Fool of Fools

Dickey Pearse lies in a Cotswold stone tomb in St Mary’s churchyard, next to Berkeley Castle in Gloucestershire

The inscription on his tomb reads;

Dickey Pearse lies here

The last Court Jester

The Earl of Suffolk’s Fool

His folly served to make folks laugh

When Wit and Mirth were scarce

Poor Dick alas is dead and gone

What signifies to cry

Dickeys enough are still behind

To laugh at by and by

Buried XV111 MDCCXXV111

18th of June 1728

The Tomb inscription is practically the only reference to Dickey in Castle records. Apart from the legend that he met his end falling from the Minstrels gallery in the Great Hall of the Castle.

He was 63 years old at the time. Did he fall or was he pushed? No one knows.

I was really impressed by a Clown at a visiting Circus.

He fooled around, sang, danced, juggled, flew through the air, performed magic, and played on various instruments.

That’s when understood just how versatile Dickey must have been, to have been so beloved, to deserve such a significant tomb in the churchyard

So I wrote this poem, now also a song

Fool of Fools

Spinning on the edge of life, senses all afire

I’ll sing and dance and play a tune, whichever you desire

Whatever you desire, whatever you desire

This Jesters here at your command

Whatever you desire

I am a force of nature, defying all the rules

I never miss a beat, a reckless Fool of Fools

Reckless Fool of Fools, a reckless Fool of Fools

Tumbling here above the crowd

A reckless Fool of Fools

Wheel of Fortune tumbles on

As it does for every man

Fortunes Wheel takes us up

And brings us down again

I am a Bird of Paradise, your company's divine

Smiles and cheers and happiness, your love forever mine

Love forever mine, your love forever mine

I won’t forget the smiles and cheers

Your love forever mine

I’ve climbed the ladder of Excess, balanced here on high

Clambered up, must now descend, this old bird cannot fly

This bird cannot fly, this old bird cannot fly

I’ve climbed the ladder of Success

But simply cannot fly.

Wheel of Fortune turns again,

My Fortune rolls around

The Wheel that took me up

Brings me to the ground

The Jester leaves the room, leaves us all behind

With few regrets and many friends, he never failed to Shine

He never failed to Shine, never failed to Shine

With an elegant twist, and a farewell kiss

With a graceful wave, and a last pratfall

He leaves Lord Suffolk’s Hall

Wheel of Fortune turns again

After every downward dive

The Wheel turns round and picks us up

And Fortune starts to rise

https://youtu.be/wCY5DgOzlFI