A Fool for You
The Impressions Lyrics


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Never liked nobody
That's been mean to me
I've got a heart full of stone
And I hate the misery
Oh then you came along
Into my life
Destroying my mind
Mounting up the toil and strife
But I'm a fool for you
I'm a fool for you
I'm a fool for you
I'm a fool for you
Guess I'll always be
And I claim it famously
'Cause I'm a fool for you
It's a doggone shame
Knowin' you don't love me
But you go on and use me
So continuously
I don't know why
I love you like I do
When you're breaking my heart
Oh and you know it's true
But I'm a fool for you
I'm a fool for you
I'm a fool for you
I'm a fool for you
Doggin' me every day
But child, I'm here to stay
'Cause I'm a fool for you
You don't want me to stay
'Cause I'm a fool for you
Do me wrong now every day
Child, I'm a fool for you
Ah-ha-ha-hoo
I'm a fool for you
Ah-ha-ha-hoo
I'm a fool for you

I'm a fool for you
I'm a fool for you
I'm a fool for you
I'm a fool for you
I'm a fool for you
I'm a fool for you
I'm a fool for you
I'm a fool for you




I'm a fool for you
I'm a fool for you

Overall Meaning

The Impressions’ “A Fool for You” can be interpreted as a confession of love from the perspective of an individual who is keen on someone who is undeserving of their affection. The song opens with the lyrics “Never liked nobody, that's been mean to me, I've got a heart full of stone and I hate the misery” suggesting that the singer has been through some tough relationships in the past and has since closed off their emotions to avoid heartache. However, their walls start to crumble when the subject of the song emerges in their life, saddling them with misery and destroying their psyche. Despite knowing that the person they love does not reciprocate their feelings, the singer finds themselves unable to detach themselves from them, hence the chorus “But I'm a fool for you, Guess I'll always be and I claim it famously, 'Cause I'm a fool for you”.


The second verse of the song continues in the same vein as the first, with the singer revealing themselves to be a victim of a one-sided affectionate relationship. The subject of the song continually uses and mistreats the singer, but still, they find themselves unable to break free. The song ends on a bittersweet note, with the singer professing their love for the person who is breaking their heart, “Doggin' me every day, But child, I'm here to stay, 'Cause I'm a fool for you”. Overall, “A Fool for You” is an emotional masterpiece that resonates with anyone who has been stuck in a situation where they love someone who does not feel the same way.


Line by Line Meaning

Never liked nobody
I have never really had feelings for anyone in a romantic way


That's been mean to me
If someone has treated me badly or caused me pain, I've never seen them as someone I could be with romantically


I've got a heart full of stone
I've become emotionally guarded and have a hard time letting people into my life


And I hate the misery
I don't enjoy feeling hurt or going through emotional pain


Oh then you came along
But then I met you


Into my life
You became a part of my world


Destroying my mind
But unfortunately, being with you has been taking a toll on my mental and emotional health


Mounting up the toil and strife
Our relationship has been causing a lot of difficulty and stress in my life


But I'm a fool for you
Despite all of this, I am still deeply in love with you and willing to put up with the pain and emotional strain


Guess I'll always be
I believe my love for you is so deep that it will never go away


And I claim it famously
I even want everyone to know how much I love you, and I'm not ashamed of it


'Cause I'm a fool for you
No matter what, I will always love and want to be with you, even when it doesn't make logical sense


It's a doggone shame
It's really unfortunate


Knowin' you don't love me
Despite my love for you, I know deep down that our feelings are not mutual


But you go on and use me
You take advantage of my feelings and use me for your own benefit, even though you know that I love you


So continuously
This happens repeatedly, without any regard for how it makes me feel


I don't know why
Despite all of this, I can't explain why I still love you and want to be with you


I love you like I do
But my love for you is deep and unwavering, even in the face of mistreatment


When you're breaking my heart
You are causing me a lot of emotional pain


Oh and you know it's true
You are aware of the emotional pain you are causing me, but continue to do so anyway


Doggin' me every day
You mistreat me and do me wrong on a daily basis


But child, I'm here to stay
Despite it all, I will continue to be with you


You don't want me to stay
Even though I want to be with you, it's clear that you don't feel the same way


'Cause I'm a fool for you
But regardless of your feelings, I can't help but love you unconditionally


Do me wrong now every day
You continue to hurt and mistreat me on a daily basis


Ah-ha-ha-hoo
A possible expression of emotional pain or frustration in response to the situation




Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Curtis Mayfield

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@joemadden4160

Fantastic album.

I would argue that this song is not about a man lamenting his love for a woman, but for his country.

Think about the title of the album.

He's trying to reconcile his disgust with his country with his love for it.

A remarkable song and better still: it kicks ass.



@thequietrevolution7390

Never liked nobody
That's bee mean to me
I've got a heart full of stone
And I hate the misery

Then you came along
Into my life
Destroying me more
Mounting up the toil and strife

But I'm a fool for you
I'm a fool for you
I'm a fool for you
I'm a fool for you

Guess I'll always be
And I claim it famously

'Cause I'm a fool for you

It's a doggone shame
Knowin' you don't love me
You go on and use me
So continuously

I don't know why
I love you like I do
When you're breaking my heart
And you know it's true

But I'm a fool for you
I'm a fool for you
I'm a fool for you
I'm a fool for you

Doggin' me everyday
But child, I'm here to stay

'Cause I'm a fool for you

You don't want me to stay
But I'm a fool for you
Do me wrong now everyday
Child, I'm a fool for you

Ah-ha-ha-hoo
I'm a fool for you
Ah-ha-ha-ha-ha-hoo
Child, I'm a fool for you

Hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo
I'm a fool for you
Ah-ha-ha-ha-ha-hoo



All comments from YouTube:

@kingeliii9011

As a child I would see my dad come home from work tired, he would get his drink, light his cigarette go into the den, relaxes a little bit, then puts on some records, everybody gathers around because it gets really animated, you think somebody's having an argument , until you see them laughing and dancing. That's what our music did. It brings you out of one funk into another type of funk. Miss those days.

@sirjer73

Great picture you painted with this comment

@Warmsun777

Nostalgic Vibes! I feel you!! Peace ✌🏿

@laurajohnson1967

They just don't make music like that these days. Love it❤️

@a.b.sproductionsllc

That horn hook is everything! I’m only 30 and truly appreciate music from the 60’s. This whole damn album is fire!

@chriscurtis8344

A.B.S. that’s because you have relative pitch and a producers ear!

@RoyFive

One of the best things this group did.

@dancingnature

This is one of those songs that I heard on the radio in the morning and bought that afternoon after school. Still love it after about 50 years

@robinjames1822

Me To!
Here in Harlem this would be blasting from the bars.

@ianeberein4930

The greatest male vocalist that’s ever lived....CURTIS MAYFIELD!!!

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