Welcome to Music Friday when we bring you awesome songs with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the title or lyrics. Today, Lee Greenwood sings about making a 24-karat mistake in his 1984 tune, “Fool’s Gold.” His character is agonizing over a broken marriage and losing the love of his life. In hindsight, he admits he was a fool and it was all his fault.
He sings, “I took a perfect love and gave you a perfect heartache / I took a band of gold and made a 24-karat mistake / and turned it into… / Fool’s gold, and I was a fool ’cause I let you go.”
Written by Timmy Tappan and Don Roth, “Fool’s Gold” was released as the second single from Greenwood’s third studio album, You’ve Got a Good Love Comin’. The song shot to #3 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and #5 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks chart. The album was certified Gold, which means it sold more than 500,000 units.
Over his 57-year career, Greenwood released more than 20 albums. He’s also credited with more than 35 singles on the Billboard country music charts, including seven #1 hits.
Greenwood is best known for his patriotic 1984 song, “God Bless the U.S.A.” The song regained its popularity during the Gulf War in 1991, and then again after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.
Melvin Lee Greenwood was born in South Gate, Calif., in 1942. He grew up on his grandparents’ poultry farm and started singing for his church at the age of seven. He started his first band at the age of 20 and performed mostly in Las Vegas casinos. When the band broke up in the 1970s, Greenwood made ends meet by dealing blackjack during the day and singing at night.
In 1979, he was “discovered” in Reno by Larry McFaden, the bassist for Mel Tillis. Two years later, his demo tapes landed at the Nashville division of MCA. Greenwood earned a contract and McFaden was hired on as his manager.
If you were wondering, fool’s gold is a shiny yellow mineral called pyrite that bears a great resemblance to gold, but contains little or no precious metal.
Please check out the audio track of Greenwood performing “Fool’s Gold.” The lyrics are below if you’d like to sing along…
Fool’s Gold
Written by Timmy Tappan and Don Roth. Performed by Lee Greenwood.
If I only knew then what I know now
You wouldn’t be sayin’ goodbye
But I let you down, I was never around
When you needed me there by your side
I took a perfect love and gave you a perfect heartache
I took a band of gold and made a 24-karat mistake
and turned it into…
[Chorus:]
Fool’s gold, and I was a fool ’cause I let you go
Fool’s gold, yes I was a fool ’cause I didn’t know
Too many times I just didn’t try
Now all I hear is you sayin’ goodbye
Starin’ at an empty hand full of fool’s gold
If I took the time just holdin’ you tight
and sharin’ my feelings with you
Then you’d understand what’s inside of this man
and you’d know what I’m goin’ through
I know that I was wrong now that it’s too late
I took a band of gold and made a 24-karat mistake
and turned it into…
Credit: Photo by Yoland Hunter (U.S. Air Force), Public Doman via Wikimedia Commons.