Smile by The Bastard Sons of Dennis, from their album Cherry Smoke Empire.
Smile was one of the earliest Bastard Sons of Dennis songs, first coming to light in their sand dune sessions on Exmouth beach in the summer of 1994 and was first performed live at The Cavern in Exeter that same summer.
The song originally appeared on the 1992 Levitation album Need For Not, released by Rough Trade. Terry Bickers of the band Levitation and Q.Wim were at university together and collaborated on a number of musical delights, including this.
Yuri was completely unaware of the band Levitation and created his own lead guitar parts independently having never heard the original recording until this track was about to be released.
In their one-off spontaneous 1998 session, the Bastard Sons of Dennis played Smile again, with Scott on balalaika providing the high ostinato and Yuri on bass.
There are three consecutive guitar solos towards the end of the song, capturing the way the duo performed it live. Yuri takes the first and third solos and Q the middle one.
lyrics
SMILE
Smile, for the experience is here
Smile
Wash away your tears today, smile
And if you find time
And if you find time
Smile
I pick up all the pieces that I left lying around
I cast them to the wind, yeah
There is no sound
Instinct, revelation
Your life starts here
And how many tomorrows can I see
In the cauldron of worn ideas
How many might follow this lost feeling
Instincts, revelation
Your life stops here
And how many tomorrows can you see
I pick up all the pieces that I left lying around
I cast them to the wind, yeah
There is no sound
Instincts, revelation
Your life starts here
And how many tomorrows can I see
Smile
Smile
Smile
So let me take you there
They're going to strip you bare
Smile, for the experience is here
Smile
And if you find time
And if you find time
Smile
I pick up all the pieces that I left lying around
I've cast them to the wind, yeah
There is no sound
Instinct, revelation
Your life starts here
And how many tomorrows can I see
Smile
Smile
Smile
So let me take you there
They're going to strip you bare
Smile, for the experience is here
Smile
Wash away your fears today, smile
And if you find time
If you find time
Smile
I pick up all the pieces that I left lying around
I've cast them to the wind, yeah
There is no sound
Instinct, revelation
Your life starts here
And how many tomorrows can I see
I pick up all the pieces that I left
Pick up all the pieces that I left
I pick up all the pieces that I left lying around
I've cast them to the wind, yeah
There is no sound
credits
from Cherry Smoke Empire,
track released October 27, 2011
Words and music by T. Bickers/A. Richardson.
This arrangement by The Bastard Sons of Dennis.
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