Original Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes version
Ah, ah
Like a child who's soul's a flame that loves to burn
I'm just the kind of guy who never learns
I guess you had to go
Why was I the last to know
I played the fool, girl
I did just what you expected
I played the fool, girl
And you're making it so hard to leave this time
I see so much when I look in your eyes
I just can't help myself, I'm hypnotized
It's my turn to walk away
But, baby, I'll be back someday
I played the fool, girl
I did just what you expected
I played the fool, girl
And you're making it so hard to leave this time
[Instrumental]
It's my turn to walk away
But, baby, I'll be back someday
I played the fool, girl
I did just what you expected
I played the fool, girl
And you're making it so hard to leave this time
I played the fool, girl
I did just what you expected
I played the fool, girl
I played the fool, girl
I played the fool
I played the fool
I played the fool
I played the fool
I played the fool
I played the fool
I played the fool
[fades out]
I PLAYED THE FOOL is a song written by Steven Van Zandt and originally released by Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes on their 1978 album Hearts Of Stone. The above lyrics are for the original Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes version of I PLAYED THE FOOL as released in 1978.
In the spring of 1978, Bruce Springsteen donated two of his compositions, TALK TO ME and HEARTS OF STONE, to Southside Johnny for use on Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes' upcoming third studio album, Hearts Of Stone. For HEARTS OF STONE, the Darkness On The Edge Of Town recording sessions E Street Band backing track was utilized, while apparently TALK TO ME was rerecorded from scratch by Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes. Springsteen also shares writing credits with Southside Johnny and Steven Van Zandt on TRAPPED AGAIN which was co-written in early 1978 during the Hearts Of Stone recording sessions.
Van Zandt tapped photographer Frank Stefanko to shoot the album cover art, after meeting Stefanko when they worked together with Springsteen on Darkness On The Edge Of Town.
Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes' album Hearts Of Stone was released on 13 Oct 1978 on the Epic label.
Bruce Springsteen played I PLAYED THE FOOL live twice, in 1994 and in 1998. See the live 31 Jan 1998 version for more details.
List of available versions of I PLAYED THE FOOL on this website:
I PLAYED THE FOOL [Live 31 Jan 1998 version]