The Smiley Kids were most well known for their positive and uplifting lyrics. Their unique punk sound could be likened to Rancid on happy pills.
A few years after they disbanded, the group's lead singer/songwriter, George Fraska (Hosni), picked up the pieces and started "Smiley the Kid", an acoustic/punk version of the band.
Some related bands are FOUR!, Startled Calf, and the Scooterz.
Love Your Enemies
Smiley Kids Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Just as you stabbed me in the back.
And I was so angry so scared, ya
You humiliated me and smashed my pride
down to the ground and I'm so thankful, so lucky
Love your enemies!
Even though they hate your guts, ya!
Even though they make me cry
Love your enemies!
Even though they hate your guts, ya!
Love your enemies!
Even though they make me cry
You hit me on the cheek
So I turned the other one and you spit on me
You spread these rumors about me
And say bad things behind my back
And I'm so happy, I'm still smiling!
(Chorus)
The Smiley Kids' song "Love Your Enemies" is a powerful anthem that implores listeners to show love and kindness even to those who have hurt us. The lyrics talk about being betrayed and humiliated by someone who is supposed to be a friend, yet the singer chooses to respond with love and forgiveness rather than revenge. The first verse describes the intense emotions that come with being backstabbed and humiliated: anger, fear, and a crushing blow to one's pride. However, the singer follows this description with an unexpected declaration of gratitude – they feel lucky to have been hurt in this way because it has given them the opportunity to learn an important lesson about love and forgiveness.
The chorus, which is repeated throughout the song, is a call to action: love your enemies, even when they hate you and make you cry. This message is reiterated in the second verse, which describes more physical violence: being hit and spat on. Even in the face of such cruelty, the singer chooses to remain peaceful and happy – their smile is a symbol of their resilience and refusal to be brought down by their enemy's actions. This message of compassion and understanding is a powerful one, and it is conveyed through lyrics that are both emotionally honest and musically upbeat.
Line by Line Meaning
You looked me in the eye,
Even though you deceived me, you showed me enough respect to look me in the eye.
Just as you stabbed me in the back.
Your actions caused great harm to me and broke my trust.
And I was so angry so scared, ya
I had a mix of emotions ranging from fury to fear.
You humiliated me and smashed my pride down to the ground and I'm so thankful, so lucky
Your act of humiliation led me to reflect on my ego and think about how I want to react to situations like this.
Love your enemies!
It's important to love those who harm us because it helps us grow and mature.
Even though they hate your guts, ya!
Even though they despise you, they're still deserving of your love.
Love your enemies!
It's not easy, but loving our enemies helps us find inner peace.
Even though they make me cry
Their actions lead to tears, but we should still strive to love them, regardless.
You hit me on the cheek
You physically assaulted me.
So I turned the other one and you spit on me
I chose to not retaliate, and you continued to disrespect me.
You spread these rumors about me
You started false accusations about me.
And say bad things behind my back
You talked negatively about me when I wasn't present.
And I'm so happy, I'm still smiling!
Despite all of this, I'm still able to find joy and maintain a positive outlook.
Contributed by Connor S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Sanctus Geist
This was such a good album.......I totally forgot about these guys
ih8mustard
thanks for posting! I used to love this band, totally forgot about them.
Escaping Reality
I remember the CD cover had a connect the dots and came with a color pencil! LOL Amazing BAND!!
1thess523
still got it with a green pencil!
Gverum
ama a tus enemigos excelente!
Alisha Hernandez
Man, saw these dudes in St. Pete when they drop this album. They were sick. Those were the days.
Patrick Macready
I knew George, him and his wife stayed at my house while they were touring as the Scooters. I wanted to use this song as my walkout song to my last MMA fight but George did not approve. He said I could use it but he was not happy about it. Love that guy.
uniraptor
So Sweet! I drummed in Trow Punx for 7 years. I LOVED listening to these guys man! Drummer was SO fun to emulate...and emulate I did. Him and slick shoes and OLD green-day were great for learning the fine art of smooth punk rock man. :) myspace /trowpunx
Chris Page
I remember watching them at their final show (Cornerstone '01 or '02 I think) and the vocalist needed somebody else to tune his guitar because he didn't know how. I had no idea if he was joking or not lol.
Chris Page
@1thess523 I'd love to hear back to find out if I remembered correctly, ha ha.