Smoke gets in your eyes
Ferry Bryan - Roxy Music Lyrics


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They ask me how I knew
My true love was true
I of course replied
Something here inside
Cannot be denied
They said someday you´ll find
All who love are blind
When your heart's on fire
You must realize
Smoke gets in your eyes
So I chaffed them and I gaily laughed
To think they could doubt my love
Yet today my love has flown away
I am without my love
Now laughing friends deride
Tears I cannot hide
So I smile and say




When a lovely flame dies
Smoke gets in your eyes

Overall Meaning

In the song "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes," Ferry Bryan of Roxy Music is expressing the feeling of loss and heartbreak when a love comes to an end. The opening lyrics show that he was confident in his true love and believed that there was something inside him that could not be denied. However, he was cautioned that all who love are blind, meaning that love can cloud one's judgment and make them overlook critical flaws in their partner. The next verses go on to describe the aftermath of the breakup, where Bryan tries to brush off the doubts of his friends and maintain his lover's memory as a cherished flame. However, he later reveals that his heartache is too great, and he cannot hide his tears.


The metaphor of "smoke gets in your eyes" conveys the sense of disorientation and confusion when something that was once bright and passionate is extinguished. Smoke is a shadow of what once was, and it can obscure someone's vision, leaving them feeling lost and vulnerable. In this sense, Bryan is saying that the memory of his love has clouded his vision, leaving him unable to see the world as it truly is. The final lines of the song seem to suggest that Bryan has accepted the reality of the situation and is resigned to the fact that love can bring both joy and pain.


Line by Line Meaning

They ask me how I knew
They inquire how I could be certain


My true love was true
That my love was genuine


I of course replied
It is evident that my response would be


Something here inside
I experienced an indescribable feeling


Cannot be denied
That could not be refuted


They said someday you'll find
They warned me that eventually I will discover


All who love are blind
That love often blinds us to reality


When your heart's on fire
When you experience intense emotions


You must realize
It is crucial to recognize


Smoke gets in your eyes
That everything becomes hazy and unclear


So I chaffed them and I gaily laughed
So I teased them and laughed heartily


To think they could doubt my love
Surprised that they had doubts about my affection


Yet today my love has flown away
But now my love has gone away


I am without my love
And in its absence, I feel lost


Now laughing friends deride
Now mocking friends ridicule


Tears I cannot hide
And I am unable to conceal my sadness


So I smile and say
So, I put on a brave face and tell them


When a lovely flame dies
That when something beautiful leaves us


Smoke gets in your eyes
Life can become hazy and unclear




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, BMG Rights Management
Written by: Otto Harbach, Jerome Kern

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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