The Doobie Brothers – What A Fool Believes

About the song

“What a Fool Believes” is a notable song crafted by the talents of Michael McDonald and Kenny Loggins. This song gained widespread acclaim through its recording by the Doobie Brothers, featuring McDonald on lead vocals. Released as part of their 1978 album *Minute by Minute*, the song made its debut on the Billboard Hot 100 at number 73 on January 20, 1979, and impressively climbed to the top spot by April 14, 1979, where it stayed for a single week. Its success was marked by prestigious Grammy Awards in 1980 for both Song of the Year and Record of the Year, and it was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2024.

At the time of its release, “What a Fool Believes” was a rare non-disco number one hit on the Billboard Hot 100, standing out amidst the prevalent disco era. The song’s creation was a collaborative effort between McDonald and Loggins, who had long desired to work together. Their collaboration took place in Los Angeles, where Loggins, inspired by a tune McDonald was playing on the piano, contributed to shaping the song. The influences from their favorite music, including hits from the Four Seasons, helped shape the song’s unique sound.

While both Loggins and McDonald recorded the song around the same period, it was the Doobie Brothers’ version that became most famous. With producer Ted Templeman at the helm, the band experimented with different takes and arrangements before arriving at the final cut. Despite some initial doubts from Templeman, the executives at Warner Bros. were enthusiastic about the track, leading to its successful release.

The Doobie Brothers’ rendition of “What a Fool Believes” has since become iconic, known for its distinctive blend of soulful vocals, warm keyboard riffs, and smooth production. The song has been praised for its memorable melody and emotional depth, and continues to be celebrated as one of the greatest songs in the Doobie Brothers’ catalog. It also made a memorable appearance in the video game *Grand Theft Auto V*, further cementing its place in popular culture.

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…