When You're Smiling
Louisiana Rhythm Kings Lyrics
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He was a kind man,
Helping a fellow along,
One could not see,
One could not walk,
But they both were humming this song;
When you're smiling, When you're smiling,
When you're laughing, When you're laughing,
The sun comes shining through,
But when you're crying you bring on the rain,
So stop your sighing be happy again,
Keep on smiling 'cause when you're smiling,
The whole world smiles with you.
I used to worry,
I used to hurry,
Each time it started to rain,
Now I see light,
Learned wrong from right,
And you'll never hear me complain;
When you're smiling, When you're smiling,
The whole world smiles with you,
When you're laughing, When you're laughing,
The sun comes shining through,
But when you're crying you bring on the rain,
So stop your sighing be happy again,
Keep on smiling 'cause when you're smiling,
The Louisiana Rhythm Kings’ song “When You’re Smiling” celebrates the power of positivity and kindness. The lyrics describe a scene where two men, one blind and one unable to walk, are helping each other along and humming the titular song. The lyrics go on to exult in the benefits of smiling, laughter, and a positive attitude, claiming that when one person is happy, it spreads to the whole world. The song also notes that crying and sadness can have the opposite effect, but urges the listener to “never hear me complain” and to keep on smiling.
The song is a joyful celebration of happiness and its infectiousness, exemplifying the upbeat and optimistic tone of early jazz music. The message of the song resonates with audiences across generations, as the power of a positive attitude is a timeless lesson. The lyrics’ focus on helping others and spreading happiness puts others’ needs and well-being at the forefront, a message that is always pertinent.
The song itself was written in 1928 by Mark Fisher, Joe Goodwin, and Larry Shay. It has since been covered by countless musicians, including Louis Armstrong, who would go on to make the song a staple of his own performances. The song’s catchy melody and optimistic lyrics make it a crowd-pleaser, ensuring its continued popularity with audiences worldwide.
Line by Line Meaning
I saw a blind man,
I observed a man who was unable to see, but he was a generous person who helped another individual.
He was a kind man,
The man with blindness had a compassionate nature.
Helping a fellow along,
He was helping another person who needed assistance.
One could not see,
The person being helped was unable to see.
One could not walk,
The person being helped had difficulty walking or was unable to do so.
But they both were humming this song;
Despite their physical limitations, they were both cheerful and singing this song.
When you're smiling, When you're smiling,
When you are happy and exuding positive energy,
The whole world smiles with you,
People around you feed off that positivity and are more inclined to smile as well.
When you're laughing, When you're laughing,
Similarly, when you are laughing and expressing joy,
The sun comes shining through,
The beauty of the world around you is heightened, and everything feels more positive and hopeful.
But when you're crying you bring on the rain,
However, when you are sad and upset,
So stop your sighing be happy again,
It is important to stop wallowing in negativity and instead make a conscious effort to be happy.
Keep on smiling 'cause when you're smiling,
By maintaining a positive attitude and smiling,
The whole world smiles with you.
You create a ripple effect of positivity that spreads to those around you.
I used to worry,
The singer used to experience frequent worry or anxiety.
I used to hurry,
They would also rush through life and feel stressed.
Each time it started to rain,
Rainy weather would make them feel even more negative and hopeless.
Now I see light,
The singer has experienced a transformation and can now see the positive aspects of life.
Learned wrong from right,
They have also learned how to distinguish between right and wrong.
And you'll never hear me complain;
As a result, the artist no longer complains or focuses on negativity.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Joe Goodwin, Larry Shay, Mark Fisher
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jamesjordan5214
A musical tribute to a wonderful era!
@patrickoneill5249
Love this song ❤
@Linhombre69
Superb sound quality for a late 1920s recording.
@scotnick59
YES
@xevcosmo
Very well done! The classiest ladies had the most beautiful faces. Bravo from Salt Lake City loretta young,s birthplace.
@JoaoFurtadoCoelho777
Yes, the good use of the bass section was often so much more effective than the percussion to "beat" the rhythm... Extraordinary the number of actresses with very beautiful, interesting faces, in those days! Thx for the upload.
@nicolasolmosolmos1657
YEAH, THE BASS SECTION IS MORE MUSICAL THAN THE PERECUSSION, YOU REALLY KNOW AND FEEL REAL MUSIC
@JoaoFurtadoCoelho777
+nicolas olmos olmos Quite so... What happens is that those bass notes elicit visceral responses from our bodies (low frequency vibes). Not so the high pitch instruments - and certainly not the percussion.The percussion instruments don't produce well defined notes - as you say: they are not really "musical". In my comment I forgot to mention the really superlative quality of the banjo player, whoever he may be. Shared on Google+
@nicolasolmosolmos1657
Joao Furtado Coelho: is it true that percussion dominates popular music nowadays ?
@JoaoFurtadoCoelho777
+nicolas olmos olmos Thanks for your question. I'm not an expert on "popular music" - nor want to be, for the average quality is too low... Why don't you yourself collect some samples? Best wishes.