You can fool the landlord, so you don't pay the rent
You can fool the world and become the president
You can fool all the people some the time
You can make a million dollars and cry, 'I don't have a lousy dime'

But you can't fool the blues
No, you can't fool the blues, yeah
When you're makin' all the rules, it's so hard to lose
But you can't fool the blues, oh no

You can fool the Romans into lending you an ear
Write a story in the papers believin' every smear
You can fool the rich by drivin' in a wreck
You can get up someone's nose, every time you bounce a cheque

But you can't fool the blues
No, you can't fool the blues, yeah
You can't fool the blues, it just laughs at each lie
You can't fool the blues, oh no

You can fool your brother into lending you his car
Rub up the waitress for some cocktails at the bar
You can talk some bimbo into takin' you home
You can fool the wife into thinkin' you're alone

But you can't fool the blues
Yeah, you can't fool the blues, yeah
Well, that blues chews you up and spits you right out
You can't fool the blues, oh no