The Shadow of Your Smile
Gordon Dexter Lyrics
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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
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
The Shadow of Your Smile is a timeless classic that captures the emotional upheaval and the immense sense of longing that comes with unrequited love. The lyrics of the song speak of a love that is bound to end with the departure of the beloved, but the shadow of the person’s smile will linger in the memories of the singer, coloring all his dreams and lighting his dawn. The imagery of the shadow is particularly poignant, as it represents the lingering presence of the person and the feeling of emptiness that remains after their departure.
As the song progresses, the singer implores his love to look into his eyes and see all the lovely things that she represents to him. The use of the word “wistful” to describe his love is particularly evocative, as it conveys a sense of regret and nostalgia for a love that was not meant to be. The second stanza continues the theme of longing, as the singer remembers the moments of happiness that he shared with his love during springtime. The reference to the teardrop that kissed her lips connects the idea of love with the inevitability of sorrow and heartbreak, further emphasizing the bittersweet nature of the song.
Line by Line Meaning
The shadow of your smile
The memory of your smile
When you have gone
When you are no longer here
Will color all my dreams
Will affect everything I dream about
And light the dawn
And make the sunrise seem brighter
Look into my eyes my love and see
Look deeply into my eyes and see
All the lovely things you are to me
All the beautiful qualities you possess as seen by me
Our wistful little star
Our nostalgic memory
It was far, too high
It was beyond reach
A teardrop kissed your lips
Your lips were touched by a tear
And so did I
And I also kissed your lips
Now when I remember spring
When I think back to the past
All the joys that love can bring
All the happiness that love can provide
I will be remembering
I will recall
The shadow of your smile
The memory of your smile
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Johnny Mandel, Paul Webster
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@PepperWilliamsMusicBlend
I had the opportunity to play with Dex two times and it was a thrill of a lifetime.
@A.B.-zs8ir
Knowing you played with must’ve been something else , I can only imagine, stay blessed
@philpryor7524
A superb song from a masterly creator, played with the heart and mind of a great lover of his art, in Dexter, with superb and sensitive support. Here we have it, a love and occasion to share, forever.
@jahwords
Respect to all the great sax players down through the years, however when it comes to rendering a classic ballad, give me Dexter. This is PURE magic! Thanks NoRoses
@creamtangerines
this song is like listening to the sunshine that comes through my window on a carefree summer's day
@warri1000
what great soul and passion in his playing , its as if all the problems he had in his life come out in this song,and i mean that in when i say passion its very sad but with great soul . I love it .Graham MALTA
@alexandradecastro5142
This man is amazing. He went to my country and played with Portuguese musicians. Simply fantastic.
A legend
@DebbSaxx1
The is a masterpiece. It's like he's gently pouring out his soul without fanfare, just raw honesty.
@fresuf2
Listening to this, you could cry from sheer joy at the beauty of his playing. I'll always treasure the last time I heard him, at the Village Vanguard in the late 70s, after he had moved back to NYC. Thanks for posting this.
@sirtubbyhayes
Lyrical genius - incredible.