History recalls how great the fall can be
While everybody's sleeping, the boats put out to sea
Borne on the wings of time
It seemed the answers were so easy to find
"To late," the prophets (profits) cry
The island's sinking, let's take to the sky

Called the man a fool, striped him of his pride
Everyone was laughing up until the day he died
And though the wound went deep
Still he's calling us out of our sleep
My friends, we're not alone
He waits in silence to lead us all home

So tell me that you find it hard to grow
Well I know, I know, I know
And you tell me that you've many seeds to sow
Well I know, I know, I know

Can you hear what I'm saying
Can you see the parts that I'm playing
"Holy Man, Rocker Man, Come on Queenie,
Joker Man, Spider Man, Blue Eyed Meanie"

So you found your solution
What will be your last contribution?
"Live it up, rip it up, why so lazy?
Give it out, dish it out, let's go crazy,
Yeah!"


Lyrics submitted by cheeky_munkeys42, edited by oneto36

Fool's Overture Lyrics as written by Roger Hodgson Richard Davies

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

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Fool's Overture song meanings
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24 Comments

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  • +4
    General Comment

    I don't know if you have noticed or not, but on the album cover (Even in the quietest moments...), the sheet music open on the snow covered piano says "Fool's Overture", but the notes play "Star Spangled Banner". Whether or not this has anything to do with the meaning of the song, I can't say, but it wouldn't be the first time Supertramp sends a message about America.

    LidoTRKon October 25, 2011   Link
  • +3
    General Comment

    I think, to have a slightly different interpretation, That these lyrics refer to humanities ignorance as to the destruction of the world 'So tell me that you find it hard to grow Well I know, I know, I know And you tell me that you've many seeds to sow Well I know, I know, I know' People seem to brush aside the worlds problems, they 'know, know, know' the problems, but have things to do. Parts to play... 'jokerman, rockerman...'

    and history recals how great the fall can be, showing the destruction is evident, and humanity knows what they are doing to the earth, but everybodies sleeping (ignorance).

    I get the jesus Christ references, 'Too late, the prophits cry', refers to how we just ignore what the wise people are saying, and do how we feel. Then when the island is sinking (this could be the whole planet) we'll just take to the sky, this false fixation thath umanity will be able to relocate the planet once its gone, we'll just live on the moon? or on a different planet.

    When really, the only way we can go home, is if we listen to him. 'waiting in silence', refers to how he isn't going to come and say things to us, but rather his existence previously is the voice that still echoes in our minds, the right thing to do. Stop raping the world, stop the ignorance, and do something about it.

    "So you found your solution What will be your last contribution?"

    Why so lazy!?

    WanderingPebbleon January 16, 2007   Link
  • +3
    General Comment

    When I saw Roger Hodgson play this live in Norway 2011 he told us that the song was created from three separate pieces that he couldn't decide what to do with, so he put them together and Fool's Overture was born.

    LidoTRKon October 25, 2011   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    The song is about Neville Chamberlain, who was derided as a fool for trying to appease the Nazi's leading up to WWII. Chamberlain resigned after the fall of France and the Battle of Britain was about to begin. Churchill took over as Prime Minister. Chamberlain was dead within a few months from cancer. The song was not meant to paint Chamerlain as fool, but to honor his memory. A noble man with noble intentions, he was just in the wrong place and time in history

    sshaw1409on December 21, 2011   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    I was a 70's country girl hippie. I never cared for the standard bands-Beatles, Zepplin, Stones. I was a Supertramp, PFloyd, SDan, Genesis, Eagles, Poco, Fogelberg chick. My mother was a mezzo soprano and musician. Acoordingly, we grew up with an ear that knew the difference between garage bands got lucky and classically trained artists. My first instrument was keyboards and accordion, moving on to drums. When pregnant, I'd lay next to my Bose speakers and play the drum lines on by pregger belly. My favorite album, at the time, was Crime of the Century. When I brought my 3 weeks preemie home and fed him his first bottle, we sat in the rocking chair next to that bass speaker. I placed him on my shoulder to burp him, reached over and qued the album. At the sound of the VERY FIRST NOTE, my 4lb 7 oz son stiffened his legs, back and neck, dug his tiny toes into my legs and began rocking out-back and forth, up and down. I shrieked, in utter delight; "It Worked!!!!" You ought to hear him play all of that stuff now @ 44 .....every instrument. As far as the meaning behind this song; I've pondered it often. Lyrics and their inspiration are critical. I can see each aspect of the comments, in this thread, being relevant to the solving of the mystery, except for Chamberlain. Christ/Churchill are both saviors, on different levels. The lessons of war, failing to act, courage, fear, malaise and human nature are clearly there. They always have been and always will be. The sounds of trepidation and triumph brought to us by masterfully played instruments (not beat boxes) move those who truly recognize top shelf talent. The fact that each of you are here and thought it worthy of sharing your perspective, are in that league of a truly cultured palate.

    [Edit: Ooops!]
    Whatisarton June 26, 2023   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Wow, I can't believe that nobody has posted more on this song, but really on Supertramp in general. They're a great band, and this is just really an incredible song. I hope more people will pick up on this epic of a song.

    the8eson April 06, 2005   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    As I listen to Fool's Overture for the first time, the middle was what catch my attention. It was so serene... and mellow. I'm into that... Pink Floyd Prog Rock style. I didn't pay attention to the lyrics until I rewound over many times and started really listening. They are amazing. This kind of music will seldom happen again. Musicians that really meant what they said. Yes, I do catch the Jesus Christ resemblance in the end before he died. I also catch WWII remarks. The island is sinking (could it be England)? This middle part is just perfect.

    Mode000on October 11, 2006   Link
  • +1
    My Interpretation

    The song is about Winston Churchill and how he led England in its darkest hour, and when the war was over, the ungrateful bastards voted him out of office. It's a song about how quickly people forget.

    wingman101on February 20, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    i agree! This song is an epic... a masterpiece. People who like Pink Floyd often don't "get" Supertramp because it's PF minus the pretension, but with more heartfelt lyrics (and in my opinion more virtuosity)

    now as for this song, could it be a (bizarre) thought that Neville Chamberlain had the right idea? i.e. that Churchill was the AGRESSOR? "Holy man rocker man, come on queenie, blued eyed meanie!"

    i.e. a thought that WW2 would have been averted if Chamberlains instincts of appeasement of Hitler were followed through to the end?

    In any case, it's a profound song, although i don't agree with the message, that is, if i have understood the message correctly!

    metalguruon July 22, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    The part at 8:05 is probably a preview of humanity's total ( self )destruction.

    Ex Abruptoon July 09, 2007   Link

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