When You're Smiling
Doris Day Lyrics


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I saw a blind man,
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,
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 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,

Overall Meaning

The whole world smiles with you.

The lyrics to Doris Day’s song “When You’re Smiling” are a message of positivity and hope for those who may be feeling down or stuck in a rut. The opening verse describes a blind man helping another person who cannot walk, and the two of them humming the song. This sets the tone for the rest of the lyrics, which encourage the listener to keep smiling, even in the face of adversity.


The song tells us that smiling and laughter have the power to make the world a better place. When we smile, the whole world seems to smile with us, and when we laugh, the sun comes shining through. On the other hand, crying and sighing only bring on the rain and negative energy, so it’s important to keep smiling and stay positive if we want to experience happiness and joy. The second verse talks about how the singer used to be a worrier and always in a hurry. But since learning to see the light and distinguish right from wrong, she no longer complains and has a more positive outlook on life.


Overall, “When You’re Smiling” is a simple yet powerful song that reminds us of the importance of staying positive and hopeful, even during difficult times.


Line by Line Meaning

I saw a blind man,
I observed a visually impaired person,


He was a kind man,
He was a compassionate person,


Helping a fellow along,
Assisting another person to get by,


One could not see,
One was incapable of seeing,


One could not walk,
One was incapable of walking,


But they both were humming this song;
However, both of them were joyfully humming this tune;


When you're smiling, When you're smiling,
When you exude happiness, when you're beaming with joy,


The whole world smiles with you,
Everyone around you feels happy too,


When you're laughing, When you're laughing,
When you're genuinely laughing out loud,


The sun comes shining through,
You make everything around you look brighter,


But when you're crying you bring on the rain,
However, when you're sad, you can bring about dark and gloomy weather,


So stop your sighing be happy again,
Therefore, it's essential to cease worrying and start being content again,


Keep on smiling 'cause when you're smiling,
Continue to be happy and cheerful because,


The whole world smiles with you.
People around you will also experience joy and happiness in their lives.




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Joe Goodwin, Larry Shay, Mark Fisher

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Jok Sal

Great phrasing. Doris really knew how to sing.

Koei Meng Wee

Very good soothing music. Never get tired to listening to her beautiful voice after all these years.

Lil Arnold

I love, love Doris Day. I can't seem to get enough of her beautiful songs. I don't think anyone can compare to her style of singing. Her smile is so infectious. Thanks again for ALL the wonderful videos you've worked on & have shared with us.

William L Robinson

Doris had a very sweet mellow voice. Doris was a very good actress in her 1950s movies. I never get tired of listening to her sing.

Barbara C Norton

No one will ever match this gal smile, or her voice, has brought much happiness to the world with her beautiful voice, and all her wonderful movies..

soul sprite

Holy... I just heard this song on the radio. Fell in love instantly. This song came to me at the right time. Needed a pick-me up type of song

richard schweitzer

She was a wonderful singer; the incarnate American spirit of an earlier day. Her Father owned a very pleasant tavern near the hospital where we drank beers when I was a medical student in Cincinnati in 1966, '67. If you listen carefully to her voice on this tune, you hear her wonderful talent. I practiced medicine for 54 years and now I am a singer. Inspired by those great voices that went ahead, even in days of radio.

helen esler

Love it

Memories Are What Make Us Who We Are

It's going to take a longest while, but I'll continue to go through your entire collection. Found another gem that I've not heard until now. Not until I've started to listen to your collection did I remember how much I'd loved her songs when I was a kid. A whole generation separates us but I'm trying to understand why her songs and her infectious smile have such an impact on me. Listening to her songs now probably triggered my long forgotten memories of listening to the radio, I guess. So really thanks, D4324, for rekindling my deep appreciation of her songs.

Dayniac4324

Memories Are What Make Us Who We Are
Thank you for that wonderful comment. I haven't been active on YouTube for quite awhile - but saw your comment and had to answer. I love it when people discover new songs from Doris. Her music brings so many happy memories. So sad that we lost her last week. Hope you enjoy many more wonderful songs from Doris - she recorded around 600 songs ! Thanks again for your nice comment.

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