Brubeck's style ranged from refined to bombastic, reflecting his mother's attempts at classical training and his improvisational skills. Much of his music employed unusual time signatures, a fact jokingly referred to by his greatest hits album 'Time Signatures: A Career Retrospective'. Upon his death, a number of commentators noted his crossover appeal to mainstream pop audiences, something putting him in the company of other jazz legends such as Louis Armstrong and Herbie Hancock among others.
When You're Smiling
Dave Brubeck Lyrics
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He was a kind man,
Helping a fellow along,
One could not see,
One could not walk,
But they both were humming this song;
When you're smiling, When you're smiling,
When you're laughing, When you're laughing,
The sun comes shining through,
But when you're crying you bring on the rain,
So stop your sighing be happy again,
Keep on smiling 'cause when you're smiling,
The whole world smiles with you.
I used to worry,
I used to hurry,
Each time it started to rain,
Now I see light,
Learned wrong from right,
And you'll never hear me complain;
When you're smiling, When you're smiling,
The whole world smiles with you,
When you're laughing, When you're laughing,
The sun comes shining through,
But when you're crying you bring on the rain,
So stop your sighing be happy again,
Keep on smiling 'cause when you're smiling,
The lyrics of Dave Brubeck's song "When You're Smiling" portray a powerful message of the impact our attitudes and emotions can have on the world around us. The song begins with an observation of a blind man who, despite his own challenges, shows kindness by helping another person. The fact that one cannot see and the other cannot walk doesn't hinder their ability to connect and share joy. They demonstrate this by humming the song together.
The chorus emphasizes the infectious nature of a smile and laughter. When we are smiling and laughing, the lyrics suggest that the positive energy radiates outward and affects others. The whole world joins in on the happiness, and even the sun symbolically shines brighter. The lyrics also address the contrast of crying, which is associated with bringing on rain. This can be interpreted as a metaphor for bringing negativity and sadness into our lives and the world around us.
The second verse reflects a personal transformation. The singer shares how they used to worry and hurry whenever it started to rain. However, they have now gained a new perspective and have learned to see the light and understand right from wrong. As a result, they no longer complain about rainy situations and have adopted a more positive outlook.
The chorus is repeated again, reinforcing the idea that when we maintain a smiling and positive demeanor, we have the power to influence the emotions and attitudes of those around us. The lyrics encourage us to stop sighing and start being happy again. It is through this continuous act of smiling that we are reminded of the harmonious connection we share with the world.
Overall, "When You're Smiling" encourages listeners to embrace a positive mindset and understand the impact our emotions have on ourselves and those around us. It serves as a reminder that even in challenging times, maintaining a smiling and joyful attitude can bring about a sense of unity and happiness not only for ourselves but for the entire world.
Line by Line Meaning
I saw a blind man,
I witnessed a person who was visually impaired,
He was a kind man,
He displayed compassion and goodwill,
Helping a fellow along,
Assisting another person in their journey,
One could not see,
One lacked the ability to perceive visually,
One could not walk,
One was unable to ambulate,
But they both were humming this song;
However, they both joyfully recited this melody;
When you're smiling, When you're smiling,
When you express happiness and contentment,
The whole world smiles with you,
The entirety of the world reciprocates your joy,
When you're laughing, When you're laughing,
When you emit genuine laughter and amusement,
The sun comes shining through,
The radiance of the sun permeates your surroundings,
But when you're crying you bring on the rain,
However, when you experience sorrow, you evoke rainfall,
So stop your sighing be happy again,
Therefore, cease your despair and find happiness anew,
Keep on smiling 'cause when you're smiling,
Continue to display a joyful countenance as,
The whole world smiles with you.
The entire world will mirror your happiness.
I used to worry,
In the past, I used to experience anxiety,
I used to hurry,
I had a tendency to rush and move quickly,
Each time it started to rain,
On every occasion when rain commenced to fall,
Now I see light,
Now, I perceive illumination and clarity,
Learned wrong from right,
I have acquired knowledge of the correct choices and actions,
And you'll never hear me complain;
Consequently, you will never witness me expressing dissatisfaction;
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Joe Goodwin, Larry Shay, Mark Fisher
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind