Smiling Phases
Blood Sweat And Tears Lyrics


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Do yourself a favor
Wake up to your mind
Life is what you make it
You see, but still you're blind
Get yourself together
Give before you take
You'll find out the hard way
Soon you're gonna break

Hey hey hey
Smiling phases
Showing traces
Even if they bust you
Keep on smiling through and through
And you'll be amazed at the gaze
On their faces as they sentence you
You don't need a lawyer
When you're in a fix
Someone gets to pay up

Your friends are full of tricks
But happiness is something
That you just can't buy
Own up to the truth girl
Your love has gone on by
Smiling Phases bring you flowers
You can line 'em up
And you can watch 'em grow for hours
And you'll be amazed at the way that they stare

As they walk by your door
Do yourself a favor
Wake up to your mind
Life is what you make it
You see, but still you're blind
Get yourself together
Give before you take
You'll find out the hard way

Soon you're gonna break
Hey hey hey
Smiling phases
Going Places
Even if they bust you
Keep on smiling through and through




And you'll be amazed at the gaze
On their faces as they sentence you!

Overall Meaning

The verses of "Smiling Phases" are advising the listener to wake up and take control of their life, because they can't rely on anyone else to do it for them. The first verse says to "do yourself a favor" and wake up to your mind. The singer is saying that we see what is going on in the world, but we are still blind to the bigger picture. The second verse tells us that we need to get ourselves together and give before we take, in order to avoid breaking down the road. In other words, putting others before oneself and being selfless will prevent heartache in the future. The chorus is telling us that even if we get caught in a tough situation, we should keep smiling and remain positive because we will be surprised at the effect it has on those around us.


Line by Line Meaning

Do yourself a favor
Take care of yourself


Wake up to your mind
Be aware of your thoughts


Life is what you make it
You have control over your life


You see, but still you're blind
You may observe, but not fully comprehend


Get yourself together
Pull yourself together


Give before you take
Help others before helping yourself.


You'll find out the hard way
You will learn from your own mistakes


Soon you're gonna break
Eventually you will crack under pressure


Hey hey hey
Expression of excitement


Smiling phases
Pretending to be happy


Showing traces
Giving subtle hints


Even if they bust you
Even if you get caught


Keep on smiling through and through
Continue to pretend to be happy


And you'll be amazed at the gaze
You will be surprised by their reaction


On their faces as they sentence you
When they judge you


You don't need a lawyer
You do not need legal representation


When you're in a fix
When you're in trouble


Someone gets to pay up
Someone has to take responsibility


Your friends are full of tricks
Your friends may deceive you


But happiness is something
Happiness cannot arise from materialism


That you just can't buy
It is something intangible


Own up to the truth girl
Admit the truth


Your love has gone on by
Your love is gone


Smiling Phases bring you flowers
Pretending to be happy attracts positive attention


You can line 'em up
You can align the attention


And you can watch 'em grow for hours
Observe as attention gradually grows


And you'll be amazed at the way that they stare
You will be surprised by how they look at you


As they walk by your door
As they pass you by


Hey hey hey
Expression of excitement


Smiling phases
Pretending to be happy


Going Places
Succeeding in life


Even if they bust you
Even if you get caught


Keep on smiling through and through
Continue to pretend to be happy


And you'll be amazed at the gaze
You will be surprised by their reaction


On their faces as they sentence you!
When they judge you




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: CHRIS WOOD, JIM CAPALDI, STEVE WINWOOD

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@kingfisherphil

Fabulous band, all accomplished musicians, especially Lew Soloff. These guys broke a mould, barriers and got many younger people into jazz etc......... Mr Fielder was also superb on bass.

@robsco1249

Their first 4 albums are wonderful, the second one is a pure masterpiece...up there with the best Chicago records if not even better...and their drummer was astonishing.

@robertoprzybylski7773

This was their best line-up ever, shown on 2nd,3rd and 4th albums, switching on the 4th the great Dave Bargeron for Jerry Hyman on trombone.

@robertoprzybylski7773

Bobby Colomby

@ignorecorporatenews

The 5th album kicked ass also

@natepicker436

Wasn't Guercio (SP?) the producer for the 2nd album and also Chicago's first few? Check out Jim Fiedler on that Fender bass....Dick Halligan...and all the others everyone mentions...Yowsa!

@SeaMonster111

David Clayton Thomas! What a voice! Bobby Columby! What a drummer!

@robertoprzybylski7773

And Lew Soloff a genius trumpeter, playing afterwards with Thad Jones/Mel Lewis and Gil Evans big bands on seminal jazz records, along with BS&T mate trombonist, the amazing Dave Bargeron.

@RubyBandUSA

OK, OK, let's not forget the great Fred Lipsius on tenor sax - and piano!!

@robertoprzybylski7773

@@RubyBandUSA Also Dick Halligan on keyboards,trombone and flute and the under rated fine trumpeter Chuck Winfield as well as trombonist Jerry Hyman who became a dentist in the following years.

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