Smile

When there are clouds
in the sky,
You'll get by
If you smile
Through your fear
and sorrow
Smile
And maybe tomorrow
You’ll see the sun
come shining through
For you

Susan “Toots” Ople suggested we feature songs to lift people’s spirits in this most somber of times.  A “Playlist of Hope,” as she put it. We loved it.

So we start with this classic, attributed to Charlie Chaplin, as sung by another immortal, Nat King Cole. As a bonus, we added a link to an article in the American Songwriter about “Smile” and Chaplin’s uncredited co-writer. The article features equally uplifting versions from Judy Garland and Michael Jackson, among others.

If you have a song in mind you want added to our “Playlist of Hope,” just type the title in the comment section and we’ll look for the best sounding video, interesting stories about it, and post it here.

Behind The Song: “Smile” by Charlie Chaplin with Turner & Parsons, and, most likely, Raksin - American Songwriter

The entire story behind the lengthy creation of a beloved standard “Smile, though your heart is aching, smile, even though it’s aching…” It’s a beloved standard. “Smile.” Most people know the song, and many know it as “the song Charlie Chaplin wrote.” Did Chaplin write it? Was he even a songwriter? …

American SongwriterPaul Zollo