FRIDAYS ARE FOR FRANK: “A Day In The Life Of A Fool”

“Manhã de Carnaval” (“Morning of Carnival”), is a popular song by Brazilian composer Luiz Bonfá and lyricist Antônio Maria.

In the United States, the song is also known as “A Day in the Life of a Fool,” and became one of the first compositions identified with Bossa Nova to gain popularity outside Brazil.

Frank Sinatra recorded it in 1969 as part of his seminal My Way album—an anecdotal look back at what had brought him to that point, which set the tone for the latter stage of his career.

One note that reverberated throughout Sinatra’s post-My Way performances was the pain of love lost or squandered. The damage done by his tumultuous relationship with starlet Ava Gardner seemed to be an inspiration for every melancholy song he performed from then on.

Ava was the great “I told you so,” in Sinatra’s life. As the romance bloomed, many thought he was a fool and had warned him against it. His fan base was split, due to his infidelity to then-wife Nancy.

But the hook was set way too deeply for Frank, and he would never shake off that line.

A day in the life of a fool
A sad and a long lonely day
I walk the avenue
And hope I’ll run into
The welcome sight of you
Coming my way

I stop just across from your door
But you’re never home any more
So back to my room
And there in the gloom
I cry tears of good bye
(That’s the way it will be every day in the life of fool)

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