Geoffrey Parsons(1910-1987)
- Music Department
- Soundtrack
Geoffrey Parsons was an English lyricist most famous for writing the
lyrics for "Smile", a song that is generally associated with the great
Charlie Chaplin.
Parsons worked at the Peter Maurice Music Company which was run by James Phillips (aka John Turner). The PMMC was especially known for adapting foreign songs into the English Language.
Parson was assigned many songs which he would then adapt into English or write lyrics to songs which were otherwise instrumental. After writing the lyrics, they would then have to be approved by the boss James Phillips. Generally, Phillips would make a few minor changes, then would publish the songs with lyrics listed by "John Turner and Geoffrey Parsons". Though Parsons had to share the bragging rights with his boss, they went on to write several more songs "together".
In 1955, Parsons penned what would become his most famous lyrics. Working for his boss, he wrote the poignant lyrics to a song Charlie Chaplin had composed for an earlier film, "Modern Times". When the movie was released in 1936, the music quickly become associated with Chaplin and his films. Parsons (perhaps taking inspiration from Chaplin's sad life and his later success at comedy) wrote the lyrics to "Smile". After a few tweaks by the boss, the song was then published as "Smile", Music by Charlie Chaplin and Lyrics by John Turner and Geoffrey Parsons. Capturing the essence of Chaplin and evoking the sad smile of his character, the lyrics start off by encouraging the listener to "Smile though your heart is aching, Smile even though it's breaking ..."
A year later, Parsons worked with Robert Mitchell to write the lyrics for a pantomime of "Babes in the Woods" at Unity Theatre in London. He also went on to write lyrics for several other songs which became standards of the times, including "Auf Wiederseh'n Sweetheart", "Eternally" (set to another Chaplin tune), "If You Love Me (Really Love Me)", "The Little Shoemaker", "Mama", "Oh! My Pa-Pa", and "La Seine".
Though he enjoyed a relatively successful career as a lyricist, no other work grew to fame as "Smile". It was first recorded by Nat King Cole in 1954 and enjoyed immediate success. It has since been covered by several other major artists as well and is now touted as a classic standard.
Without a doubt, the lyrics and music of this sentimental song will forever live on as one of the most quintessential songs in American history.
Parsons worked at the Peter Maurice Music Company which was run by James Phillips (aka John Turner). The PMMC was especially known for adapting foreign songs into the English Language.
Parson was assigned many songs which he would then adapt into English or write lyrics to songs which were otherwise instrumental. After writing the lyrics, they would then have to be approved by the boss James Phillips. Generally, Phillips would make a few minor changes, then would publish the songs with lyrics listed by "John Turner and Geoffrey Parsons". Though Parsons had to share the bragging rights with his boss, they went on to write several more songs "together".
In 1955, Parsons penned what would become his most famous lyrics. Working for his boss, he wrote the poignant lyrics to a song Charlie Chaplin had composed for an earlier film, "Modern Times". When the movie was released in 1936, the music quickly become associated with Chaplin and his films. Parsons (perhaps taking inspiration from Chaplin's sad life and his later success at comedy) wrote the lyrics to "Smile". After a few tweaks by the boss, the song was then published as "Smile", Music by Charlie Chaplin and Lyrics by John Turner and Geoffrey Parsons. Capturing the essence of Chaplin and evoking the sad smile of his character, the lyrics start off by encouraging the listener to "Smile though your heart is aching, Smile even though it's breaking ..."
A year later, Parsons worked with Robert Mitchell to write the lyrics for a pantomime of "Babes in the Woods" at Unity Theatre in London. He also went on to write lyrics for several other songs which became standards of the times, including "Auf Wiederseh'n Sweetheart", "Eternally" (set to another Chaplin tune), "If You Love Me (Really Love Me)", "The Little Shoemaker", "Mama", "Oh! My Pa-Pa", and "La Seine".
Though he enjoyed a relatively successful career as a lyricist, no other work grew to fame as "Smile". It was first recorded by Nat King Cole in 1954 and enjoyed immediate success. It has since been covered by several other major artists as well and is now touted as a classic standard.
Without a doubt, the lyrics and music of this sentimental song will forever live on as one of the most quintessential songs in American history.
