About The Song
Songwriter Peter McCann calls “Nobody Falls Like A Fool” his “transition song.” A Connecticut native, McCann started making records for Detroit’s Motown label in 1971, moving to Los Angeles four years later.
In 1977, McCann achieved national attention, first by penning Jennifer Warnes’ “Right Time Of The Night,” then for his own recording of “Do You Wanna Make Love.” Both hit the Top Ten of the Billboard Hot 100 pop listings, while Warnes’ record even saw some country action (peaking at #17 on Billboard’s country singles chart). At around the same time, three different versions of “Do You Wanna Make Love” dented the Billboard country chart (by Bobby Smith, David Wills and Buck Owens).
In 1985, McCann earned two more country hits: Janie Fricke took “She’s Single Again” to #2 and Earl Thomas Conley cut “Nobody Falls Like A Fool.” McCann wrote the chorus on that one in Los Angeles with Nashville songwriter Mark Wright. The two made a point of getting together again to finish it after Peter moved to Nashville in April of ‘85.
McCann says that when he lived in Los Angeles, his associates always thought his songs were “too country” and he didn’t belong out there. Then when he moved to Music City, they said, “Well, he’s a pop writer and doesn’t belong here in Nashville.”
Conley and his producer, Nelson Larkin, weren’t particularly enamored with “Nobody Falls Like A Fool” at first, but RCA pressured them into recording it for Earl’s “Greatest Hits” album. At the session, Larkin told the musicians that he wasn’t thrilled about the song, and they worked on ways to improve it, including a tempo change.
The tracks were thus laid to Nelson’s satisfaction and Conley then went into the studio to cut his vocals. But he ended up singing it too high and they had to go back in and re-do Earl’s part. At the overdub session, keyboard player Ron Oates introduced Larkin to Dee Murray and Nigel Olson of Elton John’s band. They were tapped to add background harmonies and eight months after McCann finished writing it, “Nobody Falls Like A Fool” rose to the number one position of Billboard’s country singles chart on December 14, 1985, marking Conley’s 10th of his 18 chart-topping hits.
Video
Lyrics
A heart isn’t blind
It just sees what it wants to see
I hope yours is lookin’ at mine
The way that you’re lookin’ at me
Well I’ve been around
I’ve taken chances before
But this time I’m hopin’ for more
You’re makin’ it easyNobody falls like a fool
Nobody loves like a believe
After so many dreams have fallen through
It’s time that one came true
Nobody falls like a fool
Nobody loves like a believer
And I’m fallin’ ’cause I believe in youI know you’re afraid
Of the words we have spoken
There’s been so many promises made
And so many broken
Oh but please don’t hold back
I’ve already opened the door
And this time I’m hopin’ for more
You’re makin’ it easyNobody falls like a fool
Nobody loves like a believe
After so many dreams have fallen through
It’s time that one came true
Nobody falls like a fool
Nobody loves like a believer
And I’m fallin’ ’cause I believe in you