King of Fools [Dennis DeYoung]

King of Fools
Written by Dennis DeYoung
Lead Vocals by Dennis DeYoung

Clopin and Company

Now listen and learn for there's more here than meets the eye

Do you see them there with their finery and jewels
They're gonna find some freak and crown him king of fools
From the poor and oppressed
They're gonna pick the ugliest
And make him the king

But don't be fooled by their generosity
It's just a dirty trick by the aristocracy
Ya see they want somebody who
They can mock and ridicule
Someone like you, and me, but especially you

(Chorus)

Who'll be the king of fools
Who'll be the king of fools
Could it be me or you
King of fools
King of fools

Keep your fingers light for it's time to confiscate
For a pocked picked puts a sausage on the plate
Besides, the rich and velvet clad
Are just waiting to be had
So deservedly

God damn these gypsies
They're demons from Satan's lair
They'll move right in
Then there goes the town and square
First they'll amuse you and smile then they'll steal you blind

Cause given have a chance
You know they're gonna breed like rats

Then voila you'll see
There goes our ethnic purity

(Chorus)

Who'll be the king of fools
Who'll be the king of fools
His ugliness always rules
King of fools
King of fools

Today's the day
We celebrate the feast
And worship not the beauty
But the beast

So if people gasp in shock

Cause your face could stop a clock

Step right this way

Who'll be the king of fools
Who'll be the king of fools
His ugliness always rules
King of fools
King of fools

Interpretation

In the first act of the Hunchback of Notre Dame story, Frollo, the Archdeacon of Notre Dame, is torn between his obsessive lust for the beautiful street dancer Esmeralda and the rules of Notre Dame Cathedral. He orders the hunchback Quasimodo to kidnap her, but Quasimodo is captured by Phoebus and his guards. After he saves her, Esmeralda becomes besotted with Phoebus. Gringoire a poet who attempted to help Esmeralda but was knocked out by Quasimodo, unwittingly wanders into the "Court of Miracles", populated by the Roma and the truands (petty criminals), of whom Clopin Trouillefou is the leader. They are about to hang him for being an outsider, but Esmeralda saves him by agreeing to marry him for four years.

The name Trouillefou literally means Lame Fool, so Clopin, who is called "King of Truands" ironically could be called the "King of Fools".  However, in this context, he and the other truands are mocking Quasimodo, the ugly hunchback, and crowning him the King of Fools.