Smile Though Your Heart is Aching
Most people are surprised to learn that the music to this favorite was written by the legendary silent film star Charlie Chaplin, whose "Little Tramp" character is perhaps the most enduring of all figures of the silent film era.
Smile Though Your Heart is Aching
Chaplin composed the song to be used as the theme to one of his very last (and finally one of the best known) silent films, modern Times, released in 1936.
The song didn't become known as "Smile" until lyrics were added in 1954 by John Turner and Geoffrey Parsons and it was recorded by Nat King Cole. It reached #10 on the Billboard charts that same year.
Chaplin also wrote the Academy Award winning (1952) score from his movie, Limelight.
Ironically, issue and controversy clouded much of the life of this slap-stick genius. He grappled with the government over taxes; he was targeted as a communist sympathiser during the "Red Scare" Senator Joe McCarthy era; controversy surrounded his marriage late in life to Oona O'Neill, twenty years younger than he, and daughter of noted playwright Eugene O'Neill.
Despite his "fear and sorrow," throughout his long and efficient life (he died on Christmas day in 1977 at the age of 89), Charlie Chaplin mostly brought joy and laughter to his millions of fans...and legitimately many a "smile."
"Smile" has been recorded and released countless times, together with as the up-to-date Tony Bennett / Barbra Streisand collaboration on Bennett's 2006 Duets album.
Smile Lyrics
Theme Music for modern Times
(Music by Charles "Charlie" Chaplin -- Lyrics by John Turner and Geoffrey Parsons)
Smile tho' your heart is aching,
Smile even tho' it's breaking,
When there are clouds in the sky
You'll get by,
If you smile
thro' your fear and sorrow,
Smile and maybe tomorrow,
You'll see the sun come shin-ing thro' for you
Light up your face with gladness,
Hide ev-'ry trace of sadness,
Al -'tho a tear may be ever so near,
That's the time,
You must keep on trying,
Smile, what's the use of crying,
You'll find that life is still worth-while,
If you just smile...
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