♫ Smoke Gets In Your Eyes ♫

Posted on by under music

Tonight, I am taking you back … way back … way way way back, to a time that some of you weren’t even born yet!  The year was 1958, I was seven years old.  But, I remember this song as if it were yesterday.  I loved it then, and I love it still …  Since I am feeling … shall we say nostalgic, in lieu of saying saying ‘sad’ tonight, this one feels somehow right.

The song was originally written in 1933 for the musical Roberta, starring Bob Hope. The lyrics were written by Otto Harbach and the music by Jerome Kern.  The song has been covered by almost anybody and everybody, but the version that is most remembered is the one by The Platters.

In addition to this, a few of my other favourites that year were Splish Splash (Bobby Darin), Tom Dooley (The Kingston Trio), Good Golly, Miss Molly (Little Richard), and Night Time Is The Right Time (Ray Charles).

Those who were around back in 1958 … what were your favourites?

Smoke Gets In Your Eyes
The Platters

Baby,
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

Songwriters: Jerome Kern / Otto Harbach
Smoke Gets In Your Eyes lyrics © T.B. Harms Co., Polygram International Music Publishing Ltd., Emi Glenwood Music Corporation, MECHANICAL COPYRIGHT PROTECTION SOCIETY LTD, CHAPPELL MUSIC LTD, UNIVERSAL – POLYGRAM INT’L OBO T.B. HARMS CO.

Discover more from Filosofa's Word

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

27 thoughts on “♫ Smoke Gets In Your Eyes ♫”

  1. Thanks, Jill. I didn’t know about Jamie Farr. That movie was probably the first time middle-class people knew how bad some of the schools in the rough neighborhoods were. I’m from Akron, Ohio. I heard there was one inner-city school where the kids used to stand outside and throw stones at the passing cars. I took a job in the county. We were paid less but were in safer areas. —- Suzanne

    Liked by 1 person

  2. My parents and I used to watch it. It was quite popular but they had trouble thinking up skits for many of the rock and roll songs. It was a popular program prior to rock and roll when the songs were ballads. I don’t know at your young age if you noticed but It seemed rock and roll came in quite fast and took the teenagers by storm. Some parents disapproved if you remember. I think the first rock song I heard was “Rock Around the Clock” when my parents and I went to see the movie “Blackboard Jungle” starring Glenn Ford, Sidney Poitier, Vic Morrow, Anne Francis, and Louis Calhern. It was a good movie. They’ve played it a number of times on TV. —- Suzanne

    Liked by 1 person

    • This is the first time I’ve heard “at your young age” in reference to myself in decades! Thank you! I didn’t really notice, for it seemed that rock ‘n roll had always been there to me. The first I remember was ‘Nothing but a Hound Dog’ which came out, I believe, when I was 5.

      I haven’t seen Blackboard Jungle, but I just now watched the trailer and checked out the IMDB … the trailer was interesting, so I added it to my watch list, and the cast of characters was interesting too! Did you know that Jamie Farr was in it? He’s the one who played Corporal Klinger in the M*A*S*H television series. I will definitely try to watch that movie soon! Thanks for mentioning it to me!

      Liked by 1 person

  3. This was a trip down memory lane. Thank you! I loved The Platters, and that was the year (I think) I discovered Chubby Checker. I remember from that year “Purple Eater” And “Green Door.” I was glued to American Bandstand. Then there was Elvis, the Chiffons (do you know they played on the same bill as the Beatles?), and I was on to Motown, big time. So big that my adult children can tell the many stories and know all the songs.

    Liked by 1 person

  4. I am just a wee bit older than you, but the music that I heard most often in the time frame that you mention was controlled by my elder sister. She was all about Rock and Roll and loved Paul Anka, Neil Sedaka, Frankie Avalon, Bobby Darin, Ricky Nelson, and of course Elvis, just to name a few. She almost went into mourning when Elvis went into the Army. American Bandstand with Dick Clark was a could not miss show and she’d pull me up and make me dance with her. In truth, she taught me every dance that was popular during those years and I really loved dancing, but would never admit it to her. It served me well in the early to mid 60’s. In the late 50’s I was more into classical and a budding ballerina…alas, that bud failed to really bloom. Though your song doesn’t jar a memory, your post sure does! Thank-you!

    Liked by 1 person

    • I’m happy to have jarred memories! I liked some of the music your sister did, but also liked much of the music of my parent’s generation. I didn’t develop a love for classical until I was in college, but always loved jazz, ever since seeing the great Louis Armstrong in person at Disneyland as a child. The way that man could bulge his cheeks out had me in awe, and I spent many days in front of the mirror trying to emulate him! I’m sorry your career as a budding ballerina didn’t take root, but at least you don’t have destroyed ankles now! There is a silver lining to every cloud! 😉

      Like

  5. Jill, Michael and Suzanne’s stories are meaningful. My father loved The Platters. This song is an excellent taste of their style, but they have so many wonderful songs to choose from. A favorite CD is a greatest hits compilation. It has a mystical aura that takes me back in time. A great time to listen is early evening as the sun has just dropped below the horizon. Thanks for the nostalgic post. Keith

    Liked by 1 person

  7. As I’ve mentioned here before, Mom always played records when she cleaned and cooked when I was young, and the Platters were part of her rotation. Every note and nuance of this song is played into my mind, entwined with pleasant memories. As Carolyn said, I was two when it came out, so it’s basically a part of almost my entire life. Cheers

    Liked by 2 people

    • YES!!! Last night I listened to that very version of Tom Dooley and loved every minute of it … in fact, it almost won out over The Platters for the song of the day.

      How’ve ye been, my friend? Cheers!

      Like

    • I wasn’t sure if this one would be to your liking or not … but I am thrilled that it is! Yep, they were easy on the ears alright! And I agree with you on the other two you mention … they may pop up here someday! 😉

      Cwtch

      Liked by 1 person

  11. Yes, that takes me back. I was a Junior in high school. I graduated in 1959. I loved Fats Domino, The Everly Brothers, and many of the old songs from the 1920s and 1930s. I remember listening to “Slow Boat to China” on the radio in the 1940s although I know it was written years earlier. We used to “Your Song of Songs” on TV. When rock and roll came along it killed the program as those songs were hard to sing to. 🙂 — Suzanne

    Liked by 4 people

Comments are closed.