The Shadow of Your Smile
Frank Sinatra & Count Basie & His Orchestra Lyrics


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The shadow of your smile
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
Our wistful little star
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

Overall Meaning

The Shadow of Your Smile is a song about the memory of love that lingers long after the relationship has ended. The lyrics capture the bittersweet feeling of lost love, which is further accentuated by the mournful yet beautiful melody. The song is an ode to all the wonderful moments that two people who were once in love shared together. It talks about the impact that one's love can have on someone's life, how it can bring joy, happiness, and contentment. But, when the relationship ends, it leaves behind only memories, which color all future dreams, and perhaps that's the most tragic part.


As the lyrics progress, the song takes on a more personal tone. It's like the singer is directly addressing the person they once loved. We see this in the line where they ask their lover to look into their eyes and see all the lovely things they are to them. The use of the past tense reflects that the relationship is now over and all that's left are memories. Even the teardrop that kissed their lover's lips is now just a hazy image in their mind. And, when the singer looks back on their life, they see that the shadow of their lover's smile has been ever-present, even when they were not together.


Overall, The Shadow of Your Smile is a hauntingly beautiful song that captures the emotions of lost love perfectly. With its melancholy melody and insightful lyrics, it's no wonder that it has become a classic.


Line by Line Meaning

The shadow of your smile
The memory of your smile will linger on even when you're gone


When you have gone
After you have left my side


Will color all my dreams
The dream world will be permeated by thoughts of you


And light the dawn
And bring hope at the beginning of each day


Look into my eyes my love and see
Look into my eyes and see how much I love you


All the lovely things you are to me
All the qualities that make you so wonderful in my eyes


Our wistful little star
Our dreams of love and the future


It was far, too high
These hopes and aspirations were difficult to achieve


A teardrop kissed your lips
Our emotions were at their peak and tears were shed


And so did I
I too was moved to tears by the intensity of our love


Now when I remember spring
When I reminisce about happy times in the past


All the joys that love can bring
The happiness and rewards that come with love


I will be remembering
I will always keep in mind


The shadow of your smile
The memory of your smile, which represents happiness and love




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Johnny Mandel, Paul Webster

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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