Poor Little Fool
"Poor Little Fool" is a rock and roll song written by Sharon Sheeley and first recorded by Ricky Nelson in 1958.
Sheeley penned the song when she was only fifteen years old. She had met Elvis Presley, and he encouraged her to write. The song was based on her disappointment following a short-lived relationship with a member of a popular singing duo. Sheeley sought Ricky Nelson to record the tune. She drove to Nelson's house, and decided she might be able to meet the star if she claimed her car had broken down. Nelson came to her aid, and Sheeley sprang the song on him. Her version was at a much faster tempo than Nelson's recording.
The song was recorded by Ricky Nelson on April 17, 1958, and released on Imperial Records 5528. It holds the distinction of being the first number-one song on Billboard magazine's then newly created Hot 100 chart, replacing the magazine's Jockeys and Top 100 charts. It spent two weeks at the number-one spot. The record also reached the top ten on the Billboard Country and Rhythm and Blues charts. Following the song's success, Sheeley decided to work with Eddie Cochran.
Podcasts:
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by Ricky Nelson
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by Rick Nelson
Poor Little Fool
by: Ricky NelsonI used to play around with hearts that hastened at my call,
But when I met that little girl I knew that I would fall.
(chorus)
Poor little fool, oh yeah, I was a fool, uh huh..
She played around and teased me with her carefree devil eyes,
She'd hold me close and kiss me but her heart was full of lies.
(chorus)
She told me how she cared for me and that we'd never part,
And so for the very first time I gave away my heart.
(chorus)
The next day she was gone and I knew she'd lied to me,
She left me with a broken heart and won her victory.
(chorus)
I'd played this game with other hearts but I never thought I'd see,
The day that someone else would play love's foolish game with me.