About the song
“Poor Little Fool” is a classic song penned by the talented Sharon Sheeley and first recorded by Ricky Nelson in 1958. At just 15 years old, Sheeley wrote the song after experiencing the heartache of a fleeting romance with Don Everly of The Everly Brothers. Inspired and encouraged by Elvis Presley, Sheeley crafted this poignant tune and sought out Ricky Nelson to bring it to life.
The story behind the recording is quite charming. Sheeley, hoping to get Nelson’s attention, drove to his home and feigned a car breakdown. Nelson, ever the gentleman, came to her rescue. Once there, Sheeley presented him with the song. Her original version was much faster, but Nelson’s recording captured the essence of the song beautifully.
On April 17, 1958, Ricky Nelson recorded “Poor Little Fool” and it was released by Imperial Records. The song quickly made waves, reaching the top of Billboard’s newly established Hot 100 chart on August 4, 1958. It held the number-one position for two weeks and also made notable appearances on the Billboard Country and Rhythm and Blues charts.
The song’s success was marked by its inclusion in a four-song extended-play disc taken from Nelson’s second LP, simply titled “Ricky Nelson.” The buzz around the song led Imperial Records to release a single version. However, Nelson was not pleased with this decision, believing it could hurt the EP’s sales. In protest, he chose not to select a photo for the single’s cover, making “Poor Little Fool” the only Ricky Nelson single from Imperial to be released without a photograph.
“Poor Little Fool” remains a beloved track from the late 1950s, celebrated for its emotional depth and Ricky Nelson’s memorable performance.
Video
Lyrics
I used to play around with hearts
That hastened at my call
But when I met that little girl
I knew that I would fall
Poor little fool, oh yeah
I was a fool, uh-huh
(Uh-huh, poor little fool)
(I was a fool, oh yeah)
She’d play around and tease me
With her carefree devil eyes
She’d hold me close and kiss me
But her heart was full of lies
Poor little fool, oh yeah
I was a fool, uh-huh
(Uh-huh, poor little fool)
(I was a fool, oh yeah)
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
Poor little fool, oh yeah
I was a fool, uh-huh
(Uh-huh, poor little fool)
(I was a fool, oh yeah)
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
Poor little fool, oh yeah
I was a fool, uh-huh
(Uh-huh, poor little fool)
(I was a fool, oh yeah)
Well, I played this game with other hearts
But I never thought I’d see
The day when someone else would play
Love’s foolish game with me
Poor little fool, oh yeah
I was a fool, uh-huh
(Uh-huh, poor little fool)
(I was a fool, oh yeah)
Poor little fool, oh yeah
I was a fool, uh-huh
(Uh-huh, poor little fool)
(Poor little fool)