"Chain of Fools" is a song written by Don Covay. Aretha Franklin first released the song as a single in 1967 and subsequently it appeared on many of her albums. It reached number one on the U.S. R&B chart, staying there for four weeks, and went to number two on the pop chart in January 1968. ^[1].

It won the Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance, and later a Grammy Hall of Fame Award. In 2004, this song was ranked #249 on Rolling Stone's list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.^[2] The trademark tremolo guitar licks at the introduction were played by Joe South.

"Chain Of Fools" is an unauthorized rewrite of the gospel song "Pains Of Life", released earlier in 1967 by Elijah Fair & The Sensational Gladys Davis Trio. "Pains Of Life" has the same melody as the later song, as well the chorus "Pain Pain Pain", which is echoed as "Chain Chain Chain" in the Franklin recording.

In the 1996 movie Michael, Aretha Franklin's "Chain of Fools" is the juke box selection played as Michael (John Travolta) dances with - at the start - 2 waitresses and then - finally - most of the women in the restaurant/bar.

The song is featured in a 1986 episode of Valerie (later known as The Hogan Family).