| "Certain Kind of Fool" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Eagles | ||||
| from the album Desperado | ||||
| A-side | "Outlaw Man" | |||
| Released | August 6, 1973 | |||
| Format | 7" | |||
| Genre | Rock, Country rock | |||
| Length | 3:02 | |||
| Label | Asylum | |||
| Writer(s) | Randy Meisner, Glenn Frey, Don Henley | |||
| Producer | Glyn Johns | |||
| Eagles singles chronology | ||||
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"Certain Kind of Fool" is a song by the American rock band the Eagles featuring bassist Randy Meisner on lead vocals, with Don Henley performing the main harmony vocal and Glenn Frey providing backing vocals. Frey also plays the electric guitar part and solo; Bernie Leadon plays the acoustic guitar. It was released as the B-side to Outlaw Man, the second single from 1973's Desperado.
The song depicts the progression of a criminal from his meager beginnings as a "poor boy living in a small family", to his mastery of the gun as an adult, and ending with his stance as a "wanted man", constantly on the run from the law.
This song could also be taken as a view of the life of a musician. The phrase, "he saw it in a window" is unclear whether he is speaking of a gun or guitar, the same with "he took it to the country and practiced for days without rest," being a "wanted man" can also mean that he is wanted by his fans. "Running every day" can also mean either running from the law, or constantly being on the road, touring with the band.