I Pity The Fool
Stevie Wonder Lyrics

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I pity the fool
I said I pity the fool, ohh
I pity the fool
You know I pity the fool
Who falls in love with you
expects for you to be true
Oh I pity the fool

Look at the people
I know you're wondering what they're doing
They're just standing there
Watching you make a fool of me

Look at the people
I know you're wondering what they're doing
They're just standing there
Watching you make a fool of me

Oh I pity the fool
my, my, my, my, my, my
pity the fool, ohh
I pity the fool
you know, pity the fool

'Cause she'll break your heart one day
And then she'll laugh and walk away
Oh, I pity the fool

I want you to look at the people
I know you're wondering what they're doing
They're just standing there
Standing there, watching you make a fool of me
Just look at the people
I know you're wondering what they're doing
They're just standing there
Watching you make a fool of me

Oh, I pity the fool

Baby, baby, you know I pity the fool
La la la la la, I pity the fool

Overall Meaning

In Stevie Wonder's "I Pity The Fool," the singer expresses his feelings about a woman who deceives and plays games with him. The song's title is a play on words, as it references both the Mr.T catchphrase and the singer's own feelings of sympathy for the man who falls in love with the woman. The chorus repeats the hook "I pity the fool" several times, intensifying the singer's message. In the verses, the singer describes how the woman he loves is playing games with him and warns other men to stay away from her, knowing that she'll break their heart.

The song's tone is both angry and sad, as the singer laments his situation while also expressing his frustration with the woman's actions. The backing vocalists provide an almost gospel-like accompaniment to the song, adding to the feeling of betrayal and heartbreak. The repeated use of the line "look at the people" emphasizes the sense of being watched and judged by others. In the end, the singer's pity for the woman and for himself only serves to underscore the hurt and disillusionment at the heart of the song.

Line by Line Meaning

I pity the fool
I feel sorry for the person who...

I said I pity the fool, ohh
I want to make it clear that...

You know I pity the fool
I want you to understand that...

Who falls in love with you
Whoever loves you...

expects for you to be true
Anticipating that you will be faithful...

Oh I pity the fool
I feel sorry for them

Look at the people
Observe the spectators

I know you're wondering what they're doing
I'm aware that you're curious about their actions

They're just standing there
They're simply remaining stationary

Watching you make a fool of me
Observing you humiliate me

my, my, my, my, my, my
A vocal expression to convey...