Smile

Scarface, Johnny P, 2Pac

About Smile

"Smile" is the lead single released from Scarface's fourth album, The Untouchable. It was produced by Scarface, Mike Dean and Tone Capone and featured an appearance from 2Pac, as well as R&B singer Johnny P. "Smile" was a huge success, becoming Scarface's biggest charting and most successful single to date, making it to 12 on the Billboard Hot 100. The chorus, sung by Johnny P, contains an interpolation of "Tell Me If You Still Care" by The S. O. S. Band.


Year:
1997
326 
#5

 Watch: New Singing Lesson Videos Can Make Anyone A Great Singer

[2Pac]
There's gon' be some stuff you gon' see
That's gon' make it hard to smile in the future.
But through whatever you see,
Through all the rain and the pain,
You gotta keep your sense of humor.
You gotta be able to smile through all this bullshit.
Remember that.
Mmm, yeah.
Keep ya head up.Yeah.
Verse One: 2Pac
Our lifestyles be close captioned
Addicted to fatal attractions
Pictures of actions be played back
In the midst of mashin'
No fairy tales for this young black male
Some see me stranded in this land of hell, jail, and crack sales
Hustlin' and heart be a nigga culture
Or the repercussions while bustin' on backstabbin' vultures
Sellin' my soul for material wishes, fast cars and bitches
Wishin' I live my life a legend, immortalized in pictures
Why shed tears? Save your sympathy
My childhood years were spent buryin' my peers in the cemetery
Here's a message to the newborns, waitin' to breathe
If you believe then you can achieve
Just look at me
Against all odds, though life is hard we carry on
Livin' in the projects, broke with no lights on
To all the seeds that follow me
Protect your essence
Born with less, but you still precious
Just smile for me now

[Chorus: Johnny P (2Pac)]
Smile for me , won't you smile (smile for me now)
Just smile (smile), smile for me
(What ya looking all sad for, nigga you black, smile for me now)
Smile for me (nigga you ain't got nothin' to be worried about)
Won't you smile (no doubt, smile for me now) just smile
(And the next generation)

[Scarface]
Now as I open up my story
With the blaze a your blunts
And you can picture thoughts slowly
Up on phrases I wrote
And I can walk you through the days that I done
I often wish that I could save everyone
But I'm a dreamer
Have you ever seen a nigga who was strong in the game
Overlookin' his tomorrows and they finally came?
Look back on childhood memories and I'm still feelin' the pain
Turnin' circles in my life came to dealin' cocaine
To many hassles in my local life, survivin' the strain
And a man without a focus, life could drive him insane
Stuck inside a ghetto fantasy hopin' it'd change
But when I focus on reality we broke and in chains
Had a dream of livin' wealthy and makin' it big
And after all my momma's thankin' God for blessin' the child
All my momma gots to do now is collect it and smile
Smile

[Chorus]

[2Pac]
F*ck the world as we ? and witness furious speeds
Of nasty questions keep us all stressin', curious G's
Backstabbed and bleedin', fuckin' thoughts laced with weed
Learnin', duckin' stray shots, bullets be hot, they burnin' 
Inhalin' Sherm smoke, visualized the flames
Will I be smothered by my own pain?
Strange whispers, cowards conversate, so quick to dis us
Takin' pictures for the feds, and desperate hopes they'd get us
Hit us off, give us plenty centuries, forgive my sins
Since I ain't in many penitentiaries the best revenge is f*ck friends
We military minded soldiers, bustin' shots blindly
Tryin' to find Jehovah to help me
Somebody save me
Lost and crazy, scared to drop a seed hopin' I ain't cursed my babies
Maybe now niggas feel me now, picture my pain
Embrace my words make the world change
And still I smile nigga
 
[Scarface]
And now a moment of silence, let us pray
And as you journey into outer space 
May the angels help to lead the way
Shine up on your soul to keep you safe
And all the homies that done passed away
They there to greet you as you pass the gates
And as you headed to the tunnel's light
I hope it leads to eternal life
We say the prayers for our homie 'Pac
Smile
 
(Smile for me)
(All ya need to do is smile)
(Woo smile for me)
(Come on smile for me)

 The easy, fast & fun way to learn how to sing: 30DaySinger.com


Scarface

Brad Terrence Jordan (born November 9, 1970), better known by his stage name Scarface, is an African-American rapper from Houston, Texas and a member of the Geto Boys. He is originally from South Park, Houston. In 2012, The Source ranked him #16 on their list of the Top 50 Lyricists of All Time, while About.com ranked him #10 on its list of the 50 Greatest MCs of Our Time (1987-2007). more »

1 fan

Written by: Brad Jordan, James Samuel Harris III, Mike Dean, Terry Lewis, Tupac Amaru Shakur

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


12 facts about this song

Album Classification
"Smile" is a track from Scarface's 1997 album, The Untouchable.
Collaboration
The song famously features vocals from the late iconic rapper 2Pac as well as R&B singer Johnny P.
Posthumous Release
2Pac recorded his verses for "Smile" before his death in September 1996, making the release a posthumous one.
Inspiration
Scarface has stated that the idea for "Smile" came to him while he was incarcerated.
Chart Success
"Smile" reached number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 2 on the Billboard Hot Rap Songs charts, making it one of Scarface's highest-charting singles.
Music Video Production
The music video for "Smile" uses a body double and computer-editing technology to create the illusion of 2Pac rapping his posthumous verse.
Controversies
Some fans speculate that 2Pac's verse on "Smile" contains hidden messages about his death or his rumored survival thereof.
Cover Version
"Smile" was later covered by the rapper Nelly on his 2008 mixtape Brass Knuckles.
Re-recording
A re-recorded version of "Smile", featuring 2Pac's original lyrics, appears on the album Pac's Life, released in 2006.
Production Team
Trackmasters produced the original track for "Smile," alongside Scarface himself. The production duo is composed of the producers Poke and Tone.
Spiritual Themes
The song contains spiritual and philosophical themes, with lyrics referencing the Bible and the concept of karma.
Song Genre
The song is classified as Gangsta Rap, Southern Hip Hop, and Conscious Hip Hop.

Discuss the Smile Lyrics with the community:

0 Comments

    Citation

    Use the citation below to add these lyrics to your bibliography:

    Style:MLAChicagoAPA

    "Smile Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 29 Mar. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/1752989/Scarface/Smile>.

    Missing lyrics by Scarface?

    Know any other songs by Scarface? Don't keep it to yourself!

    Watch the song video

    Smile

    70M
    413.8K     22,532

    Top Hot 100 Songs 1997

    Billboard #12


    Browse Lyrics.com

    Quiz

    Are you a music master?

    »
    What is the Outfield's most popular song according to Last.fm?
    A Since You've Been Gone
    B All the Love in the World
    C Your Love
    D Say It Isn't So

    Free, no signup required:

    Add to Chrome

    Get instant explanation for any lyrics that hits you anywhere on the web!

    Free, no signup required:

    Add to Firefox

    Get instant explanation for any acronym or abbreviation that hits you anywhere on the web!

    Don't miss Scarface's

    Upcoming Events

    »
    • Fri • Mar 29 • 8:00 PM
      Revolution Concert House & Event Center, Garden City, ID
    • Sun • Mar 31 • 7:00 PM
      Ogden Theatre, Denver, CO
    • Tue • Apr 02 • 8:00 PM
      Liberty Hall, Lawrence, KS
    • Wed • Apr 03 • 8:00 PM
      Pabst Theater, Milwaukee, WI
    • Thu • Apr 04 • 8:00 PM
      The Hawthorn, St. Louis, MO
    Scarface tracks

    On Radio Right Now

    Loading...

    Powered by OnRad.io


    Think you know music? Test your MusicIQ here!