She now resides in Monaco and has recently sold her London apartment. Many of its furnishings were auctioned for charity. Two very popular 'Audiences With Shirley Bassey' have aired on British TV, the most recent being in March 2006.
In 2006, UK retailer Marks and Spencer hired Bassey for their Christmas advertising campaign, with Dame Shirley singing a cover of P!nk's 'Get the Party Started'.
In late 2009 Bassey released 'The Performance' her first studio album for two decades, which was released in a maelstrom of anticipation. Still popular well into one of the longest and most illustrious musical careers in British and indeed international history, Bassey is considered by Brits to be a national treasure.
Fool On The Hill
Shirley Bassey Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Alone on a hill
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
See the world spinning round
Well on the way
Head in a cloud
The man of a thousand voices talking perfectly loud
But nobody ever hears him
Or the sound he appears to make
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
And 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
Day after day
Fool on the hill
Day after day
Fool on the hill
Day after day
Fool on the hill
Day after day after day after day after day
The song "Fool On The Hill" by Shirley Bassey tells the story of a man who is lonely and misunderstood. He sits alone on a hill, with a foolish grin on his face, while the world goes about its business. Nobody wants to get to know him, as they see him as a fool who has nothing to offer. The fool doesn't try to defend himself or answer their accusations, but instead watches the world spin around him.
The second half of the song describes the fool's inner thoughts. He has a thousand voices in his head, but nobody ever listens or cares about what he's saying. He's a misunderstood genius who nobody appreciates, and nobody ever notices how he's feeling. But despite this, he continues to watch the world around him, as he sees the sun going down and the earth spinning around.
This song can be interpreted in many ways, but it seems to be about the struggle of being misunderstood and unappreciated. The fool on the hill is a symbol of all the people who are dismissed as foolish or unimportant, even though they have a lot to offer.
Line by Line Meaning
Day after day
Repeats the routine of daily life
Alone on a hill
Is isolated from others, perhaps by choice
The man with the foolish grin is keeping perfectly still
Appears content or oblivious, even though perceived as foolish
But nobody wants to know him
Is avoided or ignored by others
They can see that he's just a fool
Is judged as unintelligent or foolish
And he never gives an answer
Doesn't engage in conversation or respond to inquiries
But the fool on the hill
Despite being perceived as foolish, this person has a unique perspective
Sees the sun going down
Is mindful of the passage of time
And the eyes in his head
Is observant and thoughtful
See the world spinning round
Perceives the world in constant motion or change
Well on the way
Is progressing or moving forward in life
Head in a cloud
Is preoccupied or daydreaming
The man of a thousand voices talking perfectly loud
Presents a façade or performs for others, with many personas or opinions
But nobody ever hears him
Is not truly understood or heard by others
Or the sound he appears to make
Does not express the authentic self or true intentions
And he never seems to notice
Is unaware or unconcerned about being misunderstood or unrecognized
And nobody seems to like him
Is not popular or well-liked by others
They can tell what he wants to do
Can anticipate or guess this person's intentions or desires
And he never shows his feelings
Does not express emotions or vulnerable thoughts to others
Day after day
Repeats the routine of daily life
Fool on the hill
Despite being perceived as foolish, this person has a unique perspective
Day after day after day after day after day
Reinforces the repetition of this person's experience and perspective
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: John Lennon, Paul McCartney
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind