Fool On The Hill
Sérgio Mendes & Brasil 66 Lyrics
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The man with the foolish grin is keeping perfectly still
But nobody wants to know him they can see that he's just a fool
And he never gives an answer but the fool on the hill
Sees the sun going down and the eyes in his head
See the world... spinning round...
Well on the way his head in a cloud
The man of a thousand voices talking perfectly loud
And he never seems to notice but the fool on the hill
Sees the sun going down and the eyes in his head
See the world... spinning round...
But nobody seems to like him
They can tell what he wants to do
And he never shows his feelings but the fool on the hill
Sees the sun going down and the eyes in his head
See the world... spinning round...
The lyrics to Sérgio Mendes & Brasil 66's song "Fool On The Hill" describe a man who appears to be a fool, keeping perfectly still on a hill day after day. While he never seems to give an answer when asked anything, he continues to see the world spinning around him and notices the sun going down each day. Despite this, nobody wants to know him because they can see that he's just a fool. The man seems to be lost in his thoughts, with his head in the clouds and the sound of a thousand voices talking perfectly loud, but nobody ever hears him or his sounds. The fool on the hill never seems to notice anything, except for the sun going down and the world spinning around him.
It’s hard to interpret the meaning of these lyrics, some people say it advocates for individualism or existentialism, while others believe that it's about longing to be understood or escaping the harsh reality of the world. The “fool” could be someone who is seen as an outcast by society, who is misunderstood, or who chooses to live independently in their own world. However, despite others writing him off, he never reveals his true emotions, allowing them to be projected onto him as a fool.
Line by Line Meaning
Day after day alone on a hill
The man spends his days isolated from society on top of a hill.
The man with the foolish grin is keeping perfectly still
Despite being alone and ridiculed, the man remains unperturbed and peaceful.
But nobody wants to know him they can see that he's just a fool
People choose not to interact with the man and label him as a fool due to his behavior.
And he never gives an answer but the fool on the hill
Sees the sun going down and the eyes in his head
See the world... spinning round...
The man remains quiet and introspective, but the isolated fool on the hill can see the world moving around him and the beauty in it.
Well on the way his head in a cloud
The man is lost in his own thoughts, disconnected from reality.
The man of a thousand voices talking perfectly loud
Although the man is quiet around others, internally he has a lot to say and various thoughts.
But nobody ever hears him or the sounds he appears to make
Even though the man speaks internally so often, he never openly expresses his thoughts or is listened to.
And he never seems to notice but the fool on the hill
Sees the sun going down and the eyes in his head
See the world... spinning round...
Despite being unheard and ignored by others, the isolated fool on the hill can see the man's beauty and potential to contribute to the world.
But nobody seems to like him
They can tell what he wants to do
And he never shows his feelings but the fool on the hill
Sees the sun going down and the eyes in his head
See the world... spinning round...
People sense that the man is misunderstood and may have good intentions, but due to his silence and lack of expression, they do not like him. The fool, once more, sees the potential for the man to make an impact on the world.
Contributed by Molly L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@phila2361
I think it's extremely rare that a "cover" equals (let alone surpasses) the original. But in my humble opinion, this is definitely up there.
@WriterandPhotographer
Agreed.......just posted this video to Facebook and said the same thing
@valerieteti1755
You’re right!
@crumpingtons
love the beatles, however this verrsion is the best.
@raypeal1876
Earth Wind and Fire's cover of Got to Get You Into My Life is another.
@thelibran11
It is by far the best version...by far!
@angelicapleger6793
Sérgio Mendes is a musical treasure...
@i_am_chaplin
I didn't realize how cool my dad was when I was a little girl. He was a pianist who had all of Sergio Mendes records. I would listen along with him. I still to this day, love Lani Hall and Karen's amazing vocals. This cover of Fool On The Hill is magical.
@zdogg8
The studio versions were all Lani with her doubling or tripling her voice, IOW, no Karen. There have been many great singers in Brazil 66,77,88,99 etc but nobody had the impact and sound signature as did Lani, perhaps not a stupendous singer overall, i.e.: as per operatic standard or distinctive song stylist, but the EXACT right sound for Brazil 66. Warmth, color, flexibility, precision and just the right amount of inflection and her non native Portuguese was excellent.
@i_am_chaplin
@@zdogg8 Yes, Lani is the only vocalist singing Fool On The Hill. There are so many different levels to her vocals. Again, just pure magic.