Track 2 on No More Clownin'
What Kind Of a Fool
Built on 1 Corinthians 3:18–19, Proverbs 1:7, and Proverbs 1:22
01Read along
The study behind the song
Built on 1 Corinthians 3:18–19, Proverbs 1:7, and Proverbs 1:22.
What Kind Of a Fool begins in a dressing room, with a performer reading the dictionary entry for his own condition: blockhead, simpleton, chump, a professional clown, a gullible stooge. The verses walk through those definitions one by one until the made-up smile can no longer hide what the mirror shows. The chorus turns them into a confession, asking what kind of fool trades truth for gold and loves the world's chains.
The answer comes from 1 Corinthians 3:18-19. Paul tells the church at Corinth, proud of its human wisdom, not to deceive themselves: whoever wants to be wise must become a fool in this world's eyes, because this world's wisdom is foolishness with God. Proverbs 1 adds the other kind of fool, the one who despises wisdom and instruction and hates knowledge.
The song sets the two side by side. One kind of foolishness performs for a passing crowd. The other lets the curtain fall and answers the Master's call. In the closing lines the mask lies on the table and the cross is making him wise.
02Sing along
Lyrics
Sitting in the dressing room, the makeup's running cold
Staring at a reflection that is looking worn and old
The circus poster's on the wall, the vanity is bright
But the mirror's telling secrets in the middle of the night
I opened up the synonym book to see what's on the page
To find the definition of the man upon the stage
Blockhead, nincompoop, simpleton, a chump
Sitting in the dressing room, head down in a slump
What kind of a fool am I, to trade the truth for gold?
What kind of a fool am I, to let my soul be sold?
Deficient in my judgment, dancing for a transient crowd
Wearing a painted smile while the circus yells out loud
I’m looking at the definition, staring at the stain
What kind of a fool am I to love the worldly chains?
The dictionary told the truth, it hit me like a stone
Definition number three: a jester on a throne
A professional clown making everybody smile
While the rot inside my spirit has been building for a mile
Definition number four: a gullible old stooge
Imposed upon by pharaohs and the damage here is huge
I spent a lifetime building up an entertaining lie
But tonight I'm asking Jesus, "What kind of fool am I?"
First Corinthians three is staring right back at my pride
Let no man deceive the empty canvas deep inside
If you want to be wise, you gotta let the curtains fall
Become a fool to the world to answer to the Master's call
Proverbs chapter one says that the fools despise the light
They hate the true wisdom and they gamble with the night
I’m tearing up the script tonight, I'm dropping down the mask
I’m stepping to the crossroads for the only saving task
What kind of a fool am I, to trade the truth for gold?
What kind of a fool am I, to let my soul be sold?
Deficient in my judgment, dancing for a transient crowd
Wearing a painted smile while the circus yells out loud
I’m looking at the definition, staring at the stain
What kind of a fool am I to love the worldly chains?
Look at the synonyms.
Look at the mask on the table.
Deficient in judgment.
But the cross is making me wise.
Yeah... no more playing the part.
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