Smoke Gets in Your Eyes
J.Kern Lyrics

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They asked 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"

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

The song "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" was originally written by American composer Jerome Kern for the 1933 musical Roberta. The lyrics were written by lyricist Otto Harbach.

The first verse of the song describes a conversation in which the singer is asked how they know that their true love is true. The singer replies that there is something inside of them that cannot be denied. However, the other person warns the singer that when your heart is on fire, smoke can get in your eyes, which suggests that the singer might not be thinking clearly when it comes to matters of the heart.

The second verse reveals that the singer's love has flown away, leaving him or her without love. The laughing friends, who had doubted the singer's love before, now make fun of the singer's tears that he or she cannot hide. The singer responds by acknowledging that when a lovely flame dies, smoke gets in your eyes.

The lyrics of "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" suggest that love can be both blinding and painful. The song's melody and lush orchestrations enhance this sense of romanticism and melancholy. Although the song was written in the 1930s, it has remained popular and has been recorded by various artists in different styles.

Line by Line Meaning

They asked me how I knew my true love was true
People asked me how I could be certain that my love was real

I of course replied
Naturally, I responded to them

"Something here inside cannot be denied"
"I simply knew it in my heart and couldn't deny it"

They said "someday you'll find
They told me that one day I might discover

All who love are blind"
"Love makes people blind to reality"

When your heart's on fire
When you are deeply in love

You must realize
You need to understand

Smoke gets in your eyes
"Emotions can cloud your judgment and perception"

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

To think they could doubt my love
I couldn't believe they questioned my love

Yet today my love has flown away
But now my love has left me

I am without my love
I am alone without my love

Now laughing friends deride tears I cannot hide
Now my friends mock me while I try to hide my tears

So I smile and say
So I force a smile and say

"When a lovely flame dies
"When a beautiful love comes to an end

Smoke gets in your eyes"
"Emotions can obscure the truth and cause pain"

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: GEORGE GERSHWIN, IRA GERSHWIN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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