During the 1980s and early 1990s, Levert scored big hits with "Pop, Pop, Pop, Pop (Goes My Mind)", "Casanova", and "ABC-123" (not to be confused with the Jackson Five hit of the same name). As a solo artist, Gerald's hits included "I'd Give Anything (to Fall in Love)", "You Got That Love", and "Mr. Too Damn Good to You".
Gerald and Eddie collaborated together on many different occasions, and they recorded an album called Father and Son together.
Gerald Levert also sang the chorus on the Chris Rock spoken-word comedy piece, "No Sex (In the Champagne Room)".
In 2005, Levert's daughter Carlysia was featured on an episode of MTV's My Super Sweet Sixteen.
Levert passed away due to an apparent heart attack on November 10, 2006. Sister 2 Sister magazine reported that Gerald and his father had just returned from a 10-day trip to South Africa where they had met with Nelson Mandela and were treated like royalty. Upon Gerald's return, he was excited about his upcoming album, which is due early in 2007. Gerald died in his sleep.
Smile for Me
Gerald Levert Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And eye to eye
Baby I can feel your pain,
He ain't doing you right.
Think of all the time you waste
You tried and tried
He never really knew your worth
But you don't have to cry
[Chorus]
And whenever he won't do you
The way you want him to
Don't cry (I'll be there no more hurt, no more pain)
Baby you're the air I breathe
And I give the world to see you smile
(All I want is to see you smile for me)
Now you open up your eyes to see
He's not the one
Let him go just like a stormy haze
I'll bring out your sun
Now your pain is in the past
Dry your eyes
And all I ask just one more thing
Let me see you smile
[Chorus: x2]
When your all alone, smile
Waiting by the phone, smile
And he don't call, smile for me
I'll be by your side, smile
No more lonely nights, smile, smile for me
Baby won't you smile for me
[Chorus: x2]
In the song "Smile For Me," Gerald Levert sings to a woman who is going through a tough time in a relationship. He empathizes with her and tells her that he can feel her pain because her partner is not treating her the way she deserves to be treated. Levert urges her to stop wasting her time on someone who does not value her and reminds her that she does not have to cry. He promises to be there for her and to bring sunshine into her life. He encourages her to move on from her painful past and asks her to let him see her smile.
The chorus repeats the message of the song, reminding the woman that whenever her partner fails to treat her the way she deserves, she should not cry, and that Levert wants her to smile for him. The bridge of the song encourages her to smile even when she's alone, waiting for her partner to call, and assures her that she won't be alone because Levert will be by her side.
Line by Line Meaning
Now we're looking face to face
The singer and the listener are in close proximity to each other.
And eye to eye
The singer and listener are engaged in visual contact.
Baby I can feel your pain,
The singer is empathetic towards the listener's emotional discomfort.
He ain't doing you right.
The listener's partner is not behaving appropriately in the relationship.
Think of all the time you waste
The listener has invested a considerable amount of time in this relationship that is not beneficial.
You tried and tried
The listener has put forth significant effort into bettering the relationship.
He never really knew your worth
The listener's partner didn't appreciate the listener's qualities.
But you don't have to cry
The artist is reassuring the listener that it's not necessary to express sadness over this relationship.
And whenever he won't do you
In moments where the listener's partner is not meeting expectations,
The way you want him to
the listener shouldn't get upset.
Don't cry (I'll be there no more hurt, no more pain)
The singer vows to be there for the listener to prevent any further harm.
Baby you're the air I breathe
The listener is integral to the artist's existence.
And I give the world to see you smile
The singer is willing to do anything for the listener's happiness.
(All I want is to see you smile for me)
The singer desires the listener's smile as a symbol of happiness.
Now you open up your eyes to see
The listener has come to a realization.
He's not the one
The listener's partner is not suitable for a healthy, happy relationship.
Let him go just like a stormy haze
The listener should relinquish their partner and release the tension akin to departing stormy weather.
I'll bring out your sun
The singer promises to make the listener's life more joyful.
Now your pain is in the past
The listener's negative emotions regarding this relationship are now left behind.
Dry your eyes
A command for the listener to cease crying.
And all I ask just one more thing
The artist requests one more action from the listener.
Let me see you smile
The artist wants to witness the listener's joy.
When your all alone, smile
The listener should exhibit happiness even when alone.
Waiting by the phone, smile
The listener should retain a positive outlook while expecting calls from others.
And he don't call, smile for me
The singer wants the listener to maintain a grin, even if the partner ignores their attempts to connect.
I'll be by your side, smile
The singer assures the listener that they are not alone, and they will be supportive.
No more lonely nights, smile, smile for me
The listener will no longer endure loneliness, and the singer wants them to portray a happy countenance.
Baby won't you smile for me
The artist fervently desires the listener's smile.
[Chorus: x2]
The chorus repeats twice to reinforce the song's theme and message.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JOE N III LITTLE, GERALD LEVERT, LEONARD BROOKS, SEAN SMITH, MARLON COLES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind