Smiley Faces

Gnarls Barkley

But what did you do
What did you say
Oh did you walk or did you run away
Where are you know
Where have you been
Did you go alone or did you find a friend

I need to know this
'Coz I noticed I'm just smiling
How can the sun
Have any fun
Feeling free

And I can tell you know how hard this life can be
But you keep on smiling for me

So what went right
What went wrong
Was it a story or was it a song
Was it over night
Or did it take you long
Was knowing your weakness what made you strong

For all the above
Oh how I love to see you smiling
An oh yeah
Take a little pain just in case

You need something want to embrace
To help you put on a smiley face
Face
Smiley face

Don't you go off into the new day without getting down
Here's a summary of something you get sad about
Say for instance my girlfriend she, bugs me all the time
But the irony of it all is that she loves me all the time
Oh see

I believe
Whenever I see you smiling
'Coz excuse me
But it's easily one of the hardest things to do
Your worries and fears become your friends
And they end up smiling at you
Put on a smiley face


Lyrics submitted by Nyra, edited by derStrichjunge, ChipperSpiff

Smiley Faces Lyrics as written by Thomas Callaway Brian Joseph Burton

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

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Smiley Faces song meanings
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27 Comments

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  • +1
    General Comment
    i think its about people who smile all of the time regardless of what has gone on in their life. and Cee-Lo is admiring those people for doing that.
    fistfulofloveon May 13, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment
    "Here's a summary of something that you could smile about. Say for instance, my girlfriend she bugs me all the time. But the irony of it all is that she loves me all the time." it doesn't get any better than that. like DCV said, there is some hint of darkness within the song but you almost feel as if the smiling faces overcome it all. i love cee-lo and dangermouse. they are one of few credible ARTISTS connected to the hip-hop genre, etc. great song.
    bellalunabrownon October 15, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment
    I love this song! I think it is about trying to make the best out of life. Even when it can be hard. We all have good days and bad days and why in the hell not try to smile? It might actually MAKE you feel happy when you feel blue. I don't think it is being fake to smile if you truly feel like smiling. Sob when you need to sob. Frown when you are pissed off. And smile when you have a fucked up thought in your head or when you simply feel euphoric!
    LookIntoTheLighton November 12, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    A lot of his songs seem to suggest some kind of mental unbalance. This is one of them. It’s a good song. I like it. It just hit me that Crazy, Smiley Faces and Just a thought all have hints of madness in them.
    Tyler2004durdenon May 02, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    This is my favorite Gnarls Barkley song. It seems like such a feel good song! I think it's just about some one who is happy when he/she sees this other person who lives a happy, positive life, and then just feeds off that greatness and wants to be more like them.
    neomarticon June 13, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    I agree, but I think it/s also about that struggle we call life. It/s about living in the moment and making the best of things: "What went right? What went wrong? Was it a story or was it a song..." Probably my favorite Gnarls Barkley song right now.
    Mr. Shiveron July 25, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    this song makes me cry. i love it.
    F00Lon September 18, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    personally i love how he says "And oh yeah, take a little pain just in case." Brilliant. Can't just be all smiles, haven't to experience the pain, just to know the beauty of your own smile, know what you're smiling about. Great to not smile just for the sake of smiling, but for the sake of feeling good.
    vicekingon October 24, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    when i first read your coments to the songs i realized what gnarles and you mean to say ( for me) ... to see the good things in the world and to smile about them but then, while listening to the song i got a argue with a good friend... and then i just thought about... there are times when life is "bad" and there is no space for smiling.. and thats life too truly i wanna smile all the time too :) but you cant do that .... i cant.... taz
    Taz-Devilon November 09, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    i think this is about meeting some who is happy and wanting to know why... what has happened in there life to make them smile. not jsut good stuff, but the bad as well, wich gives u perspective on the good.
    fiascodagamaon December 19, 2006   Link

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