Fool
I'm not really into concept albums, but this one has its roots in aphorisms and an Old English Sheepdog.
Those dogs see far ...
Those dogs see far ...
01 waterfall
The song came to me and it sounded like a waterfall.
Just that.
Just that.
02 This genocide is interfering with my breakfast
Many of us are outraged about what has been happening in Gaza.
A genocide - or ethnic cleansing, if you prefer ...
Really?
Led by the US and the UK? Driven by the victims of the holocaust?
This is way outside what I was expecting, even though I knew very well that the State of Isreal was subjecting the indigenous Palestinians to utter barbarity. Such a Western colonial story!
Why do the pessimists always get the prizes?
And, yes, the Palestinians are being bombed to bits while we just read about it over breakfast.
A genocide - or ethnic cleansing, if you prefer ...
Really?
Led by the US and the UK? Driven by the victims of the holocaust?
This is way outside what I was expecting, even though I knew very well that the State of Isreal was subjecting the indigenous Palestinians to utter barbarity. Such a Western colonial story!
Why do the pessimists always get the prizes?
And, yes, the Palestinians are being bombed to bits while we just read about it over breakfast.
This genocide is interfering with my breakfast
This genocide is creeping all over me
And I just keep thinking day by day
About all the bombing out there, day by day
Otherwise, what would it say about me?
I’m told “Don’t mix up art with real things”
And “Don’t drag politics into art”
Who are you to hold an opinion
When all it is, is a Western arc?
Those thousands bombarded for a lark.
Give us peace … Give us peace of mind
Give us hope … you’ll change your mind
Give us love … Oh, never mind!
We aren’t such credulous fools.
We aren’t such credulous fools.
We aren’t such credulous fools.
I was brought up learning about the Holocaust,
About Pol Pot, Rwanda, and Pinochet
About Hitler, Stalin, Mussolini and Mao
So how is it now that the enablers, take a bow,
Are the ones who’ve been preaching at me?
And I have to address a burning need
Not being even middle-aged anymore
While philosophizing about eternity
While anticipating death’s almighty probability
Don’t these culprits fear anything?
Give us peace … Give us peace of mind
Give us hope … you’ll change your mind
Give us love … Oh, never mind!
We aren’t such credulous fools.
We aren’t such credulous fools. We aren’t such credulous fools.
This genocide is creeping all over me
And I just keep thinking day by day
About all the bombing out there, day by day
Otherwise, what would it say about me?
I’m told “Don’t mix up art with real things”
And “Don’t drag politics into art”
Who are you to hold an opinion
When all it is, is a Western arc?
Those thousands bombarded for a lark.
Give us peace … Give us peace of mind
Give us hope … you’ll change your mind
Give us love … Oh, never mind!
We aren’t such credulous fools.
We aren’t such credulous fools.
We aren’t such credulous fools.
I was brought up learning about the Holocaust,
About Pol Pot, Rwanda, and Pinochet
About Hitler, Stalin, Mussolini and Mao
So how is it now that the enablers, take a bow,
Are the ones who’ve been preaching at me?
And I have to address a burning need
Not being even middle-aged anymore
While philosophizing about eternity
While anticipating death’s almighty probability
Don’t these culprits fear anything?
Give us peace … Give us peace of mind
Give us hope … you’ll change your mind
Give us love … Oh, never mind!
We aren’t such credulous fools.
We aren’t such credulous fools. We aren’t such credulous fools.
03 people never change
This is a subject open to debate.
My take is that it is mostly true - we are at eighty what we were at eight, if we get as far as eighty - but some people at least show a different side of themselves under certain circumstances.
In most cases, I wouldn't bet on it. I really wouldn't.
My take is that it is mostly true - we are at eighty what we were at eight, if we get as far as eighty - but some people at least show a different side of themselves under certain circumstances.
In most cases, I wouldn't bet on it. I really wouldn't.
04 stay with me
There is a much more famous version, but yes, please.
05 The only way to it is through it
Yep, it is that dentist and ice cream thing. If you want that ice cream, you have to face the dentist.
Take a deep breath ...
Take a deep breath ...
06 The executioner's dance
OK. you have been a seriously bad dude in this world ...
But what if this is just one world?
And you will have an entirely happy life in another one ... with your worst life over.
Maybe it's time to move on.
But what if this is just one world?
And you will have an entirely happy life in another one ... with your worst life over.
Maybe it's time to move on.
The death of a murderer is not so sad
It but takes away what he never had
And if you find this a somber text,
I speak of this life, not the next ….
Where he can savor oil on sun-kissed beaches
Watching girls and slurping peaches,
Knowing his worst life to be done
And living it up in a better one.
Though it may surprise, and even vex us
Death is hope, and starts in Texas
It but takes away what he never had
And if you find this a somber text,
I speak of this life, not the next ….
Where he can savor oil on sun-kissed beaches
Watching girls and slurping peaches,
Knowing his worst life to be done
And living it up in a better one.
Though it may surprise, and even vex us
Death is hope, and starts in Texas
07 waiting
This is a song about sitting on your laurels. Actually, it is a song about someone who was severely abused as a child and then found love.
And ten years later they discoverd they had an ambition for who they wanted to be.
And ten years later they discoverd they had an ambition for who they wanted to be.
08 If you want to lie to me, tell me your truth
The whole subjective truth thing is, let's face it, a bit dodgy. It basically reeks of, "I am trying to sell you a bill of goods, and I'll be very cross if you don't buy it."
OK, that is a bit old-fashioned, but I don't think we need to accept anybody else's truth, whatever implied threats come with it.
Yeah, we all have our take on the world, and then there is the world as it is, which becomes eminently clear when a bomb lands on your head or you get run over by a bus.
OK, that is a bit old-fashioned, but I don't think we need to accept anybody else's truth, whatever implied threats come with it.
Yeah, we all have our take on the world, and then there is the world as it is, which becomes eminently clear when a bomb lands on your head or you get run over by a bus.
09 happiness was born a twin
One of Oscar's? No, this time it was one of Lord Byron's.
There is an ancient belief that we are half a person continually seeking our other half to make up a complete soul.
There is an ancient belief that we are half a person continually seeking our other half to make up a complete soul.
10 It's a shark-eat-shark world
Well, the usual statement is that it's a dog-eat-dog world. Can't say that I've seen much of that.
As for sharks - about there are 100 shark attacks on humans a year and about 80 million sharks killed by humans for food a year.
It doesn't seem quite fair, does it? As ever, it's best to have the most up-to-date military technology when dealing with human beings. A sad fact
As for sharks - about there are 100 shark attacks on humans a year and about 80 million sharks killed by humans for food a year.
It doesn't seem quite fair, does it? As ever, it's best to have the most up-to-date military technology when dealing with human beings. A sad fact
11 They created a desert and they called it peace
A line from the Roman historian, Tacitus. I doubt it will apply to Gaza.
12 Quicksand
A friend described their city as "quicksand" (self-explanatory). Or you could say "warm treacle."
... "but you can never leave," as they say in 'Hotel California.' In a nice way.
... "but you can never leave," as they say in 'Hotel California.' In a nice way.
13 I came from nothing and I've got most of it left
Saw it on a t-shirt.
14 Nothing ventured, nothing gained
Well, you have to take risks, haven't you?
15 The great explorer
This is about friends who go off to all sorts of exotic places as if they are the first to have discovered them.
16 What starts bad ends bad
An old saying, maybe from Ireland. If you get off on the wrong foot - especially if you are dishonest - things will go downhill from there.
Song on YouTube - here
Instruments used during the recording of ‘fool’
Balalaika - unbranded
BG Guitars Viper
Epiphone Les Paul
ESP Ouija (Kirk Hammett signature)
Ibanez 12-string
Ibanez Gio x2
H. Jimenez Quinto acoustic/electric
Martin D15
Phred Deadbolt (Jerry Garcia Lightning Bolt copy)
Rogue mandolin
Washburn Lyon
Bass:
Sterling SUB
Keyboards:
Medeli SP4200
BG Guitars Viper
Epiphone Les Paul
ESP Ouija (Kirk Hammett signature)
Ibanez 12-string
Ibanez Gio x2
H. Jimenez Quinto acoustic/electric
Martin D15
Phred Deadbolt (Jerry Garcia Lightning Bolt copy)
Rogue mandolin
Washburn Lyon
Bass:
Sterling SUB
Keyboards:
Medeli SP4200