smile – English Lyrics

• By: christina perri
• Album: songs for rosie

Lyrics & Translation

[English]

Smile though your heart is aching

Smile even though it's breaking

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

Light up your face with gladness

Hide every trace of sadness

Although a tear may be ever so near

And that's the time you must keep on trying

Smile, what's the use of crying?

You'll find that life is still worthwhile

If you just smile

...

That's the time you must keep on trying

Smile, what's the use of crying?

You'll find that life is still worthwhile

If you just smile

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
smile /smaɪl/ A1	verb - to form one's features into a pleased, kind, or amused expression, with the corners of the mouth turned up. noun - a pleased, kind, or amused expression, with the corners of the mouth turned up.
heart /hɑːrt/ A1	noun - a hollow muscular organ that pumps the blood through the circulatory system. noun - the emotional or moral nature of a human being; one's deepest feelings.
aching /ˈeɪkɪŋ/ B1	adjective - experiencing or suffering a continuous dull pain. verb - feeling a continuous dull pain (present participle of 'ache').
breaking /ˈbreɪkɪŋ/ A2	adjective - causing great emotional pain or distress (as in 'heart is breaking'). verb - separating into pieces as a result of a blow, shock, or strain (present participle of 'break').
clouds /klaʊdz/ A1	noun - a visible mass of condensed water vapor floating in the atmosphere. noun - a state or cause of gloom, suspicion, trouble, or depression (figurative).
fear /fɪər/ A2	noun - an unpleasant emotion caused by the threat of danger, pain, or harm. verb - be afraid of (someone or something) as likely to be dangerous, painful, or harmful.
sorrow /ˈsɒrəʊ/ B1	noun - a feeling of deep distress caused by loss, disappointment, or other misfortune; sadness.
sun /sʌn/ A1	noun - the star that the Earth orbits, which provides light and heat. noun - a source of warmth, happiness, or prosperity (figurative).
shining /ˈʃaɪnɪŋ/ B1	adjective - giving out or reflecting light; gleaming. verb - emitting or reflecting light (present participle of 'shine').
light /laɪt/ B1	verb - to illuminate or make bright. noun - the natural agent that stimulates sight and makes things visible.
face /feɪs/ A1	noun - the front part of a person's head from the forehead to the chin.
gladness /ˈɡlædnəs/ B2	noun - a state of being happy; joy.
hide /haɪd/ A2	verb - put or keep out of sight.
trace /treɪs/ B1	noun - a mark, object, or other indication of the existence or passing of something.
sadness /ˈsædnəs/ A2	noun - the condition or quality of being sad; sorrow.
tear /tɪər/ A2	noun - a drop of clear salty liquid secreted from glands in a person's eye when they cry or when the eye is irritated.
trying /ˈtraɪɪŋ/ A2	verb - making an attempt or effort to do something (present participle of 'try'). noun - the action of making an attempt or effort (gerund).
crying /ˈkraɪɪŋ/ A2	verb - shedding tears, typically as an expression of distress, pain, or sorrow (present participle of 'cry'). noun - the action of shedding tears (gerund).
worthwhile /ˌwɜːrθˈwaɪl/ B2	adjective - worth the time, money, or effort spent; useful or important enough to be a suitable reward for the time, money, or effort spent.

Key Grammar Structures

• Smile though your heart is aching

  ➔ Concessive clause with though

  ➔ The word "though" introduces a concessive clause, showing contrast between smiling and the heart's pain.

• Smile even though it's breaking

  ➔ Concessive clause with even though

  ➔ "Even though" strengthens the concession, emphasizing that the heart is breaking yet we should smile.

• When there are clouds in the sky, you'll get by

  ➔ Adverbial clause of time (when) + first conditional (will)

  ➔ The clause beginning with "When" sets a temporal condition, and the main clause uses "you'll" (will) to express a future result.

• If you smile through your fear and sorrow

  ➔ Conditional clause (first conditional) with present simple

  ➔ "If" introduces a possible situation using the present simple; the result is implied in the following lines.

• You'll see the sun come shining through for you

  ➔ Perception verb + bare infinitive (see + object + infinitive)

  ➔ After the verb "see", the following verb "come" stays in the bare infinitive form, indicating what is perceived.

• Light up your face with gladness

  ➔ Imperative sentence

  ➔ "Light up" is placed at the beginning to give a direct command or encouragement.

• Hide every trace of sadness

  ➔ Imperative sentence

  ➔ "Hide" functions as a command, urging the listener to conceal sadness.

• Although a tear may be ever so near

  ➔ Concessive clause with although + modal verb may

  ➔ "Although" introduces a concession, and "may" expresses possibility, indicating that a tear could appear.

• And that's the time you must keep on trying

  ➔ Relative clause with modal must (obligation)

  ➔ "you must keep on trying" is a relative clause modifying "time"; "must" shows strong obligation.

• Smile, what's the use of crying?

  ➔ Rhetorical question with "what's the use of" + gerund

  ➔ "what's the use of" asks about the purpose; the gerund "crying" functions as the object of the preposition "of".