Introduction:
“(Now and Then There’s) A Fool Such as I” is a song famously performed by Elvis Presley, released as a single in 1959. The song is often associated with the golden age of rock and roll but has its roots in an earlier genre. Originally written by Bill Trader, the song was first recorded by country music singer Hank Snow in 1952. Elvis Presley’s version, however, gained much wider popularity and became a defining moment in his career.
Presley recorded “(Now and Then There’s) A Fool Such as I” during a March 1958 recording session at RCA Studio B in Nashville, Tennessee, just before he left for military service. The song, released as a single in March 1959 with “I Need Your Love Tonight” as the B-side, belongs to the rock and roll genre with strong influences of country and pop, which were common in Presley’s style during that era. Even though it wasn’t part of an album at the time of release, the single later appeared in various compilation albums, including Elvis’ Gold Records, Volume 2 and Elvis’ Gold Records, Volume 4.
The song was a commercial success, reaching No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States. It achieved even greater success in the UK, where it topped the charts, making it one of Presley’s early chart-toppers outside the U.S. The song’s success underscored Elvis’s ability to blend country roots with a modern rock and roll sound, appealing to a wide audience across different musical tastes. The combination of Elvis’s signature vocal delivery, smooth instrumentation, and a catchy melody helped cement the song’s place in his vast catalog of hits.
“(Now and Then There’s) A Fool Such as I” remains a noteworthy song in Elvis’s discography, not only because of its commercial achievements but also for its timing during a pivotal moment in his career—just before his military hiatus, during which his popularity continued to rise.
Video:
Lyrics:
“(Now And Then There’s) A Fool Such As I”
Now and then there’s a fool such as I
Pardon me, if I’m sentimental
When we say goodbye
Don’t be angry with me should I cry
When you’re gone, yet I’ll dream
A little dream as years go by
Now and then there’s a fool such as INow and then there’s a fool such as I am over you
You taught me how to love
And now you say that we are through
I’m a fool, but I’ll love you dear
Until the day I die
Now and then there’s a fool such as INow and then there’s a fool such as I am over you
You taught me how to love
And now you say that we are through
I’m a fool, but I’ll love you dear
Until the day I die
Now and then there’s a fool such as I
Now and then there’s a fool such as I
Now and then there’s a fool such as I