Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE (born 18 June 1942 - Liverpool, England) is a British singer, musician and songwriter, who first came to prominence as a member of The Beatles. Linda McCartney established herself as a professional photographer in the rock and roll scene, and met her second husband, Paul McCartney, while photographing groups for a book titled Rock and Other Four Letter Words in 1967. They met at a night club called the Bag o' Nails in May of 1967 and married in 1969. After the breakup of the The Beatles in 1970, Paul began teaching Linda to play keyboards, and included her in the lineup for his new band, Wings. Although Linda was shunned by music critics for her amateur singing and playing skills, Wings garnered several Grammy Awards for their music, and became one of the most successful bands of the 1970s.
Smile Away
Paul & Linda McCartney Lyrics
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Woohoo
I was walking down the street the other day
Who did I meet?
I met a friend of mine and he did say
Man, I can smell your feet a mile away
Smile away, smile away, smile away, yeah smile away
Smile away, smile away, smile away, yeah smile away
Smile away, smile away, smile away, yeah smile away
I was walking down the street the other day
Ah, who did I meet?
I met a friend of mine and he did say
Man, I can smell your breath a mile away
Smile away, smile away, smile away, yeah smile away
Smile away, smile away, smile away, yeah smile away
Smile away, come on now, hoo, sweet little girl, smile away
Yes, sir smile away, now smile away, quietly now
Hoo hoo
Smile away now
Smile away, smile away, smile away, yes, sir, smile away
Ah, who did I meet?
I met a friend of mine and he did say
Well, I can smell your teeth a mile away
Smile away, oh, oh, oh, oh, smile away, oh, oh, smile away, oh, oh, oh, oh, smile away
Oh, oh, oh, oh, smile away, oh, oh, oh, oh, smile away, oh, oh, oh, oh, smile away
Oh, oh, oh, oh, smile away, oh, oh
The lyrics to Paul & Linda McCartney's "Smile Away" may seem nonsensical and humorous on the surface, but they actually reflect a deeper message about not letting other people's negative comments or criticisms bring you down. The song starts with the singer meeting a friend who comments on the unpleasant smell of his feet, then later his breath, and finally his teeth. However, the singer refuses to let these comments affect him and instead encourages the listener to smile away and not take it to heart.
The repeated chorus of "Smile away, yeah smile away" reinforces this message, as the act of smiling can be a way to communicate joy and positivity in the face of negativity. The song also includes some playful elements, such as the "woohoo" at the beginning and the sudden shift to encouraging a "sweet little girl" to smile away.
Overall, "Smile Away" is a lighthearted and catchy tune with a deeper message about not letting criticism get the best of you.
Line by Line Meaning
One, two, three, four
Counting in preparation for the song
Woohoo
Celebratory exclamation following the counting
I was walking down the street the other day
Narrative set-up for the encounter with the friend
Who did I meet?
Rhetorical question to lead into the introduction of the friend
I met a friend of mine and he did say
Introduction of the friend and his upcoming comment
Man, I can smell your feet a mile away
The friend is teasing the singer about having stinky feet
Smile away, smile away, smile away, yeah smile away
Encouragement to smile in the face of the friend's teasing
Smile away, come on now, hoo, sweet little girl, smile away
Expanding the encouragement to others, specifically a sweet little girl
Yes, sir smile away, now smile away, quietly now
Further encouragement to smile, but with a quieter tone
Ah, who did I meet?
Repeating the narrative set-up to lead into another encounter
Well, I can smell your teeth a mile away
A new friend is teasing the singer about having bad breath
Smile away, oh, oh, oh, oh, smile away, oh, oh, smile away, oh, oh, oh, oh, smile away
Continuing the encouragement to smile despite the teasing
Oh, oh, oh, oh, smile away, oh, oh, oh, oh, smile away, oh, oh, oh, oh, smile away
Further repetition of the encouragement
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: PAUL MCCARTNEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind