Bernard Butler (born on 1 May 1970, in Stamford Hill, North London), is a m… Read Full Bio ↴Bernard Butler (born on 1 May 1970, in Stamford Hill, North London), is a musician and record producer. He first achieved fame in 1992 as the guitarist with Suede, at the time an instant phenomenon in UK pop music. He co-wrote and played on every track until 1994, when he left Suede over personal tensions within the band during the recording of their second album, Dog Man Star.

Butler formed the duo McAlmont & Butler with David McAlmont. They released two singles, Yes and You Do. A compilation album, The Sound of McAlmont and Butler, was released after the split. Butler went on to release two albums under his own name, People Move On and Friends and Lovers, before a second McAlmont & Butler album, Bring it Back, and two singles, Falling and Bring it Back.

Since then Butler formed a new band, The Tears with former Suede cohort, Brett Anderson. They released their highly anticipated debut LP, Here Come The Tears, produced by Butler, in June 2005. Singles include Refugees, which reached #9 in the UK charts, and Lovers.

In between his own projects he has played on and produced records by Sparks, Edwyn Collins, Aimee Mann, Neneh Cherry, Tim Booth (of James), Manic Street Preachers, Eddi Reader, Hopper, Roy Orbison, Bert Jansch and The Libertines. He created the soundtrack to the 1997 film The James Gang and played on the soundtrack of Velvet Goldmine, alongside Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood of Radiohead. He has played live with The Cranberries, Paul Weller, Teenage Fanclub and Manic Street Preachers.

He helped shape the sound of newcomer Duffy in 2008. For his production work on her debut album Rockferry, Bernard won the Producer's Award at the 2009 BRIT Awards, and Producer Of The Year at the 2008 Music Producers' Guild awards.

Smile
Bernard Butler Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Don't hold your pain
In the cracks in your face
Remember those lines will reflect your whole life
You don't look the same when your heart is tame

What's in your hand?
Tell me what's in your hand?

Spare a thought for something I've been taught
You won't get far keeping me awake
So smile
Just smile

And then sing this song
Without a care anywhere
I will care for you in every way
I will share every day

Stoned despair
Just leaves our minds unaware
Until we sing this song
Without a care anywhere
I will care for your in every way
I will share every day
You're too smart for me to take

Just don't despair, sugar, land is near
Could we walk for miles without the faintest smile?

Just smile
Smile!

Overall Meaning

The opening lines of Bernard Butler's "Smile" is a powerful encouragement to not hold onto pain but rather let it go. Holding onto pain is like cracks in one's face, which reflect the struggles one went through. People can tell when one is deeply hurt and it shows on the face. Not holding one's pain and letting go can change one's appearance and demeanor.

The chorus of the song pleads with the listener to smile through the pain. Every person has something in their hand, whether it be joy, sadness or anxiety. The hope is that the listener can hold onto joy and positivity rather than despair.

The second verse touches on feeling stoned or overwhelmed, and how it can leave one unaware of their surroundings. Singing this song without a care in the world can help lift the weight of the world off the shoulders. The singer promises to care for and share every day with the listener.

The bridge of the song shifts the tone a bit. Despite acknowledging the struggle and pain, the singer encourages the listener that they are "too smart" to be taken by despair forever. In the end, the song circles back to the main message in the title - smile. Even as the song ends with a call to smile, it doesn't feel forced or surface-level. Rather, Butler manages to pack a lot of emotional depth in the song that can resonate with the listener.

Line by Line Meaning

Don't hold your pain
Don't suppress your pain

In the cracks in your face
On your face, visible to all

Remember those lines will reflect your whole life
Your face shows your overall life experience

You don't look the same when your heart is tame
Your emotions impact your appearance

What's in your hand?
What are you holding onto?

Tell me what's in your hand?
What are you holding onto?

Spare a thought for something I've been taught
Consider something I've learned

You won't get far keeping me awake
If you continue to worry, you won't succeed

So smile
Be happy

Just smile
Simply be happy

And then sing this song
Express your happiness through music