About The Song
Poor Little Fool is a song by Ricky Nelson. It was released in 1958 and reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song is a ballad about a young man who is heartbroken after his girlfriend breaks up with him. The lyrics are full of regret and longing, and the song’s melody is simple and catchy.
The song was written by Sharon Sheeley, who also wrote another one of Nelson’s biggest hits, “Hello Mary Lou.” Sheeley was inspired to write “Poor Little Fool” after watching a news story about a young man who committed suicide after his girlfriend broke up with him.
“Poor Little Fool” was a major hit for Nelson, and it helped to establish him as one of the most popular rock and roll singers of the late 1950s. The song has been covered by many artists over the years, including Elvis Presley, The Beatles, and The Rolling Stones.
Chart performance
“Poor Little Fool” debuted at number 78 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart on July 26, 1958. The following week, it rose to number 58. On August 4, 1958, the song reached number one, where it stayed for two weeks. It spent a total of 20 weeks on the chart.
Cover versions
- Elvis Presley covered “Poor Little Fool” in 1959. His version reached number 16 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. [Image of Elvis Presley]
- The Beatles covered “Poor Little Fool” in 1963. Their version was released as a single in Germany. [Image of The Beatles]
- The Rolling Stones covered “Poor Little Fool” in 1965. Their version was released as a single in the United Kingdom and Australia. [Image of The Rolling Stones]
Legacy
“Poor Little Fool” is considered one of Ricky Nelson’s signature songs. It is a classic example of the rock and roll ballad, and it continues to be popular today. The song has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Awards and accolades
- “Poor Little Fool” was nominated for Record of the Year at the 1959 Grammy Awards.
- The song was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1991.
Fun facts
- The lyrics of “Poor Little Fool” were inspired by a news story about a young man who committed suicide after his girlfriend broke up with him.
- The song was recorded in just one take.
- The song’s distinctive guitar solo was played by James Burton.
- “Poor Little Fool” was the first song to reach number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.