Alpha, their second album, also had a couple of hits ("Don't Cry" and "The Smile Has Left Your Eyes") but its follow-up, Astra, was a flop. The group disbanded in 1985, only to reunite in 1990 without John Wetton; John Payne took his place. After churning out a couple of new songs for a greatest-hits collection, the band hit the road, including two sold-out dates in front of 20,000 fans in Moscow. Thereafter, they toured sporadically and released Aqua (1992), Aria (1994), Arena (1996), Aura (2001), and Silent Nation (2004). The band's lineup reverted to its original form featuring Wetton, Palmer, Howe, and Downes for Phoenix (2008) and Omega (2010). In 2012, the original Asia lineup returned with the studio album XXX, featuring the single "Face on the Bridge." The following year, Howe announced his amicable departure from the group to pursue other projects, and in 2014 Asia released the album Gravitas, featuring new guitarist Sam Coulson. In January 2017, a month and a half before the scheduled beginning of an extensive U.S. tour by the band, John Wetton died from colon cancer at the age of 67.
Biography by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
There is another band with the same name:
2) Asia was an excellent hard rock band with a drive for epic, pomp-filled rock tunes. The band was from Rapid City, South Dakota and should not be confused with the famous U.K. one, which sadly outshone them and ended up rendering the U.S. group highly obscure despite the U.S. one's critical support. Going for a loose instrumental energy similar to Deep Purple and Led Zeppelin, their eventual line-up was made up of Michael English (vocals, bass, percussion), Larry Galbraith (vocals, guitars, mandolin), Mike Coates (guitars, mandolin, mellotron, piano, harpsichord, vocals), and Doug Johnson (percussion). They released two albums: 'Asia' (1979) and 'Armed to the Teeth' (1980).
The Smile Has Left Your Eyes
Asia Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But now you come to me, the solitary man
And I know what it is that made us live
Such ordinary lives
Where to go, the who to see
No one could sympathize
The smile has left your eyes
The smile has left your eyes
And I've become a rolling stone
I don't know where to go or what to call my own
But I can see that black horizon looming ever close to view
It's over now it's not my fault
See how this feels for you
The smile has left your eyes
The smile has left your eyes
I never thought I'd see you
Standing there with him
So don't come crawling back to me
I saw you standing hand in hand
But now you come to me, the solitary man
And I know what it is that made us live
Such ordinary lives
Where to go, the who to see
No one could sympathize
The smile had left your eyes
Now it's too late to realize
Now there's no one can say goodbyes
Now that the smile has left your eyes
Now it's too late to realize
Now there's no one can sympathize
Now it's too late to realize
Now that the smile has left your eyes
The smile has left your eyes
The Smile Has Left Your Eyes, by Asia, is a song that tells the story of a man finding himself alone after a breakup. The song begins with the singer seeing his former lover with someone else but then she comes back to him alone. He reflects on the mundane aspects of their relationship, such as where to go and who to see, and how no one could sympathize with their struggles. The chorus repeats the haunting line "the smile has left your eyes," hinting at the sadness and emptiness in both the singer and his former lover.
The second verse has a more pessimistic tone, with the singer feeling lost and unsure of where to go or what to call his own. He sees the "black horizon looming" and knows that it's not his fault but that he must face it. The chorus repeats this time with an added sense of finality, with the singer acknowledging that it's too late to realize what they had and that now no one can say goodbyes.
Overall, the song delves into themes of heartbreak, loneliness, and the futility of trying to save a relationship that has already ended. The lyrics are raw and emotional, capturing the pain of lost love and the struggle to move on.
Line by Line Meaning
I saw you standing hand in hand
I witnessed you with someone else
But now you come to me the solitary man
But now you are back with no one by your side
And I know what it is that made us live
I understand what brought us together
Such ordinary lives
Our lives were average and unremarkable
The where to go the who to see
We had no clear direction or specific people to meet
No one could sypathize
No one could relate to us
The smile has left your eyes
I can see that you are no longer happy
And I've become a rolling stone
I am now a wanderer with no set destination
I don't know where to go or what to call my own
I am lost and without a place to belong
But I can see that black horizon looming
I can sense that something ominous is approaching
Ever close to view
It is coming nearer
It's over now it's not my fault
Our relationship has ended and it is not my fault
See how this feels for you
Experience the pain that I am going through
I never thought I'd see you
I never expected to see you with someone else
Standing there with him
By his side, instead of me
So don't come crawling back to me...
Do not try to reconcile with me
Now it's too late to realize
It is too late for us to come to terms with reality
Now there's no one can say goodbyes
No one can console us as we part ways
The smile has left your eyes
Your once happy expression is now gone
Now it's too late to realize
We cannot change what has happened
Now there's no one can sympathize
No one can truly understand our pain
Now it's too late to realize
We can only accept the situation and move on
Now that the smile has left your eyes
Now that you are no longer happy
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: John Kenneth Wetton
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@marieblue
John Wetton penned “The Smile Has Left Your Eyes” (1983) about his bandmate Geoff Downes.
In an interview, he stated : “[Geoff] was going through a complete emotional turmoil over a girl […], and I identified so strongly that I went home and wrote the song IN FIVE MINUTES. Boom! Sat right down at the piano and there it was. IF ANYTHING’S STRAIGHT FROM THE HEART, THAT SONG IS.” 💙🎹💜
May you rest in peace, John Kenneth Wetton (1949 - 2017)… 🌹
@nicholasanderson2371
I'm 23 years old, I first started listening to this song when I was 8. My step dad gave me a CD player with a screen and speakers and also gave me a couple of Asia and Rush albums. I watched and listened to those albums on repeat. And now 15 years later, the videos come to the stage. This is very nostalgic for me; this song along with a few others from Asia and Rush got me through some of the most difficult parts of my childhood. Thank you John
@chrisolivo6591
Such an underrated Asia song.
@bullbearjeff
💯
@peggystarr7106
Of all their hits this is my favorite
@chuckcochran8599
Very much so. Of all the songs they did, The Smile Has Left Your Eyes has always given me chills to hear it. So well written and each member showed a mastery of their respective instruments.
@aleocampos9547
Unfortunately, indeed. In my opinion is one of their best songs played by extraordinary musicians, and perhaps, John's most impressive, powerful performance as a singer, very touching. I definetly love it 💖💖
@DebiG1057
John Wetton was my favorite prog singer. Now, I am old and still listen.
@aleocampos9547
An extremely beautiful song by this AMAZING supergroup... and John's voice. He had the voice of an angel, he was absolutely fantastic. Definetly, Asia - supergroup, super musicians - is in my top 5 favourite bands; I loved even their reunion albums. I am so lucky to have been a happy teenager in the 80s and have the opportunity to enjoy such wonderful music. John, I still miss you, but you live in your legacy, your music and every time we listen to your unique voice 💙. Gone but never forgotten. God Bless you!!
@kurtissjacobs5618
Since you said it, let me ask, because nobody's ever been able to tell me. What does "supergroup" mean? I know that Asia was built from stars of other bands, but the best I had been able to piece together was that "supergroup" meant a band with more than one lead singer. Did Asia have more than one lead singer, or is the definition something else...is it as simple as a band that was hypersuccessful?