Lily Allen – Smile Lyrics - Genius

2025, In ReviewFeaturedChartsVideosPromote Your MusicSign Up36SmileLily AllenProducerFuture CutTrack 1 onAlright, Still (Digital Deluxe Edition) Jul. 3, 20061 viewer196.1K views69 ContributorsTranslations

• Español

Smile Lyrics

“Smile” was Lily’s debut single from her debut album Alright Still with B sides “Cheryl Tweedy” and “Absolutely Nothing”. The track reached number one in the UK singles chart and remained there for two weeks.… Read More [Verse 1]When you first left meI was wantin' moreBut you were fucking that girl next doorWhat'd you do that for? (What'd you do that for?)When you first left meI didn't know what to sayI never been on my own that wayJust sat by myself all day[Pre-Chorus]I was so lost back thenBut with a little help from my friendsI found a light in the tunnel at the endNow you're calling me up on the phoneSo you can have a little whine and a moanAnd it's only because you're feelin' alone[Chorus]At first, when I see you cryYeah, it makes me smileYeah, it makes me smileAt worst, I feel bad for a whileBut then I just smileI go ahead and smileSee Lily Allen LiveGet tickets as low as $99You might also like[Verse 2]Whenever you see meYou say that you want me back (Want me back)And I tell you it don't mean jack (It don't mean jack)No, it don't mean jack (No, it don't mean jack)I couldn't stop laughin'No, I just couldn't help myself (Help myself)See, you messed up my mental healthI was quite unwell[Pre-Chorus]I was so lost back thenBut with a little help from my friendsI found a light in the tunnel at the endNow you're calling me up on the phoneSo you can have a little whine and a moanAnd it's only because you're feelin' alone[Chorus]At first, when I see you cryYeah, it makes me smileYeah, it makes me smileAt worst, I feel bad for a whileBut then I just smileI go ahead and smile[Bridge]La-la-la, la-la-la, la-la-la, la-la-laLa-la-la, la-la-la, la-la-la, la-la-laLa-la-la, la-la-la, la-la-la, la-la-la, la-la-la[Chorus]At first, when I see you cry (When I see you cry)Yeah, it makes me smile (It makes me smile)Yeah, it makes me smile (Yeah, it makes me smile)At worst, I feel bad for a while (I feel bad for a while)But then I just smile (But then I just smile)I go ahead and smile (I go ahead and smile)[Outro](La-la-la, la-la-la, la-la-la, la-la-la)(La-la-la, la-la-la, la-la-la, la-la-la)(La-la-la, la-la-la, la-la-la, la-la-la, la-la-la)At first, when I see you cry (When I see you cry)Yeah, it makes me smile (It makes me smile)Yeah, it makes me smile (It makes me smile)At worst, I feel bad for a while (I feel bad for a while)But then I just smile (But then I just smile)I go ahead and smile (I go ahead and smile)36EmbedCancel

How to Format Lyrics:

• Type out all lyrics, even repeating song parts like the chorus
• Lyrics should be broken down into individual lines
• Use section headers above different song parts like [Verse], [Chorus], etc.
• Use italics (<i>lyric</i>) and bold (<b>lyric</b>) to distinguish between different vocalists in the same song part
• If you don’t understand a lyric, use [?]

To learn more, check out our transcription guide or visit our transcribers forum

AboutSong Bio4 contributors

“Smile” was Lily’s debut single from her debut album Alright Still with B sides “Cheryl Tweedy” and “Absolutely Nothing”. The track reached number one in the UK singles chart and remained there for two weeks.

The song is about a woman’s anger towards a cheating ex-boyfriend. Initially she is heartbroken, and describes how the feeling of hurt, and longing turn into anger, bitterness and a thirst for revenge. Eventually she enjoys seeing him alone and desperate in the same way that she once felt.

The lyrics suggest heavily that the song may be about Lily’s ex-partner DJ Lester Lloyd and the controversial music video, directed by Sophie Muller, removes any doubt as a DJ character is cast as the protagonist.

Throughout the video Lily arranges for him to be beaten up, spiked with laxatives and his home invaded while Lily smiles.

However Lily has never admitted the link between the fictional character and her ex-partner, and Lloyd claims he never cheated on Lily.

The track is built on a sample from the Soul Brothers 1960’s “Free Soul”

Expand +402ShareQ&A

Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning

Ask a questionWhat did Lily Allen say about "Smile"?Genius Answer1 contributor +2What has the media said about the song?Genius Answer1 contributor

In 2018, NPR ranked this as the #153 greatest song by a female or nonbinary artist in the 21st century, saying:

Lily Allen was always a rebel in a polka dot dress. You could see it in her early years when she would get thrown out of schools (plural) for chain-smoking and fighting but would turn around to bring an auditorium to tears with her beautiful rendition of a Disney song. And you could hear that duality of life experience and musical presence in her 2006 debut single ‘Smile,’ when she dressed up some Cockney-twanged mischief in sugar-coated vocals and ska-pop-tinged melodies. It’s cheeky, bawdy, experimental and ear-catching. With a mix of spoken word disses and Snow White high notes, ‘Smile’ proved then (and forevermore) that Lily Allen is the pop princess that you do not want to mess with.

+13Live PerformanceGenius Answer1 contributor Has the song received any certifications?How did the song perform on the charts?Who produced “Smile” by Lily Allen?When did Lily Allen release “Smile”?Who wrote “Smile” by Lily Allen?Alright, Still (Digital Deluxe Edition) (2006)Lily Allen

1. 1. Smile
2. 2. Knock ’Em Out
3. 3. LDN
4. 4. Everything’s Just Wonderful
5. 5. Not Big
6. 6. Friday Night
7. 7. Shame for You
8. 8. Littlest Things
9. 9. Take What You Take
10. 10. Friend of Mine
11. 11. Alfie
12. 12. Mr. Blue Sky
13. 13. Cheryl Tweedy
14. 14. Nan You’re a Window Shopper
15. 15. Blank Expression
16. 16. Absolutely Nothing
17. 17. U Killed It
18. 18. Everybody’s Changing
19. 19. Naïve (BBC Radio 1's Jo Whiley’s Live Lounge)

Alright, Still (2006)Lily AllenThrillville: Off the Rails (Official Soundtrack) (2007)Various ArtistsHe’s Just Not That Into You (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (2009)Various ArtistsSongs for the Philippines (2013)Various ArtistsNow That’s What I Call Music! 24 [US] (2007)Various ArtistsHits of the 00S (2016)Various ArtistsSmile - Single 2 (2006)Lily Allen Now That’s What I Call British [US] (2012)NOW That’s What I Call Music! 4 Top Hot Sexy R&B Divas (2008)Various ArtistsTriple J’s Hottest 100, Vol. 14 (2007)triple jGirls Allowed 2 (2007)Various Artists100 Greatest Motivation Songs (2019)Various ArtistsÖ3 Greatest Hits Vol. 35 (2006)Hitradio Ö3NOW That’s What I Call Music! 64 [UK] (2006)NOW That’s What I Call Music!Alright, Still (US Edition) (2006)Lily AllenPop Hits (Class of 2007) (2007)Various ArtistsUltimate Pop Princesses (2011)Various ArtistsExpand CreditsReleased onJuly 3, 2006ProducerFuture CutWritersJackie Mittoo, Coxsone Dodd, Iyiola Babalola, Darren Lewis & Lily AllenPublisherUniversal Music Group, Jamrec Music & JRPSLMixed AtTownhouse Studios LondonPhonographic Copyright ℗Parlophone Records & Warner Music GroupCopyright ©Parlophone Records & Warner Music GroupDistributorWarner Music GroupLabelParlophone RecordsVideo DirectorSophie MullerBassClive HunteMixing EngineerMike Pelanconi & Future CutMastering EngineerTim Debney & Tim BurrellGuitarPaul FarrDrumsPaul PowellKeyboardsJohn Ellis, Iyiola Babalola & Darren LewisEngineerMike Pelanconi, Iyiola Babalola & Darren LewisAssistant Mixing EngineerDan PorterTromboneTrevor EdwardsTrumpetEddie ThorntonSaxophoneMichael RoseRecorded AtThe Fish Market (London, UK), Dollis Hill (London, UK) and The Sample Factory (London, UK)Smile SamplesFree Soul by The Soul BrothersSongs That Sample Smile① HI BILLY DA BOB! :D by billy da bobSongs That Interpolate SmileSmile (Simlish Version) by Lily AllenSmile CoversSmile by Georgina Hill-Brown, Smile by Suy Galvez & Smile by Glee CastSmile RemixesSmile (Simlish Version) by Lily Allen, Smile (Demo) by Lily Allen, Smile (Digital Soundboy Remix) by Lily Allen, Smile Version Revisited (Mark Ronson Remix) by Lily Allen, Smile (Acoustic Version) by Lily Allen, Smile (Remix) by Wale, Smile (Gutter Mix) by Lily Allen & Vile by ExampleSmile TranslationsLily Allen - Smile (Traducción al Español) by Genius Traducciones al EspañolView Smile samplesTagsR&BPopJazz FusionSoulSoul PopAlternative R&BPop R&BSkaEnglandIn EnglishPop ReggaeUK PopAlternative PopAlternativeAdult AlternativeIndie PopUKReggaeExpand CommentsAdd a commentSign Up And Drop Knowledge 🤓Genius is the ultimate source of music knowledge, created by scholars like you who share facts and insight about the songs and artists they love.Sign Up