Durante was born in New York City, the third of four children born to Mitch Durante (1855 –1929) and Margaret Durante (1858–1936). A product of working-class New York, Durante dropped out of school in the eighth grade to become a full-time ragtime pianist, working the city circuit and earning the nickname "Ragtime Jimmy," before he joined one of the first recognizable jazz bands in New York, the Original New Orleans Jazz Band. Durante was the only member of the group who didn't hail from New Orleans. His routine of breaking into a song to deliver a joke, with band or orchestra chord punctuation after each line became a Durante trademark. In 1920, the group was renamed Jimmy Durante's Jazz Band.
Durante became a vaudeville star and radio attraction by the mid-1920s, with a music and comedy trio called Clayton, Jackson and Durante. (Lou Clayton and Eddie Jackson, probably Durante's closest friends, often reunited with Durante professionally.) By 1934, he had a major record hit, his own novelty composition "Inka Dinka Doo," and it became his signature song for practically the rest of his life. A year later, Durante starred in the Billy Rose stage musical, Jumbo, in which a police officer stopped him while leading a live elephant and asked him, "What are you doing with that elephant?" Durante's reply, "What elephant?", was a regular show-stopper.
He began appearing in motion pictures at about the same time, beginning with a comedy series pairing him with silent film legend Buster Keaton and continuing with such offerings as The Wet Parade (1932), The Man Who Came to Dinner (1942, playing Banjo, a character based on Harpo Marx), Ziegfeld Follies (1946), Billy Rose's Jumbo (1962, based on the 1935 musical) and It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963).
Smile
Jimmy Durante Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Though your heart is achin'
Smile,
Even though it's breakin'
When there are are clouds in the sky
You'll get by...
If you smile
Smile,
And maybe tomorrow
You'll see the sun come shinin' through,
For you...
Light up your face with gladness
Hide, every trace of sadness
Although a tear
may be ever so near
That's the time, You must keep on tryin'
Smile, what's the use of cryin'
You'll find that life is still worth while
If you just smile
If you smile
Through your fear and sorrow
Smile, and maybe tomorrow
You'll see the sun come shinin' through
for you...
Light up your face with gladness
Hide every trace of sadness
Although a tear
May be ever so near
That's the time
You must keep on tryin'
Smile, what's the use of cryin'
You'll find that life is still worth while
If you just smile
If you... just smile :)
The song "Smile" by Jimmy Durante is a touching ballad that conveys an important message about the importance of positivity and resilience, even in the face of adversity. The song encourages the listener to keep a positive attitude and to keep smiling, even when they are going through tough times. The lyrics suggest that smiling is not just a physical action, but an attitude that can help us overcome our fears and sorrows.
The song's opening lines, "Smile, though your heart is aching / Smile, even though it's breaking" sets the tone for the rest of the song, emphasizing the need to keep a cheerful disposition, even when life is tough. The song acknowledges that there will be clouds in the sky, but encourages the listener to keep going because they'll get through it. Regardless of the pain they're feeling, they must smile through the fear and sorrow, because one day, they will see the sun shining through.
The song's central message is that life is still worth living, even in difficult times. Durante urges the listener to light up their face with gladness and to hide any sadness they might have. Even when a tear might be close, they must keep trying and keep smiling. In the end, the song reminds us that there's no use crying, and that life is still worth living if we just smile.
Line by Line Meaning
Smile,
Don't let the difficulties of life bring you down.
Though your heart is achin',
Even when you're feeling intense emotional distress, keep on smiling.
Smile,
Keep smiling no matter what happens.
Even though it's breakin'
Even when everything seems to be falling apart.
When there are clouds in the sky
In times of darkness and adversity.
You'll get by...
You'll find a way to persevere through tough times.
If you smile
When you smile.
Through your fear and sorrow
Even when you feel scared or upset.
Smile,
Keep on smiling.
And maybe tomorrow
There's always a chance that things will look up.
You'll see the sun come shinin' through,
A brighter future is possible.
For you...
Things will get better for you.
Light up your face with gladness
Put on a happy face and let joy shine through.
Hide, every trace of sadness
Don't let sadness show on your face, no matter how close you are to tears.
Although a tear
Even if you feel like crying,
may be ever so near
Even if you're on the verge of tears.
That's the time, You must keep on tryin'
That's when you need to keep a positive attitude and keep pushing forward.
Smile, what's the use of cryin'
There's no point in crying over something that can't be changed. Better to smile and move forward.
You'll find that life is still worth while
Life can be difficult, but it's still worth it.
If you just smile
If you can manage to keep a smile on your face.
If you smile
When you smile.
Through your fear and sorrow
Even when you feel scared or upset.
Smile, and maybe tomorrow
Keep hoping for a better tomorrow every day.
You'll see the sun come shinin' through
Things will get better, and happiness is around the corner.
for you...
Happiness is waiting for you.
Light up your face with gladness
Let the joy inside you show outwards.
Hide every trace of sadness
Don't let sadness show on your face, despite it being near.
Although a tear
Even if you feel like crying,
May be ever so near
Even if you're about to cry.
That's the time
That's when
You must keep on tryin'
You have to keep pushing through.
Smile, what's the use of cryin'
Don't waste time crying because smiling through struggles is more beneficial.
You'll find that life is still worth while
Life is worth living, even with its ups and downs.
If you just smile
All you need to do is smile.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MARK ERNESTUS, MORITZ VON OSWALD, JOSEPH SAVAGE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind