Martin Luther King: Oh, You Beautiful Fool
“Everything that is done in the world is done by hope.”
Beautiful Fool
By Don Henry
Martin Luther who did you think that you were?
Appointed by some higher up
Merely mortal, your plans were unaffordable
No one wants to pay for loveOh you beautiful fool
Swimmin up stream, kickin’ up waves
Dreams weren’t meant to come true
That’s why they call ’em dreams
Oh you beautiful fool
Walter Cronkite pre-empted Disney one night
And all us kids were so upset
We thought that you were a trouble instigator
Marchin’ through our T.V. setOh you beautiful fool
Swimmin up stream, kickin’ up waves
Dreams weren’t meant to come true
That’s why they call ’em dreams
Oh you beautiful foolTo fight a fight without a fist all human instinct puzzles this
How dare you threaten our existence
Mahatma Gandhi, Jesus Christ, history repeats itself so nice
Consistently we are resistant to loveI saw you on the black and white
With Blacks and White’s applauding you
I saw you on another time
Without a sign of life in youOh you beautiful fool
Swimmin up stream, kickin’ up waves
Dreams weren’t meant to come true
That’s why they call ’em dreams
Oh you beautiful fool
Don Henry: Wild in the Backyard
Category: In Case You Haven't Heard
Brilliant. Thank you for this song, Don.
I first heard this song back in the 90s. I had Wild in the Backyard on cassette. Thanks so much for bringing it back to my attention. Such a beautiful song from a gifted songwriter.
Grateful for the uncanny essence of this remarkable song – written and performed by one of America’s distinct (alas, largely unrecognized) treasures.