In Hollywood she would marry twice: first to actor John Shelton; secondly to actor/singer Johnnie Johnston. She had one daughter. Throughout the 1950s, she carried on an affair with mogul Howard Hughes, and was briefly engaged to him (although this was not included in the film The Aviator, as the film only profiled Hughes through the late 1940s).
Though she started out as MGM's answer to Deanna Durbin (with films such as Seven Sweethearts and Anchors Aweigh), she proved herself a top star in Thousands Cheer, Anchors Aweigh and Two Sisters From Boston, and in the film versions of the Broadway hits Show Boat (1951) and Kiss Me, Kate (1953). Grayson also appeared in a duo of films with tenor Mario Lanza, and Howard Keel, whom she teamed successfully with in a highly lauded cabaret act in the 1960s.
With the end of MGM's great era of musicals, so ended Miss Grayson's film career. Kathryn was on stage in numerous stage musicals such as Show Boat, Rosalinda, Kiss Me, Kate, Naughty Marietta, and The Merry Widow, for which she was nominated for Chicago's Sarah Siddons Award. This lead to her as a replacement for Julie Andrews on Broadway in 1962 in Camelot, scoring a great success, before going on to star in the National tour for over sixteen months, before leaving the show due to health problems. During her period with the Camelot tour, all box-office records were broken and she gained uniformly excellent notices. She would later play the role of Guenevere during that decade. Grayson had a lifelong dream of being an opera star, and she appeared number of operas in the '60s, such as La Boheme, Madame Butterfly, Orpheus in the Underworld and La Traviata. Her dramatic and comedy stage roles included Night Watch, Noises Off, Love Letters and Something's Afoot as Dottie Otterling.
She also appeared on television occasionally. Her first TV appearances were in the 1950s, and she received an Emmy nomination in 1956 for her performance in the "General Electric Theater" episode "Shadow on the Heart" with John Ericson. Most recently, she appeared in several episodes of Angela Lansbury's long-running series "Murder, She Wrote" in the late 1980s.
Never to be overshadowed these days by other talented or exciting MGM contemporaries such as Jane Powell, Ann Miller, Cyd Charisse, Esther Williams and Ann Blyth, Miss Grayson has gained cult status among a large, and wildly devoted, crowd of fans. Kathryn supervised the Voice and Choral Studies Program at the Idaho State University.
According to her secretary, Grayson died in her sleep at her home in Los Angeles, California on February 17, 2010, aged 88.
Smoke Gets in Your Eyes
Kathryn Grayson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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
(Smoke gets in your eyes, smoke gets in your eyes)
Smoke-gets-in-your-EYES
The song "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" by Kathryn Grayson is a poignant and reflective ballad about the aftermath of a love that has gone awry. The opening lyrics depict a conversation between the singer and some doubters of her love, in which they warn that when one's heart is on fire, it is easy to be blind to the truth. However, the singer insists that she knows her love is true because she can feel it deep within her.
As the song progresses, it becomes clear that the singer's love has indeed flown away, leaving her in a state of heartbreak and despair. She tries to put on a brave face for her friends who mock her tears, saying that when a beautiful flame dies, it is inevitable that smoke will get in your eyes.
The imagery of smoke is a powerful one in this song, representing the haze and confusion that clouds one's vision when dealing with heartbreak. The phrase "smoke gets in your eyes" has become a popular idiom to describe feeling emotional or teary-eyed.
Overall, the song is a melancholic yet beautiful reflection on the nature of love and the emotional pain that can come with it.
Line by Line Meaning
They asked me how I knew my true love was true
Someone asked me how I was absolutely sure that my love is true
I of course replied 'something here inside cannot be denied'
I confidently said that I feel something very strong inside that cannot be denied
They said 'someday you'll find all who love are blind'
They insisted that someday I'll realize that everyone in love is unaware of the reality
When your heart's on fire, you must realize smoke gets in your eyes
When you're passionately in love, you must understand that love can blind you to the truth
So I chaffed them and I gaily laughed to think they could doubt my love
I teased and laughed at them, amused that they could even question my love
Yet today my love has flown away, I am without my love
But now, that same love has left me, and I'm left with despair and loneliness
Now laughing friends deride tears I cannot hide
My friends mock me for my tears that I can't help shedding
So I smile and say 'when a lovely flame dies, smoke gets in your eyes'
To hide my sorrow, I just smile and say that when you lose love, it can be very painful
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: WILLIAM C HANDY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Susan
They ask me how I knew
My true love was true
I, of course, reply
"Something 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
To think they could doubt my love
Yesterday
My love has gone 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"
But today my love has flown away
I am without
I'm without my love
And now laughing friends deride
Tears I cannot hide
So I smile and say
"When a lovely flame dies
Smoke gets in your eyes"
Sue Bruce
Susan
2 years ago (edited)
They ask me how I knew
My true love was true
I, of course, reply
"Something 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
To think they could doubt my love
Yesterday
My love has gone 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"
But today my love has flown away
I am without
I'm without my love
And now laughing friends deride
Tears I cannot hide
So I smile and say
"When a lovely flame dies
Smoke gets in your eyes"
F. Dowd
Ms Grayson was a class act. We don't see that today from our celebrities. She was the epitome of Hollywood beauty, talent and grace.
Cal
Quite simply, the greatest song ever written. The Platters, Connie Boswell, Kathryn Grason, Ray Conniff, Leo Reisman, Artie Shaw, Elsie Carlisle, Paul Whiteman with Bob Lawrence on vocal and dozens of other versions are remarkable because the song is remarkable. Jerome Kern and Otto Harbach wrote this rare, incredible, exceptional song that will live forever.
Saxon C
It’s one of the best renditions I’ve heard and Ms Grayson really invokes emotion in every word, expressions and movement that is perfect for the scene. As for the best song, I know everyone has their all time favorites but mine will Always be Over The Rainbow by Garland especially the times that she sung it after The Wizard of Oz. The Oz version is magnificent but the maturity she brings to the song in her latter years is even more impressive and heartbreaking
Debra Gniewek
Lovely voice. RIP, Kathryn Grayson.
myrna solganick
I truly love Kathryn Grayson's voice and rendition.
Judy Judd
This is so great - she was awesome in every way - GREAT singer & GREAT actress - thanks for posting!
alan2a1l
Beautifully sung and heartfelt. And she was so incredibly beautiful. When I look at her I think she must have been the inspiration for Disney's "Sleeping Beauty."
Marc Del
Sometimes we don't realize how long some of these songs have been around. I remember the 60's version of this song by the platters and didn't realize it had been around in the 30-40's. I have always enjoyed the musical artists of days gone bye. Kathryn Grayson, Deanna Durbin, Judy Garland, Ava Gardner, Harry Belafonte, Bing Crosby, and the list goes on and on........all superstars!
Joe Tursi
Incredibly beautiful and a voice to match.
Degsie
Great song, great singer. Kathryn gives her all to it, and it shows. Every time I see it I'm reduced to tears. Thank you Kathryn.