About the song
“Smoke Gets in Your Eyes” is a song that seems to exist outside of time. It’s a timeless ballad that has resonated with listeners across generations, a testament to the enduring power of love, loss, and the bittersweet beauty of memory. While the song was originally written in 1933 by Otto Harbach and Jerome Kern for the musical “Roberta,” it was The Platters‘ 1958 rendition that truly catapulted it to iconic status. Their version, with its lush orchestration and the incomparable lead vocals of Tony Williams, transformed the song into a masterpiece of romantic longing.
The Platters, a vocal group that rose to prominence in the 1950s, were renowned for their smooth harmonies and elegant delivery. Their music embodied the sophistication and charm of the era, and “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes” became one of their signature songs. What distinguishes their interpretation is the way they infuse the song with a profound sense of yearning and vulnerability. Williams’s velvety voice, imbued with a delicate vibrato, seems to caress each note, drawing the listener into a world of romantic reverie.
The song’s lyrics speak of the disillusionment that can follow love’s first bloom. The opening lines, “They asked me how I knew my true love was true,” set the stage for a tale of love lost and the painful realization that love’s promises can be as fleeting as smoke. Yet, despite the melancholic theme, The Platters imbue the song with a sense of hope and resilience. Their performance suggests that even in the face of heartbreak, the memory of love can endure, offering solace and a reminder of the beauty that once was.
“Smoke Gets in Your Eyes” is more than just a song; it’s a cultural touchstone. It has been featured in countless films and television shows, and its melody has been sampled and reinterpreted by artists across various genres. The song’s enduring popularity speaks to its universal themes and its ability to evoke a range of emotions, from nostalgia and longing to hope and acceptance.
Listening to The Platters‘ rendition of “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes” is like stepping back in time. It’s an invitation to savor the elegance and romance of a bygone era, to reflect on the complexities of love, and to appreciate the enduring power of music to transport us to another time and place.
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Lyrics
They asked me how I knew my true love was true
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh, I, of course replied
“Something here inside cannot be denied”
(Do-do-do, do-do-do, do-do-do, whoa)
They said, “Someday, you’ll find all who love are blind
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh, 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 (without my love)
Now, laughing friends deride tears I cannot hide
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh, so I smile and say
“When a lovely flame dies
Smoke gets in your eyes” (smoke gets in your eyes)
Smoke gets in your eyes