Formed in 1985, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones started playing in Boston clubs in the mid-1980s. After a brief period of inactivity due to the schooling commitments of its members, they reformed and released their album Devil's Night Out on Taang! Records. The Bosstones toured relentlessly throughout the 1990s, playing hundreds of shows a year, releasing albums and spinning off the popular rock radio hit "Someday I Suppose". They were eventually signed to Mercury Records. The band appeared in the movie Clueless. In 1997, the success of their single "The Impression That I Get" and its follow up, "The Rascal King" earned them mainstream recognition. In 2000 they put out their critically acclaimed disk Pay Attention. The Mighty Mighty Bosstones released their last album on Side One Dummy Records. They officially went on hiatus in 2003, citing too much time on the road and desire to branch out and do different things. In 2007, the Bosstones announced that they were reforming. They played their 10th Hometown Throwdown in Boston and released a new album, Medium Rare, which consists of rare B-sides, and 3 new songs, including the single, "Don't Worry Desmond Dekker".
The band announced their split in early 2022.
who's foolin who
The Mighty Mighty Bosstones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They know precisely what they're doing
I've seen their kind before, they've got a lot in store
A lot you're not going to believe
They're playing games you'll never win
They've got a trick or two, designed to fuck with you
They've got something up their sleeve
Don't let them play you for a fool
You'll be sorry if you do
Sure the whole world might be fooled
Make sure no one's foolin' you
I'm sure that you won't even want it
I'm sure you won't take my advice
I'm sure you'll disregard, you'll learn your lesson hard
And then I'll say I told you so
So when them tear drops start droppin'
And your hearts been torn in half
When it's all over then, you'll hear these words again
And then and only then you'll know
Don't let them play you for a fool
You'll be sorry if you do
Sure the whole world might be fooled
Make sure no one's foolin' you
You think that what I think is nonsense
You think they always think of you
You're not the first or last, they've got a spell they cast
And while you're under it so long
They've got you good right where they want you
You think you're where you wanna be
Say what I've gotta say, and then be on my way
Some day you'll know I wasn't wrong
Don't let them play you for a fool
You'll be sorry if you do
Sure the whole world might be fooled
Make sure no one's foolin' you
Don't let them play you for a fool
You'll be sorry if you do
Sure the whole world might be fooled
Make sure no one's foolin' you
The Mighty Mighty Bosstones' "Who's Foolin' Who" is a song about being aware of those who might be playing games or manipulating you. The lyrics are a warning to not be taken in by someone's deception, to not let someone play you for a fool. The song suggests that some people are aware of what they're doing and that they have tricks up their sleeve. The singer warns that you will regret it if you trust them and fall for their games. The overall message is to ensure that no one is fooling you, even if the rest of the world is doing so.
The song is structured in such a way that the first two verses are a warning, while the third verse is a reflection. In the third verse, the singer recognizes that the person he is warning may not believe him and that they might disregard his advice. However, the singer is confident that he is right and that the person will eventually learn the hard way. The repeated chorus emphasizes the importance of not being played for a fool and being aware of those who might try to fool you.
One possible interpretation of the song is that it addresses the theme of betrayal. It suggests that some people have bad intentions and that they are not always honest. The song asks the listener to discern who is being genuine and to be cautious of those who might be trying to manipulate them. By doing so, the listener can avoid being hurt or disappointed in the future.
Line by Line Meaning
They know exactly what they're up to
They are fully aware of their schemes and plans.
I've seen their kind before, they've got a lot in store
I have encountered individuals like them, and they have plenty of deceitful tricks up their sleeve.
They've got some cards that they're not showin'
They have secrets that they are keeping hidden.
They're playing games you'll never win
They are engaging in mind games that you cannot outsmart.
They've got a trick or two, designed to fuck with you
They have clever tactics specifically designed to manipulate and deceive you.
Don't let them play you for a fool
Do not allow them to fool and deceive you.
You'll be sorry if you do
If you are fooled, you will regret it.
Sure the whole world might be fooled
Even the entire world can be manipulated and deceived.
Make sure no one's foolin' you
Ensure that you are not being fooled or deceived by anyone.
I'm sure that you won't even want it
I doubt that you will even want to listen to my advice.
I'm sure you won't take my advice
I am confident that you will not follow my advice.
I'm sure you'll disregard, you'll learn your lesson hard
I am certain that you will ignore my warning and face consequences.
And then I'll say I told you so
After you face the consequences of ignoring my warning, I will remind you that I warned you.
So when them tear drops start droppin'
When you are upset and crying about the outcome of your actions,
And your hearts been torn in half
When your heart has been broken because of your actions,
When it's all over then, you'll hear these words again
When the consequences of your actions have played out, you will be reminded of these words again.
And then and only then you'll know
Only after experiencing the consequences of your actions will you truly understand.
You think that what I think is nonsense
You believe that my perspective and advice is worthless or ridiculous.
You think they always think of you
You believe that they genuinely care about you and have your best interests in mind.
You're not the first or last, they've got a spell they cast
You are not the first or the last to be under their manipulative spell.
And while you're under it so long
While you are under their spell for so long,
They've got you good right where they want you
They have successfully manipulated and controlled you to be exactly where they want you to be.
You think you're where you wanna be
You believe that you are in a position that you want to be in.
Say what I've gotta say, and then be on my way
I am going to say what I need to say, and then leave you to experience the consequences of your actions.
Some day you'll know I wasn't wrong
One day, you will realize that I was not wrong with my advice.
Don't let them play you for a fool
Do not allow them to fool and deceive you.
You'll be sorry if you do
If you are fooled, you will regret it.
Sure the whole world might be fooled
Even the entire world can be manipulated and deceived.
Make sure no one's foolin' you
Ensure that you are not being fooled or deceived by anyone.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind