The Shadow of Your Smile
Chuck Redd Lyrics
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When you have gone
Will color all my dreams
And light the dawn
Look into my eyes my love and see
All the lovely things you are to me
It was far, too high
A teardrop kissed your lips
And so did I
Now when I remember spring
All the joys that love can bring
I will be remembering
The shadow of your smile
Chuck Redd’s timeless classic “The Shadow of Your Smile” is a song about a person who has fallen in love with someone deeply and now, that the person has gone, he/she is left with just the memory of their love. The shadow of that person's smile is prominent in the songwriter’s memory every time he/she thinks of their love. The song starts off by saying that the shadow of the person's smile will color all his/her dreams and light the dawn, which essentially means that the memory of the person and their smile will stay with him/her forever, every single day.
The songwriter then asks his/her love to look into their eyes and see all the lovely things that they mean to him/her. This could be interpreted as a plea to the person to stay because of all the love, affection and care they mean to the songwriter. The song then continues with the story, saying that the person loved a star that was too high to reach, but a teardrop kissed their lips, and so did the songwriter. Now, when the songwriter remembers the joys of love, they will only think of the shadow of the person's smile as it is all that is left.
In summary, the song “The Shadow of Your Smile” is a melancholic but beautiful take on the idea of cherishing someone’s memory and keep loving them in their absence. The love that lasts forever is highlighted here, as the memory of the person stays with the songwriter even after they have gone.
Line by Line Meaning
The shadow of your smile
The memory of your smiling face will linger even after you leave
When you have gone
When you depart from my presence
Will color all my dreams
Will influence my dreams and perceptions
And light the dawn
And make my mornings bright and cheery
Look into my eyes my love and see
Gaze directly into my eyes and witness the depths of my affection for you
All the lovely things you are to me
Observe how much you are cherished and admired in my eyes
Our wistful little star
Our yearning and nostalgic star
It was far, too high
It was unreachable and out of our grasp
A teardrop kissed your lips
A tear fell upon your lips
And so did I
And I kissed your lips as well
Now when I remember spring
Whenever I reminisce about the season of spring
All the joys that love can bring
All the happiness and pleasure that love can offer
I will be remembering
I will recollect
The shadow of your smile
The lingering memory of your delightful smile
Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: PAUL WEBSTER, JOHNNY MARDEL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind