Poor Little Fool was recorded by Ricky Nelson in 1958 and written by Sharon Sheely, who was the girlfriend of Nelson’s bass player, Randy Wood. This song became Nelson’s first number one hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and it was also the first song to ever top the newly created Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Did You Know?

• Poor Little Fool was Ricky Nelson’s first number one hit on the Billboard Hot 100.
• The song holds the distinction of being the first to reach the top spot on the newly established Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Every girl adored Ricky Nelson back in the day—he was a heartthrob.

One of my all-time favorite Ricky Nelson songs, I’ve loved it ever since I first heard it on an oldies station around 1993 as a kid. I really miss the days when radio stations across the country played these timeless classics from the ’50s and ’60s. Great music like this deserves to be heard everywhere, by everyone!

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I used to play around with hearts that hastened at my call
But when I met that little girl I knew that I would fall

Poor little fool, oh yeah, I was a fool, uh huh..

She played around and teased me with her carefree devil eyes
She’d hold me close and kiss me but her heart was full of lies

Poor little fool, oh yeah, I was a fool, uh huh..

She told me how she cared for me and that we’d never part
And so for the very first time I gave away my heart

Poor little fool, oh yeah, I was a fool, uh huh..

The next day she was gone and I knew she’d lied to me
She left me with a broken heart and won her victory

Poor little fool, oh yeah, I was a fool, uh huh..

Well I’ve played this game with other hearts, but I never thought I’d see
The day that someone else would play love’s foolish game with me

Poor little fool, oh yeah, I was a fool, uh huh..
Poor little fool, oh yeah, I was a fool, uh huh..