Smiles - Lou Reed

Smiles, I was taught never to smile

I was told the stylish smiles of buffoonery

Chicanery and larceny abound

My mom said unless someone sticks you right in front of a camera

A smile is the last thing that you wanna do

Those smiles, those mirthless toothy smiles

Smiles, they all smile on TV

The quizmaster with his withered crones

The talkshow hosting movie stars, the politician licking feet

The mugger, the rapist, the arsonist lover

All smile out from the news, at one time or another

Those smiles, those garish sickly smiles

When I was young my mother said to me

Never, ever, let anyone see that you’re happy

Smiles, never, ever let them see you smile

They’ll always put you down

With those smiles, never, ever let them see you smile

They’ll always put you down

With your smiles, never, ever let them see you smile

Don’t you know they’ll make you go

Doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo

Doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo

Doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo

Doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo

(Doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo

Doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo)

(Doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo

Doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo)