Smile though your heart is aching

Most people are surprised to learn that the music for this favorite of the legendary silent film star Charlie Chaplin, whose "Little Tramp" character was written perhaps the longest of all the figures from the silent era.

Chaplin composed the song as the theme of one of his last (and ultimately one of the most famous) silent film, Modern Times, released in 1936.

The song has become like "Smile" was the text in 1954 by John Turner and addedGeoffrey Parsons and it was recorded by Nat King Cole. It reached # 10 on the Billboard that year.

Chaplin also wrote the Academy Award (1952) Evaluation of his film, Limelight.

Ironically, anger and strife marred much of the life of this genius slap-stick. He fought with the government on taxes, was a communist sympathizer during the "Red Scare" McCarthy era, Senator Joe targeted controversies surrounded his marriage late in life to Oona O'Neill,20 years his junior and the daughter of famous playwright Eugene O'Neill.

Despite its "fear and suffering" during his long and productive life (he died Christmas Day in 1977 at the age of 89), Charlie Chaplin usually brought joy and laughter, its millions of fans ... and of course many a smile. "

"Smile" was recorded and released numerous times, as the recent Tony Bennett / Barbra Streisand on cooperation Bennett Duets album of 2006.

SmileLyrics

Theme music for modern times

(Music by Charles Chaplin "Charlie" - Lyrics by John Turner and Geoffrey Parsons)

Smile tho 'your heart is aching,

Smile even tho 'break

If there are clouds in the sky

You'll get by;

When you smile

thro 'your fear and pain,

Smile and maybe tomorrow

You can see the sun is shin-ing thro 'for you