David Ruffin - Statue of a Fool

Many of my favorite childhood memories are riding shotgun in my moms van while listening to music on "her" stereo. More often then not she was listening to classic soul and r&b records. At the time I couldn't grasp just how important the music blasting from the speakers was to her and eventually would become to me. The Four Tops, Marvin Gaye, Otis Redding, Aretha Franklin, The Temptations, Sam Cooke, the list goes on. On one night as we were driving a song come on the radio that I didn't recognize. My mom couldn't contain her excitement saying that this is one of her favorite songs that she hasn't heard in years. I listened to it and to me it sounded like your normal run of the mill slow 70's r&b track. Only over time did I realize How wrong I was.

The song was David Ruffin's - Statue of a Fool.

David Ruffin started as the drummer of the Temptations. He later went on to become a backup singer for the group until he sang lead on the the massive hit "My Girl". In 1968, due to major ego and drug issues, he was fired from the Temptations. He went on to start a solo career and achieved moderate success. But by the time of the release of the album "Who I Am" in 1975 he was already being called a has been. The album is filled with upbeat, dance tracks. The second to last song however is the first song Ruffin ever received credit for writing "Statue of a Fool".

The song is about a lonely man reflecting on "letting love slip through his hands". I could talk forever about how beautifully sad this song is. His vocal delivery, the lyrics, the bassline , the bells and whistels. One of the things I find most interesting about the song is the word "love" is used as a metaphor, which is rarely used in songwriting nowadays. It all just works for the 4 minutes the song last. It's still to this day one of the most honest songs I've ever heard.

I'm a avid vinyl collector. This past weekend while out shopping for vinyl I cam across the "Who I Am" record for 5 bucks. I'm sure the record has been pasted over hundreds of times by random record collectors who have never even heard of David Ruffin let alone one of the greatest songs ever written. I found a true gem for my collection. My excitement double when I returned home and my mother and I shared a moment as we both listened to a song that has always meant alot to her and now even more to me.

(lyrics)
David Ruffin - Statue of a Fool

Somewhere there should be
for all the world to see
a statue of a fool made of stone
An image of a man
who let love slip through his hands
and left him to stand here all alone.

So build a statue
and oh build it high
so all the world can see
and inscribe the worlds greatest fool
and name it after me.


And there on his face
a gold tear should be placed
to honor every tear he shed
And i think it would show
and everyone would know
concealed inside is a broken heart.

download:
http://www.zshare.net/audio/48646703069a3c/