McBride started playing the guitar when he was ten. By age 15 he entered Guitarist Magazine’s Young Guitarist of The Year, a performance competition staged that year at Wembley Conference Centre, which he won.
Less than a year later, a few months after his sixteenth birthday, McBride was recruited by the Belfast-based metal band Sweet Savage, which reformed in 1994 without their founding guitarist, Vivian Campbell (Dio, Def Leppard), who McBride replaced. He toured with the band and recorded two albums, Killing Time 1996 and Rune[/abum] 1998.
After leaving Sweet Savage in 1998, he joined fellow Irishman Andrew Strong, who made his name in the 1991 cult film The Commitments and went on to establish a singing career. Playing with Strong was in stark contrast to Sweet Savage, involving mostly of soul, R&B and some pop songs. The change of musical style was a useful learning experience and closer in style to the rock and blues artists that had inspired McBride to start playing the guitar. He spent six years touring with Strong before leaving to pursue the idea of a solo career.
In 2008 McBride released his debut album, Rich Man Falling on Nugene Records, a boutique label with a specialisation in guitarists and blues-based artists. The album contains covers of Be My Friend originally by Free and the Jimi Hendrix song Power of Soul.
His 2010 sophomore release Since Then (Nugene Records) gained him nominations in the British Blues Awards. By this time he had opened shows in the UK and Ireland for Jeff Beck, Joe Bonamassa and US slide guitarist Derek Trucks. In autumn 2010 he toured the UK supporting one of his early guitar heroes, Joe Satriani. In 2011 he played major festivals including Glastonbury Festival, and other gatherings including a special guest spot at Don Airey’s Soul & Blues Festival in 2011 and 2013.
During a tour of the UK in 2011 each show was recorded. This resulted in McBride’s third CD release Nine Lives (Nugene Records), so called because there are nine in-concert tracks. The album also contains four solo acoustic tracks, one of which is an acoustic rendition of the title track of his 2008 release Rich Man Falling. A video of this track, cut to 1930s film footage, soon appeared on YouTube.
In 2012 he released "Crossing The Line" (Nugene Records) an album of mostly original work plus the Blood, Sweat & Tears song "Go Down Gambin". The album was recorded in Belfast N.Ireland and Maryland USA and mixed in New York by veteran producer/engineer Peter Denenberg. This album made several "best of" annual charts including that of Classic Rock magazine.
Don't Be A Fool
Simon McBride Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A playboy felon that was well thought of
Three kids in toe and a devoted wife, yeah
The secret mistress's every other night
One is your rock, one is your drug
You can't just quit just one it has to be both
You could say this could last for ever
Don't be stupid, run...
Don't be, don't be a fool
Don't be a fool
Don't be, don't be a fool
Don't be a fool
Don't be, don't be a fool
Yeah
Don't be, don't be a fool
Sooner or later somethings got to give
God's sins itself is dream your living in
Sex drugs and alcohol is a temporary fix
For something deep inside you're trying to contsrict
Your in so deep you can't seem to quit
So you'll hold onto that sinking ship
You say that this can last for ever
Don't be stupid, run
Don't be a fool
Don't be, don't be a fool
Don't be a fool
Don't be, don't be a fool
Don't be a fool
Don't be, don't be a fool
Yeah
Don't be, don't be a fool
Don't be no fool
Don't be a fool
Ah
Don't be a fool
Don't be, don't be a fool
Aaah
Don't be, don't be a fool
Don't be a fool
Don't be, don't be a fool
No, no
Don't be, don't be a fool
Don't be a fool
Don't be, don't be a fool
Don't be, don't be a fool
Don't be, don't be a fool
Don't be, don't be a fool
Don't be, don't be a fool
Don't be, don't be a fool
Don't be, don't be a fool
Don't be, don't be a fool
Don't be, don't be a fool
Don't be, don't be a fool
Don't be, don't be a fool
Don't be, don't be a fool
Yeah
The lyrics of "Don't Be A Fool" by Simon McBride reflect the struggles of a man who is torn between two different lives. One is devoted to his family, with a wife and three kids, and the other is consumed by his secret mistress and vices such as drugs and alcohol. McBride describes the two laws that this man walks the line of, showcasing his inner conflict as he tries to balance these two worlds.
The artist delves deep into the psyche of this man, describing how sex, drugs, and alcohol are only temporary fixes for something inside him that he can't seem to control. The lyrics suggest that while the man might believe that he can keep up his double life forever, sooner or later, something will give. McBride's message to this man is clear - don't be a fool and give up everything for something that can't last.
Overall, the message behind the lyrics of "Don't Be A Fool" is one of caution against the dangers of leading a double life and the importance of making the right choices to lead a fulfilling life.
Line by Line Meaning
You walk the line of a man with two laws
You live a life trying to balance two opposing things
A playboy felon that was well thought of
You have lived a life of being a criminal who enjoyed the attention of many people
Three kids in toe and a devoted wife, yeah
You have a family including three children and a loving wife
The secret mistress's every other night
You have a hidden lover whom you meet every other night
One is your rock, one is your drug
Your family is the support you need to live, and your lover is the addiction you cannot ignore
You can't just quit just one it has to be both
You can't leave one behind without sacrificing the other
You could say this could last for ever
You might think this situation can continue indefinitely
Don't be stupid, run...
Don't make a foolish decision, leave this situation
Sooner or later somethings got to give
Eventually, something in this situation will come to an end
God's sins itself is dream your living in
This life you are living is a sinful dream
Sex drugs and alcohol is a temporary fix
Indulging in sex, drugs, and alcohol may make you feel good for a while, but it's not a permanent solution
For something deep inside you're trying to contsrict
You're trying to suppress something deep within you
Your in so deep you can't seem to quit
You're too involved in this situation to just easily walk away
So you'll hold onto that sinking ship
You'll continue to cling to something that is slowly destroying you
Don't be a fool
Do not make an unwise choice
Don't be, don't be a fool
Don't be foolish!
No, no
Absolutely not
Writer(s): Simon Mcbride
Contributed by Kennedy L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.