The Fool on the Hill is a 1967 Beatles song from the Magical Mystery Tour project, written and sung by Paul McCartney and credited to Lennon–McCartney. The lyrics describe a solitary, seemingly foolish figure who is actually wise, with McCartney explaining the idea came from the Dutch design collective The Fool and possibly from Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. Musically it is a psychedelic pop ballad that moves from D major to D minor to reflect the line “the sun going down” and features flutes and a bird-like tape effect.
Key facts:
- Artist: The Beatles
- Year: 1967
- Album/EP: Magical Mystery Tour (US LP and UK EP)
- Genre: Psychedelic pop
- Recording: EMI Studios, London — September 25–27 and October 20, 1967
- Notable background: a sequence for the Magical Mystery Tour film was shot near Nice, France, separately from the rest of the film
- Notable cover: Sérgio Mendes & Brasil ’66 reached the US top ten in 1968
