Smoke Gets in Your Eyes
Jo Stafford Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My true love was true
I of course replied, something here inside
Cannot be denied
They said some day you'll find
All who love are blind
When your heart's on fire, you must realize
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
(Without my love)
Now laughing friends deride
Tears I cannot hide, hide
So I smile and say, when a lovely flame dies
Smoke gets in your eyes
Smoke gets in your eyes
Smoke gets in your eyes
Smoke gets in your eyes
The lyrics of Jo Stafford's "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" tell the story of a love that seemed true at first but eventually became a painful memory. The first two lines start with a question that sets the tone of the song: "They asked me how I knew/ My true love was true." The singer's answer is that she felt something inside her that she couldn't deny. The following two lines are an ominous statement, warning that anyone can be blinded by love.
The following lines are a reflection on the singer's experience. She laughs off her friends' doubts that her love was real, but now that she is without her love, she finds no comfort in laughter. In the final lines, she accepts that love can be like a flame — bright and beautiful, but ultimately fleeting. The metaphor of smoke getting in your eyes is a symbol for the pain and tears that come with losing something that once burned so brightly.
Overall, the song speaks to the heartbreak that can come from loving someone deeply but losing them. The lyrics are simple, but they convey a depth of emotion that is relatable and universal.
Line by Line Meaning
They asked me how I knew
They inquired about how I could be certain
My true love was true
That my beloved's love for me was genuine
I of course replied, something here inside
I replied that there was a feeling deep down
Cannot be denied
That cannot be ignored
They said some day you'll find
They mentioned that one day I would learn
All who love are blind
How those in love may be oblivious to the faults of their beloved
When your heart's on fire, you must realize
Those consumed by love must consider that
Smoke gets in your eyes
Emotions can cloud one's judgment
So I chaffed them and I gaily laughed
So, I joked and laughed it off
To think they could doubt my love
To think they didn't believe in my love
Yet today my love has flown away
But now my love has left me
I am without my love
I am now alone
(Without my love)
Now laughing friends deride
Now my former friends mock me
Tears I cannot hide, hide
I cannot mask my sorrow
So I smile and say, when a lovely flame dies
So now I smile and say, when love dies
Smoke gets in your eyes
Painful emotions can still cause confusion and cloud judgment
Smoke gets in your eyes
These emotions can linger and continue to affect us
Smoke gets in your eyes
The pain of lost love can be all-consuming
Smoke gets in your eyes
The experience of lost love can remain with us for a long time
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Otto Harbach, Jerome Kern
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Nikolay Churkin
They asked me how I knew
My true love was true
I of course replied, something here inside
Cannot be denied
They said some day 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
Trombonology Erstwhile
Exquisite treatment -- easily my favorite vocal version of this great one.
novelaargcrbet
I prefer the Irene Dunne version, but this one is a close second! Definitely one of the better singers I've heard-though I can't claim to have heard many, I was born late 90s so I've got some way to go before claiming that, but I absolutley love the singers from this era(Jo stafford, doris day, vera lynn kitty hallen, etc) and the ones from Dunne's era as well!
Trombonology Erstwhile
@novelaargcrbet It's always a very heartening thing to learn of someone of a more recent vintage who has discovered -- and loves -- the music of this era. I really feel sorry for people of the last few decades who have had no meaningful exposure to pop music of the pre-Rock & Roll era, as I believe they're missing out on artists of a much higher quality and material of much greater sophistication. Heck, I'm thirty years older than you, born in '66, and if I were typical of my age group, I'd probably be listening now to the late '70's-early '80's Top 40 stuff of my youth. I was fortunate in having older parents, who loved the music of the '20's-'40's, when they were young, and shared their enthusiasm with me. However it was that you came in contact with artists like Jo, Irene, Doris, etc., you should applaud yourself for having the discernment to recognize that you were hearing something special!
novelaargcrbet
@Trombonology Erstwhile it was a complete accidente. I saw an Astaire/Rogera film, follow the fleet, and fell in love with those 30's movies and it went from there. Although, I must admit that I've always liked the rat pack and bing Crosby, and through them found some of the others from closer to their time period. Although, nirvana and Aerosmith are also some great artists. My taste is very eclectic, though the music that's been released the past decade or so isnt my favorite, most of it is too monotonous for my taste, it all sounds the same. At least back then they were innovative-even if they are a lot of covers of older music( like are you lonesome tonight or the way you look tonight)
Dangerfield
Wow! What breath control!
MsMeiv
Aspiring singers take note: this is breath control
Bill Bickley
Good old Jo..........................................