"Fools Gold" became the band's biggest commercial hit at the time. It was their first single to reach the Top 10 of the UK Singles Chart and stayed in the Top 75 for 14 weeks, peaking at #8.
The dance-oriented song showcased the rhythm section of Mani on bass and Reni on percussion. John Squire also shone on guitar with its various wah-wah pedal effects. Finally, Ian Brown sang the vocals in a unique whispered delivery. He would also perform with this technique for the track "Something's Burning". The bassline was "inspired" by "Know How" by Young MC, which is a sample from the Shaft theme song, performed by Isaac Hayes. The lyrics reference Nancy Sinatra's "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'" and the Marquis de Sade.
The drum track, though played by Reni, was recorded as he played in time to a sample of Bobby Byrd's rendition of "Hot Pants" at the insistence of Squire, angering the drummer at the apparent lack of belief in his talent. This was later said to have contributed to Reni leaving the band.
Despite its overwhelming success, the band did not intend to release "Fools Gold" as an A-side. Promo kits originally contained "What the World Is Waiting For" as the A-side, with "Fools Gold" on the B-side. When the press began raving about the song's funky bassline, the band was confused since "What the World Is Waiting For" was a simple guitar based track. The Roses realized the press was referring to "Fools Gold" and they promptly released the songs as a double A-side.
After Reni left the band in 1995, "Fools Gold" was essentially retired from the live set, since replacement Robbie Maddix could not emulate Reni's complex drumming loops.
In May 2007, NME magazine placed "Fools Gold" at number 32 in its list of the 50 Greatest Indie Anthems Ever.
Australian radio station Triple J voted "Fools Gold" number 76 in its Triple J Hottest 100 of all time in July 2009.
As usual, the cover was designed by John Squire and it was called "'Double Dorsal Dopplegänger". It consisted of a painting of dolphins on a splattered background, photographed through a pane of frosted glass. The piece was exhibited at Squire's 2004 art exhibitions.
The "Fools Gold" music video featured The Stone Roses performing outdoors and walking across the volcanic landscape of Lanzarote, Canary Islands, one of Squire's favorite holiday spots.
Melody Maker magazine interview (9 December 1989): "The song 'Fools Gold' is about greed. Have you seen 'Treasure Of The Sierra Madre' with Humphrey Bogart ? Three geezers who are skint and they put their money together to get equipment to go looking for gold. Then they all betray each other. They all end up dead, don't they ? That's what the song is about. It's dead right man. But that song is history for us now."
* Run-D.M.C. sampled the bassline and drum beat of Fools Gold for their hit "What's It All About?" in 1990. Ian Brown eventually met Reverend Run in 1999 and in an interview with Q magazine Ian recalled their meeting: "I met Reverend Run and said to him 'You may not know me but you sampled us years ago' and then he did the riff from Fools Gold! Surreal!"
* Fools Gold was "mashed-up" with If Your Girl Only Knew by Aaliyah for the bootleg "If Only Your Girlfriend Was Stoned"
* A Fools Gold sample is used in the 1990 Bananarama song Only Your Love.
* Fools Gold is used in the computer games FIFA Football 2004 and NBA 2K8 as well as the Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas soundtrack, playing on Alternative station Radio X.
* A remix of the song appeared on the soundtrack for the BMX oriented video game Mat Hoffman's Pro BMX
* The song appears in Guy Ritchie's Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels when Big Chris (Vinnie Jones) says "it's been emotional"
* A sample of the song appears in the loading screens of the tennis game Top Spin 3
Fools Gold
Stone Roses Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Winds on through the hills for fifteen days
The pack on my back is aching
The straps seem to cut me like a knife
The gold road's sure a long road
Winds on through the hills for fifteen days
The pack on my back is aching
The straps seem to cut me like a knife
I'm no clown I won't back down
I don't need you to tell me what's going down
Down down down down da down down down
Down down down down da down down down
I'm standing alone
I'm watching you all
I'm seeing you sinking
I'm standing alone
You're weighing the gold
I'm watching you sinking
Fool's gold
These boots were made for walking
The Marquis de Sade don't wear no boots like these
Gold's just around the corner
Breakdown's coming up round the bend
Sometimes you have to try to get along dear
I know the truth and I know what you're thinking
Down down down down da down down down
I'm standing alone
I'm watching you all
I'm seeing you sinking
I'm standing alone
You're weighing the gold
I'm watching you sinking
Fool's gold
Fool's gold
I'm standing alone
I'm watching you all
I'm seeing you sinking
I'm standing alone
You're weighing the gold
I'm watching you sinking
Fool's gold
The Stone Roses' "Fools Gold" is a song that is deeply rooted in psychedelic rock and dance music of the late 1980s. The lyrics describe a journey on a long road that stretches through hills for fifteen days. The singer is carrying a heavy pack on his back, and the straps are cutting into him like a knife. This painful journey seems to symbolize the pursuit of wealth and success, which can be a grueling and exhausting process.
The chorus of the song is highly repetitive, featuring the phrase "I'm standing alone, I'm watching you all, I'm seeing you sinking, fool's gold" repeated several times. The term "fool's gold" is a metaphor for the false promises of wealth and success. Despite the pain and struggle of the journey, the singer refuses to give up, insisting that he won't back down and doesn't need anyone else to tell him what's going down.
The second verse introduces a new element, with reference to "These boots were made for walking" and the Marquis de Sade, which doesn't seem to have a clear connection to the rest of the song apart from adding to the surreal and detached feel of the lyrics. The breakdown coming round the bend seems to suggest that some kind of crisis or catastrophe is imminent, perhaps implying that the pursuit of wealth and success will ultimately lead to disaster.
Overall, "Fools Gold" is a dreamlike and enigmatic song that combines elements of psychedelia, dance music and rock to create an otherworldly soundscape that mirrors the ambiguous and often disorienting experience of pursuing ambition and success.
Line by Line Meaning
The gold road's sure a long road
The path to success is difficult and takes a long time to traverse
Winds on through the hills for fifteen days
The journey is full of twists and turns, and takes a long time to complete
The pack on my back is aching
The weight of carrying the burden of success is causing physical pain
The straps seem to cut me like a knife
The pressure and responsibility of success is causing emotional pain
I'm no clown I won't back down
I am strong and resilient, and will not be intimidated or defeated
I don't need you to tell me what's going down
I am self-aware and do not require anyone else's input to understand my situation
I'm standing alone
I am independent and self-sufficient, and do not require anyone else's help to achieve success
I'm watching you all
I am observant and aware of the actions of others around me
I'm seeing you sinking
I am aware of the struggles and hardships that others face in their pursuit of success
You're weighing the gold
Others are valuing material possessions and wealth over personal growth and fulfillment
Fool's gold
The pursuit of material wealth and success can often lead to disappointment and disillusionment
These boots were made for walking
I am equipped and prepared to face the challenges ahead
The Marquis de Sade don't wear no boots like these
I am unique and refuse to conform to societal norms or expectations
Gold's just around the corner
Success may seem close at hand, but it is often elusive and difficult to attain
Breakdown's coming up round the bend
Challenges and obstacles are always present and may cause failure and setbacks
Sometimes you have to try to get along dear
In order to succeed, it is necessary to work with and gain the support of others
I know the truth and I know what you're thinking
I am perceptive and aware of the motivations and intentions of those around me
Fool's gold
The pursuit of material wealth and success can often lead to disappointment and disillusionment
Fool's gold
The pursuit of material wealth and success can often lead to disappointment and disillusionment
I'm standing alone
I am independent and self-sufficient, and do not require anyone else's help to achieve success
I'm watching you all
I am observant and aware of the actions of others around me
I'm seeing you sinking
I am aware of the struggles and hardships that others face in their pursuit of success
You're weighing the gold
Others are valuing material possessions and wealth over personal growth and fulfillment
Fool's gold
The pursuit of material wealth and success can often lead to disappointment and disillusionment
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: IAN GEORGE BROWN, JOHN SQUIRE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@newpianotutorials
New Stone Roses music coming TODAY !!!!!
@RaHeadD10
+New Piano Tutorials yeah its fucking shite
@Dewhirst2001
+rees croker thats a matter of opinion
@tomrb2297
+rees croker the song beautiful thing is amazing.
@68majortom
and you are easily pleased LEMON!!!!
@joolspirog
I have yet to hear any reformed group ever reproduce the standard of music they previously made. Same applies here although it’s each to their own
@iamdeepsea
Drummer: laying it down
guitarist: Perfect mix of wah wah and rhythm
singer: velvet delivery with haunting undertones
video director: let's go to the desert and walk around for miles, dying of thirst
@leemcbride9273
One of the best songs I've ever heard from one of the greatest British bands ever. I was 19 when this came out, now I'm 50 and this track is still the mutts nuts.
@Patrickjohnphotography
I agree. Very Mutt Nutty!
@craiggallagher7292
Same, but I am 55 (gulp). I think The Stone Roses were a nice segue to Oasis. I went nuts when Squire played with Oasis at Knebworth.