About the Song

“What A Fool Believes” is a classic rock ballad that captures the bittersweet emotions of a lost love. Written by Kenny Loggins and Michael McDonald, the song was first released in 1978 by The Doobie Brothers and quickly became a hit, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

The song’s lyrics tell the story of a man who is struggling to move on from a failed relationship. He reflects on the good times they had and the mistakes he made, wishing he could have done things differently. The song’s chorus, “What a fool believes he sees,” emphasizes the protagonist’s disillusionment and regret.

The Doobie Brothers’ vocals are soulful and expressive, conveying the emotion and vulnerability of the lyrics. The melody is catchy and memorable, making it easy to sing along to. The instrumentation is simple yet effective, with a prominent piano riff and a soulful saxophone solo.

“What A Fool Believes” is a timeless song that continues to resonate with audiences today. Its themes of love, loss, and regret are as relevant now as they were when the song was first released. The song’s catchy melody and heartfelt lyrics have made it a classic of rock music.

In addition to its musical appeal, “What A Fool Believes” has also had a significant cultural impact. It was the Doobie Brothers’ first number-one hit in the United States, and it helped to solidify their status as one of the most popular rock bands of the 1970s. The song has also been covered by numerous artists, including Kenny Loggins himself, Barbra Streisand, and Dolly Parton.

“What A Fool Believes” is a classic song that has stood the test of time. It is a testament to the power of music to capture the complexities of human emotion. The song’s message of love, loss, and regret continues to inspire people today.

Here are some additional points that you could include in your introduction:

  • The song’s historical context: “What A Fool Believes” was released in 1978, during the peak of the disco era. It was a departure from the band’s previous rock sound, but it was a critical and commercial success.
  • The song’s themes: The song explores themes of love, loss, and regret. It also touches on themes of hope, forgiveness, and moving on.
  • The song’s musical style: “What A Fool Believes” is a ballad with a soulful melody and a soft rock groove. The instrumentation is simple yet effective, and the production is high-quality.
  • The song’s cultural impact: “What A Fool Believes” was a groundbreaking song that helped to define the sound of soft rock. It also had a significant impact on popular culture, influencing other artists and inspiring countless fans.
  • The song’s legacy: “What A Fool Believes” remains a popular song today. It is often covered by other artists, and it is still played on radio stations around the world.

John Hartman Dead: Drummer for Doobie Brothers Was 72

Video

Lyrics: What A Fool Believes

He came from somewhere back in her long ago
The sentimental fool don’t see
Tryin’ hard to recreate
What had yet to be created once in her life
She musters a smile
For his nostalgic tale
Never coming near what he wanted to say
Only to realize
It never really wasShe had a place in his life
He never made her think twice
As he rises to her apology
Anybody else would surely know
He’s watching her goBut what a fool believes he sees
No wise man has the power to reason away
What seems to be
Is always better than nothing
And nothing at all keeps sending him…Somewhere back in her long ago
Where he can still believe there’s a place in her life
Someday, somewhere, she will returnShe had a place in his life
He never made her think twice
As he rises to her apology
Anybody else would surely know
He’s watching her go

But what a fool believes he sees
No wise man has the power to reason away
What seems to be
Is always better than nothing
There’s nothing at all
But what a fool believes he sees…

 

You Missed

MINNIE PEARL WALKED ONSTAGE AT THE GRAND OLE OPRY FOR 50 YEARS WITH A $1.98 PRICE TAG ON HER HAT — AND THEN ONE NIGHT, SHE JUST COULDN’T ANYMORE. Here’s something most people don’t think about with Minnie Pearl. That price tag hanging off her straw hat? It wasn’t random. Sarah Cannon — that was her real name — created it as a joke about a country girl too proud of her new hat to take the tag off. And audiences loved it so much that it became the most recognizable prop in country music history. For over fifty years, that tag meant Minnie was here, and everything was going to be fun. So imagine what it felt like when she couldn’t put the hat on anymore. In June 1991, Sarah had a massive stroke. She was 79. And just like that, the woman who hadn’t missed an Opry show in decades was gone from the stage. But here’s what gets me. She didn’t die in 1991. She lived another five years after that stroke, mostly out of the public eye, unable to perform, unable to be “Minnie” the way she’d always been. Her husband Henry Cannon took care of her at their Nashville home. Friends visited, but they said it was hard. The woman who made millions of people laugh couldn’t get through a full conversation some days. Roy Acuff, her old friend from the Opry, kept her dressing room exactly the way she left it. Nobody used it. The hat sat there. She passed on March 4, 1996. And what most people remember is the comedy. The “HOW-DEEE” catchphrase. The big goofy grin. What they don’t remember is that Sarah Cannon was also a serious fundraiser for cancer research. Centennial Medical Center in Nashville named their cancer center after her — not after Minnie, after Sarah. She raised millions and rarely talked about it publicly. There’s a story about the very last time Sarah tried to put on the hat at home, months after the stroke, and what her husband said to her in that moment — it’s the kind of detail that makes you see fifty years of comedy completely differently. Roy Acuff kept Minnie Pearl’s dressing room untouched for years after she left — was that loyalty to a friend, or was he holding a door open for someone he knew was never coming back?