“Fooling Anybody” by Cowboy Dinosaur – A Song Feature

     The lyrical intelligence of “Fooling Anybody” is readily apparent and easily appreciated; the intelligence of the instrumentation is more subtle but equally praiseworthy. The lyrics of the single from Cowboy Dinosaur reflect the observation that too often the only person fooled by the attempt to a mask a struggle is the struggling person – “And I'm not fooling anybody, anybody, anybody // I'm not fooling no one but you.”  [The lyrics are at the bottom of this post.]

      The thought dedicated to the instrumentation is less obvious because there are repetitive contributions. Other than one short rest, the drums remain consistent throughout “Fooling Anybody,” although there are attractive fills. The guitar hook is not complex or demanding, but it is effective. The note sequence from the guitar is first heard 18 seconds into the single. It is used as “fanfare” prior to most verses and most occurrence of the lines that are quoted above. Starting at 2:45, the texturing and layering of “Fooling Anybody are periodically increased, starting with the entrance of a more Rock-aligned guitar. The final seconds are particularly interesting.

     Cowboy Dinosaur is the solo project of multi-instrumentalist Blake Hickey in Portland, Oregon. For “Fooling Anybody,” Ji Tanzer joined Blake on drums. The enchanting backing vocals are Ellis Sportel. Quoting the notes regarding the single:

  The idea behind this song was when you’re struggling with something whether it’s depression, unhappy in a relationship, some perceived flaw with yourself, whatever it may be, sometimes it’s the people closest to you that can’t see it since you try your hardest to hide it from them, hence “I’m not fooling no one but you.” That said, I partially wrote that in jest since most of the time you only think you’re fooling the people around you, but they likely still know you’re struggling with something even if they can’t say what.

     “Fooling Anybody” by Cowboy Dinosaur 

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Lyrics of “Fooling Anybody” by Cowboy Dinosaur

Well, all my time is misdirected

And I don't know which way goes through

But all I know don't involve you

But in my dreams, I'm disconnected

I lack the courage to follow through

But I can't face tomorrow too

And I'm not fooling anybody, anybody, anybody

I'm not fooling no one but you

And I'm not fooling anybody, anybody, anybody

I'm not fooling no one but you

My mind goes blank, that's never happened

I've always faked my way on through

A constant struggle not to think or do

There's always a reason to be unhappy

Even if that's not really true

I hate myself, but can't stand to hurt you

And I'm not fooling anybody, anybody, anybody

I'm not fooling no one but you

And I'm not fooling anybody, anybody, anybody

I'm not fooling no one but you

And I'm not fooling anybody, anybody, anybody

I'm not fooling no one but you

And I'm not fooling anybody, anybody, anybody

I'm not fooling no one but you

And I'm not fooling anybody, anybody, anybody

I'm not fooling no one but you

And I'm not fooling anybody