“What a Fool Believes” by rock band The Doobie Brothers is a song about a man who conjures up memories of a past flame and then figures out the relationship he thought he had in the past may have never actually existed. The track was written by vocalist Michael McDonald with Kenny Loggins and was released on the group’s album Minute by Minute back in 1978.
With its smooth production, intricate keyboard playing, and McDonald’s soulful singing, it quickly became an instant classic. It hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in April 1979.
“What a Fool Believes”:
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Song Title | What a Fool Believes |
| Artist | The Doobie Brothers |
| Album | Minute by Minute |
| Release Date | December 1978 |
| Songwriters | Michael McDonald and Kenny Loggins |
| Genre | Soft Rock, Yacht Rock |
| Producer | Ted Templeman |
| Theme | Nostalgia, unrequited love, and the illusion of past connections |
| Billboard Ranking | Reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in April 1979 |
| Grammy Wins | Won Record of the Year and Song of the Year at the 1980 Grammys |
| Signature Features | Smooth keyboard melody, soulful vocals, and polished production |
| Legacy | Recognized as one of the defining songs of the late 1970s and yacht rock |
| Influence | Frequently covered and referenced as a hallmark of sophisticated pop music |
What a Fool Believes Lyrics
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 was
She 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?
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 return
She 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…
