What a Fool Believes
Fool's Illusion: Nostalgia, Unrequited Love, and the Power of Belief
Lyrics
He came from somewhere back in her long ago
Reflects on a past time; someone came from the past into the narrator's life.
The sentimental fool don't see
Describes the person as sentimental and unaware of certain realities.
Trying hard to recreate what had yet to be created
Attempts to recreate something that never existed, emphasizing a sense of illusion or delusion.
Once in her life, she musters a smile for his nostalgic tale
The person smiles at a nostalgic story, possibly recalling a moment in her life.
Never coming near what he wanted to say
Failure to express what he truly wanted to say to her.
Only to realize it never really was
Realization that what he thought was real never actually existed.
She had a place in his life
She had a role or significance in his life.
He never made her think twice
He never made her doubt her place in his life.
As he rises to her apology
He is accepting blame or expressing regret to her.
Anybody else would surely know
Others would notice the situation and understand it.
He's watching her go
Observing her departure.
But what a fool believes he sees
Refers to the person's perception, which may be misguided or wishful.
No wise man has the power to reason away
No wise person can rationalize or explain away what appears to be real.
What seems to be
Reality is always better than nothing, even if it's not ideal.
Is always better than nothing
Having something is better than having nothing at all.
Than nothing at all keeps sending him
Continues to pursue something, even if it's just an illusion.
Somewhere back in her long ago
Revisiting the past, where he believes there was a place for him in her life.
Where he can still believe there's a place in her life
Hopeful that there's still a place for him in her life.
Someday, somewhere, she will return
Anticipating her eventual return.
She had a place in his life
She had significance in his life (repeated).
He never made her think twice
He never gave her a reason to doubt her place in his life (repeated).
As he rises to her apology
Apologizing to her as he rises, possibly for his own actions.
Anybody else would surely know
Others would recognize the situation and understand his feelings.
He's watching her go
Continues to observe her departure (repeated).
But what a fool believes he sees
Reiterates the theme of misguided perception and belief (repeated).
No wise man has the power to reason away
No wise person can rationalize or explain away genuine feelings (repeated).
What seems to be (if love can come and love can go, then why can't love return once more?)
Ponders on the nature of love—its coming, going, and potential return.
Is always better than nothing
Having something is always better than having nothing.
(Who got the power?)
Possibly questioning who holds the power in the situation.
Than nothing at all (oh, now)
Emphasizes the value of having something rather than nothing.
What a fool believes he sees (I believe she's never gone away)
Reiterates the theme of misguided perception and belief (repeated).
No wise man has the power
No wise person can rationalize or explain away genuine feelings (repeated).
To reason away (to reason away)
Possibly addressing the futility of trying to reason away emotions (repeated).
What seems to be (oh, if love can come and love can go, oh, mama)
Ponders on the nature of love and its unpredictable nature.
Is always better than nothing (better than nothing)
Having something is always better than having nothing.
Than nothing at all (oh, I believe)
Emphasizes the value of having something rather than nothing (repeated).
Comment