Smoke gets in your eyes
Roxy Music & Bryan Ferry Lyrics

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They ask me how I knew
My true love was true
I of course replied
Something here inside
Cannot be denied
They said someday youÂ'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

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Roxy Music's "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" poetically capture the pain of lost love. It begins with the singer being questioned about their belief in true love, and they answer confidently that they just know it to be true instinctively. The others tell them that it's easy to be blinded by love, and that that'll change with time. But the singer's reply is that they cannot deny the feeling they have inside.

However, as the song continues, it becomes clear that the singer was indeed blinded by love, and that their heart was on fire with a passion that would ultimately lead to pain. The smoke in their eyes becomes a metaphor for the blinding pain of lost love, and the singer finds themselves ridiculed by those who warned them, unable to hide their tears as they reflect on what they've lost. In the end, they can only smile and acknowledge that when a flame dies out, the smoke is all that's left behind.

This song captures the bittersweet essence of love - the joy, passion and intimacy that can be found in a relationship, but also the pain and heartbreak when it comes to an end. It's a poetic reminder that while love can be one of the most beautiful experiences in life, it can also be one of the most painful.

Line by Line Meaning

They ask me how I knew
Someone asked how I knew that my love was true

My true love was true
That the love I had for someone was definitely real

I of course replied
I naturally responded

Something here inside
A feeling that was within me

Cannot be denied
That I couldn't possibly reject

They said someday you'll find
Others advised that eventually, I will learn

All who love are blind
That love can cloud a person's judgment

When your heart's on fire
When you're passionately in love

You must realize
It's important to acknowledge

Smoke gets in your eyes
That the overwhelming feelings from this love can obscure reality

So I chaffed them and I gaily laughed
I teased and cheerfully ridiculed them