Song Details
- Album Release Date: 2012
- Genre: punk
Song Meaning of “April Fool” by Patti Smith
This song – like all of Patti Smith’s work – speaks to the listener in profound and enigmatic ways. Written in the early 1970s, ‘April Fool’ captures the essence of the experience of love, disillusionment and heartbreak. The song centers around two protagonists who have chosen different paths in life. The male, who is described as an ‘April Fool’, has chosen the path of self-destruction and recklessness, while the female has chosen the path of morality and propriety. This stark contrast is only further emphasized by Patti Smith’s poetic lyrics that convey a heartbreaking story of disillusionment:
“Oh the April Fool who had his way
Going round and round, night and day
He thought that his love could never stray
But his love, she had fled away”
The story of the ‘April Fool’ serves as a warning to listeners, highlighting the dangers of recklessness and self-destructive behaviour. Smith’s message that love is fragile and easily lost speaks to the need for caution in our pursuit of happiness and love. The sad, bittersweet quality of the song speaks to the fragility of relationships and cautions us to remember the lessons of ‘April Fool’.