You Were the Fool
| "You Were the Fool" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Ween | ||||
| from the album 12 Golden Country Greats | ||||
| B-side | "Piss Up a Rope" (vinyl release) "Piss Up a Rope"/"So Long Jerry" (CD release) | |||
| Released | July 22, 1996 | |||
| Recorded | c. November 2–7, 1995 | |||
| Length | 4:26 | |||
| Label | Flying Nun Records | |||
| Ween singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"You Were the Fool" is a song by Ween from the 1996 album 12 Golden Country Greats.
Song Details[edit | edit source]
Recording and Composition[edit | edit source]
"You Were the Fool" is an Americana song in the key of E major.
The lead vocals are sung by Gene Ween. The drum part was played by session musician Buddy Harman using his hands.[1] Ben Vaughn, the producer of 12 Golden Country Greats, referred to this song as "hippie-country".[2]
Single Release[edit | edit source]
"You Were the Fool" was released as a double single with "Piss Up a Rope" in 1996. The CD version also includes the B-side "So Long Jerry". The 7" vinyl version omits the extra track.
Live Performances[edit | edit source]
"You Were the Fool" was debuted by Ween with the Shit Creek Boys on the 1996 12 Golden Country Greats tour. Since then, it has remained an occasional inclusion in setlists over the years.[3] Gene Ween has played "You Were the Fool" numerous times at solo-acoustic shows.[4]
Lyrics[edit | edit source]
Bless the father, bless the son
Cross your heart 'cause you're the one
Collecting moon beams in the morning
Curvy sticks and wooden poles
Assisting you in plugging holes
Plug them holes, 'til you see straight through to the mind's eye
Think about it, turn around, and go back to the quiet sound
Of Jim and Dan prancin' round the pool
You were the fool
And I feel sorry for you
You were the fool
But there's something you can do
You can wash your arm in a pool of mud
You can chop a tree, prevent flood
You can speak with a turtle just by flippin' him around
You can build a boat, sail the sea
You buy a mold, forge a key
Initiate a sequence, create catastrophe
Think about it, turn around, and go back to the quiet sound
Of Jim and Dan prancin' round the pool
You were the fool
And I feel sorry for you
You were the fool
But there's something you can do
Bless the father, bless the son
Cross your heart 'cause you're the one
Collecting moon beams in the morning
Curvy sticks and wooden poles
Assisting you in plugging holes
Plug them holes, 'til you see straight through to the mind's eye
Think about it, turn around, and go back to the quiet sound
Of Jim and Dan prancin' round the pool
You were the fool
And I feel sorry for you
You were the fool
But there's something you can do
You were the fool
Song Themes[edit | edit source]
Sung by Gene Ween, Sung by Others
Appearances[edit | edit source]
- 12 Golden Country Greats
- You Were the Fool / Piss Up a Rope (single)
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ https://tasteofcountry.com/ween-12-golden-country-greats-interview-ben-vaughn/
- ↑ https://tasteofcountry.com/ween-12-golden-country-greats-interview-ben-vaughn/
- ↑ https://brownbase.org/every_time_played.php?band=all%20bands&song_id=245
- ↑ https://brownbase.org/every_time_played.php?band=all%20bands&song_id=245