‘Nobody's Fool’ is a power ballad by American glam metal band Cinderella, released in 1986 as the lead single from the band's debut album, Night Songs. It charted at number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 and also at number 25 on the Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart in 1987. This was Cinderella's first hit. They were a Philadelphia-based band led by Tom Keifer (vocal) and Jeff LeBar (lead guitar). The group signed to Mercury Records after Jon Bon Jovi saw them perform.
Singer Tom Keifer described ‘Nobody's Fool’ as a "song for the falling out of love experience." He added, "And I would say that was not written for any one particular person. I'd been through that several times prior to writing that song. A lot of times, the emotions of songs are cumulative. That's not one particular experience, but the culmination of many." Tom Keifer wrote this and all of Cinderella's other hits. He had a knack for writing power-ballads that he delivered with a sincerity rarely found in the Hair Bands of the '80s and early '90s. In this song, he feels used and mistreated by a girl, and is determined to leave her behind. He hints that she may have been a groupie or someone attracted to his wealth: "I scream my heart out, just to make a dime, and with that dime I bought your love but now I've changed my mind."
In a Songfacts interview with Tom Keifer, he explained: "That song, that's something I think everyone can relate to. In life there is the falling in love, and then there's the falling out of love. There are songs for both experiences, and 'Nobody's Fool' is certainly the song for the falling out of love experience. And I would say that was not written for any one particular person. I'd been through that several times prior to writing that song. A lot of times, the emotions of songs are cumulative. That's not one particular experience, but the culmination of many."
The music video continues the storyline from where the ‘Shake Me’ video left off, following the Cinderella-like girl as she accompanies the band to their rehearsal space, with the wicked sisters in pursuit. As the band performs the song, the girl runs home for the stroke of midnight when her rocker outfit changes back to a plain dress. She later meets the band again for an autograph, and the video ends as a glint of recognition passes across Tom Keifer's face.
Label – Mercury
Songwriter – Tom Keifer
Producer – Andy Johns
SONG LYRICS
[Verse 1]I count the falling tears
They fall before my eyes
Seems like a thousand years
Since we broke the ties
I call you on the phone
But never get a rise
So, sit there all alone
It's time you realize
[Chorus]
I'm not your fool
(Nobody's fool)
(Nobody's fool)
I'm no fool
(Nobody's fool)
(Nobody's fool)
Never again, no! No!
[Verse 2]
You take your road I'll take mine
The paths have both been beaten
Searchin' for a change of pace
Life needs to be sweetened
I scream my heart out
Just to make a dime
And with that dime I bought your love
But, now, I've changed my mind
[Chorus]
I'm not your fool
(Nobody's fool)
(Nobody's fool)
I'm no fool
(Nobody's fool)
(Nobody's fool)
Never again, no! No!
(Nobody's fool)
(Nobody's fool)
I'm no fool
(Nobody's fool)
(Nobody's fool)
[Bridge]
I count the falling tears
They fall before my eyes
Seems like a thousand years
Since we broke the ties, oh! Oh! Oh!
[Outro]
I'm not your fool
(Nobody's fool)
(Nobody's fool)
I'm no fool
(Nobody's fool)
(Nobody's fool)
I'm no fool
(Nobody's fool)
(Nobody's fool)
I'm no fool
(Nobody's fool)
(Nobody's fool)
(Nobody's fool)
(Nobody's fool)
(Nobody's fool)
(Nobody's fool)
(Nobody's fool)
(Nobody's fool)
No! Oh! Oh! Oh!
(Nobody's fool)
(Nobody's fool)
No, I'm not your fool
(Nobody's fool)
(Nobody's fool)