About The Song
“What a Fool Believes” is a song written by Michael McDonald and Kenny Loggins, first recorded by the Doobie Brothers for their 1978 album “Minute by Minute”. Kenny Loggins co-wrote the song with Michael McDonald, and Loggins also included his version on his album “Nightwatch,” released in July 1978, five months before The Doobies’ release.
The song portrays a man clinging to false hope, struggling to accept the end of a relationship. Lyrics like “No wise man has the power to reason away what seems to be” emphasize his struggle with reality. Debuting at number 73 on January 20, 1979, the single reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 on April 14, 1979, for one week.
Video
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…