: Anthony Newley, Leslie Bricusse

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@DanStratocaster1

#1 best version of this song Sammy ever did. He was so great.

@robertrothberg8678

Dan,the best version Sammy did was on the Jerry Lewis telethon.sammy revised the ending with the lyrics, till I don't give one little damn.that being said,Sammy sang this song excellent in live concerts.without a doubt Sammy davis jr.was the greatest entertainer that ever lived.

@GarethWonfor

I love this rendition.... the orchestra are superb and the soft sound of chinking glasses and laughter in the background really captures the era. A stop in Las Vagas in the 60's to see the Rat pack live would definitely be on my time travelling itinerary! ; )

@Scottishscot1Numbah1

Shmuck is my faveorite word

@nicegerda

i love Sammy but there must ber another version of this song with frank Sinatra where can i find it on you tube ??

@Scottishscot1Numbah1

@TheMarkc Touche

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