Smoke Gets in Your Eyes

Album: Best Of The Platters (1958)
Charted: 1 1
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  • They asked me how I knew
    My true love was true
    I of course replied
    Something here inside cannot be denied
    They said "someday you'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

    (Smoke gets in your eyes, smoke gets in your eyes)

    Smoke gets in your eyes Writer/s: Jerome Kern, Otto Harbach
    Publisher: Kanjian Music, Universal Music Publishing Group
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 20

  • Sue Formerly From Cincy from TennesseeI attended Webster Elementary in the late 50's. Our music teacher was Mrs. Browning. She loved this song and taught it to us. We performed it for the PTA. Pleasant little memory.
  • Delta from EuropeThe first thirty, forty seconds of this song are unparalleled magic that transports me to another world. Echoes of another era, long gone.

    I can't find much information about the lead vocalist in this song, but he is magnificent.

    The age of the recording shows, but perhaps that is part of its charm.
  • Jennifur Sun from RamonaThis may sound awful but never could figure out the meaning and always thought this was a weird song.
  • Seventhmist from 7th Heaven"MASH" had a little fun with this one. Hawkeye sings "She asked me how I knew….her brassiere was blue."
  • Dan from SeattleParodied by The Four Preps in their medley "More Money for You and Me" in 1960.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn February 20th 1959, the Platters performed "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" on the ABC-TV program 'American Bandstand'...
    At the time their covered version was at #4 on Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart; and one month and one day earlier on January 19th, 1959 it peaked at #1 {for 3 weeks} and spent 19 weeks on the Top 100...
    Prior to reaching #1 it spent four weeks at #2; and the #1 record for those four weeks was “The Chipmunk Song" by the Chipmunks with the Music of David Seville...
    On the same 'Bandstand' show the quintet also performed "Enchanted"; it would peak at #12 {for 1 week} on May 4th, 1959 and stayed on the chart for 15 weeks...
    Sadly; all five original members have passed away; the last being Herbert Reed, who died on June 4th, 2012 at the age of 83...
    May they all R.I.P.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn November 5th 1972, "Smokes Gets In Your Eyes" by Blue Haze entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #98; and 9 weeks later on January 7th, 1973 it peaked at #27 {for 2 weeks} and spent 14 weeks on the Top 100...
    In 1958 Richard Barrett covered the song; his version entered the Top 100 on April 13th, 1958 for a one week stay at position #94*...
    * The record was tied at #94 with six others songs; "Bluebirds Over the Mountains" by Erzel Hickey, "Yes, My Darling" by Fats Domino, "April Love" by Pat Boone, "Lollipop" by Ronald and Ruby, "The Story of My Life" by Marty Robbins, and "College Man" by Bill Justis...
    {Concerning the tie at #94; see http://books.google.com/books?id=9AoEAAAAMBAJ&source=gbs_all_issues_r&cad=1 and then type Richard Barrett is 'Search' box}.
  • Paulo Ricardo from São Paulo, BrazilBob Hope didn't work in "Roberta"
  • John from Wirral, United KingdomCourted my wife to this song classic!!
  • Shawn from Green Bay, WiJust lyrical, enchanting and beautiful. Like love itself.
  • Diane from Las Vegas, CaI know that this song was sung by Irene Dunne in the musical Roberta in 1935, starring Irene Dunne, Randolph Scott, Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. Very good movie!
  • Guy from Woodinville, WaYes, the "American Grafitti" use of the Platters recording is just too perfect! Ron Howard & Cindy Williams are having a fight at the dance when their names are called out. They have to dance in the spotlight to "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes" while she cries into his shoulder. What a wonderfully poignant moment from a classic watershed movie chock-full of future starts!
  • Mark from Austin, TxHello! The best example (and most touching,imho) of the use of this song in film is "American Graffiti"! watch it!
  • Nathan from Prague, NeThe song was also in the 1986 horror,comedy Night Of The Creeps. Which is a great movie by the way.
  • Krystel from Glenreagh, AustraliaA beautiful song... I get to sing this at my exam coming up in the next few days. It is full of emotion and just a hint of cheeky, but mostly wistful. I like it.
  • Dee from Indianapolis, InThis song reminds me of my 1st love. I had one date with her and it was to see the movie "Always". Other songs remind me of her, but this is the one that brings tears to my eyes for never sharing my true feelings for her when I had the chance. Regrets are many, past love is fleeting, say it while you can.
  • Ralph from Boston, MaA long time ago I read that the tune was baised on a march tune which "didn't make it". Subsequently, so the storey goes, it was "slowed-down" and a hit was born.
    Does any one know more than that?
    thanks very much.
  • Keith from Slc, UtThis was the "our song" in the movie "Always," about pilots who drop chemical retardant on forest fires.
  • Helen from York, EnglandI do believe this was the song Shirley Bassey sang on the Morecambe and Wise show, during which she lost her shoe and Morecambe follows her around until he can slip his own shoe on her bare foot. She remains straight-faced throughout.
  • Hart from New Haven, CtOne of the best.
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