Certain Kind Of Fool

Album: Desperado (1973)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Eagles bassist Randy Meisner wrote this song with help from Glenn Frey and Don Henley. Meisner also handled lead vocals. The song is about how a man becomes a guitar player. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Jim - Bluefield, WV

Comments: 8

  • Dunkarn from OzOne of their best
  • Brightsprite from Australia It rings true as Randy’s story but it neatly also fits into the theme of the album. Love it.
  • Meic from WalesI always thought this song might have been about a fame-hungry man who finds notoriety as a serial killer.
  • Tina Armstrong from AlaLove this song! Loved their music from 73-77 . Eagles forever fan!
  • Valerie from Eureka, CaYou both are right on! I like the way the songs meld into one another. Again Desparado is one of the best albums ever...along with Bon Jovi's soundtrack album for Young Guns. Yea, I like the reference of either or gunslinger or guitar player..so so so cool!
  • Valerie from Eureka, CaDesperado has got to be one of the best albums of all time.
  • Tim from Denver, CoGiven the context of the album "Desperado" the song has a double meaning. On one hand, it's about a wannabe gunslinger; in another sense, it's about a guitar player learning his chops, in hopes of becoming a rock star.
  • John from Kirkland, WaThis song is often played with Doolin-Dalton Reprise and Outlaw Man.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Mike Love of The Beach Boys

Mike Love of The Beach BoysSongwriter Interviews

The lead singer/lyricist of The Beach Boys talks about coming up with the words for "Good Vibrations," "Fun, Fun, Fun," "Kokomo" and other classic songs.

Jim McCarty of The Yardbirds

Jim McCarty of The YardbirdsSongwriter Interviews

The Yardbirds drummer explains how they created their sound and talks about working with their famous guitarists.

American Hits With Foreign Titles

American Hits With Foreign TitlesSong Writing

What are the biggest US hits with French, Spanish (not "Rico Suave"), Italian, Scottish, Greek, and Japanese titles?

He Hit Me (And It Felt Like A Kiss): A History Of Abuse Pop

He Hit Me (And It Felt Like A Kiss): A History Of Abuse PopSong Writing

Songs that seem to glorify violence against women are often misinterpreted - but not always.

The Police

The PoliceFact or Fiction

Do their first three albums have French titles? Is "De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da" really meaningless? See if you can tell in this Fact or Fiction.

Laura Nyro

Laura NyroSongwriting Legends

Laura Nyro talks about her complex, emotionally rich songwriting and how she supports women's culture through her art.