Barry Gibb originally wrote this pedal-steel-heavy song of heartache in 1986. He laid down the tune for a solo album that got shelved due to group commitments; as Robin Gibb wasn't into country music, it didn't get recorded by The Bee Gees either. Barry always felt that "Words Of A Fool" never got the treatment or attention it deserved, and when he came to choose the tracks for Greenfields: The Gibb Brothers Songbook, Vol. 1 it was an obvious choice. The album contains interpretations by country music singers of some Bee Gees numbers; this song was released as its lead single on November 6, 2020.
This song finds Barry Gibb trading verses with Jason Isbell about an old relationship. The two singers miss their lover, but can look back on happy memories. They are glad they followed their hearts and have known love, though that love is now lost.
Uncut magazine asked Greenfields co-producer Dave Cobb how a comparatively new name like Jason Isbell crossed Gibb's radar. Cobb replied: "I've worked with Jason a lot, and I would have suggested him for the project if Barry hadn't beaten me to it. His son Stephen's a big fan and introduced his dad to his records. It thrills me that Jason got to perform what is clearly the least known of their songs and not so weighed down by history."
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