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Author Topic: Song Of The Week - THE FOOL ON THE HILL  (Read 13466 times)

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nimrod

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Song Of The Week - THE FOOL ON THE HILL
« on: February 05, 2013, 11:49:45 PM »

Day after day,
Alone on a hill,
The man with the foolish grin is keeping perfectly still
But nobody wants to know him,
They can see that he's just a fool,
And he never gives an answer,

But the fool on the hill,
Sees the sun going down,
And the eyes in his head,
See the world spinning 'round.

Well on the way,
Head in a cloud,
The man of a thousand voices talking perfectly loud
But nobody ever hears him,
or the sound he appears to make,
and he never seems to notice,

But the fool on the hill,
Sees the sun going down,
And the eyes in his head,
See the world spinning 'round.

And nobody seems to like him,
they can tell what he wants to do,
and he never shows his feelings,

But the fool on the hill,
Sees the sun going down,
And the eyes in his head,
See the world spinning 'round.

Ooh, ooh,
Round and round and round.

And he never listens to them,
He knows that they're the fools
They don't like him,

The fool on the hill
Sees the sun going down,
And the eyes in his head,
See the world spinning 'round.

Ooh,
Round and round and round

Kind of Pauls 'Nowhere Man' I think, a beautiful song that Ive always loved, Paul was on top form, those lyrics are brilliant.....!

The first appearance of “The Fool On The Hill” in the group’s history was on March 29th, 1967.  The group was assembled at Paul’s home in St. John’s Wood, London, to continue the composition of a new song for Ringo to sing on the “Sgt. Pepper” album, namely “With A Little Help From My Friends.”  Beatles biographer Hunter Davies was present on this day and, as related in his 1968 book “The Beatles,” he explains the premier of another new song:

“Paul then went back to his guitar and started to sing and play a very slow, beautiful song about a foolish man sitting on the hill.  John listened to it quietly, staring blankly out of the window, almost as if he weren’t listening.  Paul sang it many times, la-la-ing words he hadn’t thought of yet.  When at last he finished, John said he’d better write the words down or he’d forget them.  Paul said it was okay.  He wouldn’t forget them.  It was the first time Paul had played it for John.  There was no discussion.  Then they lit a marijuana cigarette, sharing it between them”

When asked about “The Fool On The Hill” during his 1980 Playboy interview, John replied, “Paul again, proving that he can write lyrics if he’s a good boy.”  Paul concurs, adding:  “’Fool On The Hill’ was mine and I think I was writing about someone like Maharishi.  His detractors called him a fool.  Because of his giggle he wasn’t taken too seriously.  It was this idea of a fool on the hill, a guru in a cave, I was attracted to.  I remember once hearing about a hermit who missed the Second World War because he’d been in a cave in Italy, and that always appealed to me.”

Song Written: March - September, 1967
Song Recorded: September 25, 26, 27, October 20, 1967
First US Release Date: November 27, 1967
First US Album Release: Capitol #SMAL-2835 “Magical Mystery Tour”
US Single Release:  Capitol Cema #S7-18890
Highest Chart Position:  n/a
British Album Release: Parlophone #PSCP 718 “The Beatles/1967-1970”
Length: 3:00
Key: D major
Producer: George Martin
Engineers: Ken Scott, Richard Lush, Phil McDonald

Instrumentation:

Paul McCartney -  Lead Vocals, Piano (Hamburg Steinway Baby Grand), Recorder, Bass Guitar (1964 Rickenbacker 4001 S)
John Lennon -  Rhythm Guitar (1964 Gibson J-160E), Harmonica (Hohner chromatic)
George Harrison - Rhythm Guitar (1962 Gibson J-160E), Harmonica (Hohner chromatic)
Ringo Starr - Drums (1964 Ludwig Super Classic Black Oyster Pearl), maracas,  finger cymbals
Christopher Taylor -  flute
Richard Taylor -  flute
Jack Ellory -  flute
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tkitna

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Re: Song Of The Week - THE FOOL ON THE HILL
« Reply #1 on: February 06, 2013, 12:58:14 AM »

Its a nice enough song, but not one of my favorites. I think I liked it better when I was younger. Now, not so much. It gets tiresome for me after a few listens, but I havent heard it for awhile. Overall score though would be just alright to a certain skip at times.

Hello Goodbye

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Re: Song Of The Week - THE FOOL ON THE HILL
« Reply #2 on: February 06, 2013, 01:30:16 AM »

I love this song!

Here's its evolution from demo to released version...

The Beatles- The Fool On The Hill Demo, Take 4, & Original




A lot can be done with this song like Sérgio Mendes and Brasil '66 did with this Bossa Nova arrangement...

Sergio Mendes & Brasil´66-The fool on the hill
« Last Edit: February 06, 2013, 03:56:09 AM by Hello Goodbye »
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Klang

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Re: Song Of The Week - THE FOOL ON THE HILL
« Reply #3 on: February 06, 2013, 02:59:37 AM »

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Re: Song Of The Week - THE FOOL ON THE HILL
« Reply #4 on: February 06, 2013, 03:53:59 AM »

Probably one of the best Beatles covers ever.

 :)



I agree.  Lani Hall and Karen Philipp had such beautiful voices.







Sergio Mendes & Brasil 66 - The Fool on the Hill
« Last Edit: February 07, 2013, 05:40:29 AM by Hello Goodbye »
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Re: Song Of The Week - THE FOOL ON THE HILL
« Reply #5 on: February 06, 2013, 04:03:45 AM »

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Hombre_de_ningun_lugar

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Re: Song Of The Week - THE FOOL ON THE HILL
« Reply #6 on: February 06, 2013, 04:56:03 AM »

Nice song, sad lyrics about the loneliness of a misunderstood person, beautiful use of flutes. Maybe not an instant classic, but a winner anyway.
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Re: Song Of The Week - THE FOOL ON THE HILL
« Reply #7 on: February 06, 2013, 05:00:11 AM »

...sad lyrics about the loneliness of a misunderstood person...

They were clues.    ;D 
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Dcazz

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Re: Song Of The Week - THE FOOL ON THE HILL
« Reply #8 on: February 06, 2013, 02:20:44 PM »

I think the flutes give it the sense of fool it needed. Beautifully crafted song all around!
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nimrod

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Re: Song Of The Week - THE FOOL ON THE HILL
« Reply #9 on: February 06, 2013, 08:49:55 PM »

never heard the Sergio Mendes version before Baz, very good ;)
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Re: Song Of The Week - THE FOOL ON THE HILL
« Reply #10 on: February 07, 2013, 03:04:02 AM »

never heard the Sergio Mendes version before Baz, very good ;)


You like that Kev, huh?  Here's their Bossa Nova arrangement of With A Little Help From My Friends...


Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66 - With A Little Help From My Friends
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Re: Song Of The Week - THE FOOL ON THE HILL
« Reply #11 on: February 07, 2013, 04:20:41 AM »

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Hombre_de_ningun_lugar

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Re: Song Of The Week - THE FOOL ON THE HILL
« Reply #12 on: February 07, 2013, 04:47:16 AM »

I've found this version in Spanish by this Peruvian female singer.

Robertha El Tonto de La Colina Audiofoto
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Re: Song Of The Week - THE FOOL ON THE HILL
« Reply #13 on: February 07, 2013, 04:51:02 AM »

They were clues.    ;D

Imagine if the song would have been called "The Fool On The Till"...
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Re: Song Of The Week - THE FOOL ON THE HILL
« Reply #14 on: February 08, 2013, 08:50:16 AM »

Well, I can listen to it, but not too often  ;D. This song is far to be one of my favourite.

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Re: Song Of The Week - THE FOOL ON THE HILL
« Reply #15 on: February 13, 2013, 04:33:12 AM »

When the Magical Mystery Tour LP was released here, Penny Lane, All You Need Is Love and Hello Goodbye got a lot of radio airtime.  When I bought the album, I discovered several more great songs.  I liked The Fool On The Hill right away.  It was a bit old-fashioned in its sound and, for me, very welcomed after the Sgt Pepper Summer.

The Fool On The Hill was really brought to popularity by Sérgio Mendes and Brasil '66 in 1968.  Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass were still very popular too.  But Brasil '66 was more fun to watch.   ;)


Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66 - Pretty World (HQ audio)



FOOL ON THE HILL - Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66
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Re: Song Of The Week - THE FOOL ON THE HILL
« Reply #16 on: February 13, 2013, 04:44:14 AM »

Imagine if the song would have been called "The Fool On The Till"...

Maybe I'm short on imagination here but what would have happened?
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Re: Song Of The Week - THE FOOL ON THE HILL
« Reply #17 on: February 13, 2013, 04:45:11 AM »

Good morning Miss Winters, Miss Winters, Miss Winters...


The Beatles - The Fool On The Hill





;)
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Re: Song Of The Week - THE FOOL ON THE HILL
« Reply #18 on: February 13, 2013, 05:02:56 AM »

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Re: Song Of The Week - THE FOOL ON THE HILL
« Reply #19 on: February 13, 2013, 05:27:15 AM »

Maybe I'm short on imagination here but what would have happened?

I don't know if I'm using the substantive "till" correctly, but it would have been a clear clue. ;)
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