Blog 3096 – 04.22.2024

Smoke Gets In Your Eyes

Originally released in 1959 by the Platters today’s song was a challenge for me due to my limited range, but I was rather pleased with my performance after practicing and memorizing the piece. If you will recall it was the colossal failure at a party with my wife to sing a karaoke version of Elvis’s early hit Heartbreak Hotel that I asked my wife to get me a karaoke machine so I could practice several songs and never be caught unprepared again.

Though I was only a Boy Scout for a year the Scout motto “Be Prepared” is one I have tried to live by. In my traveled I have logged a lot of miles driving by myself and have entertained myself by singing along with many songs. I do not read music nor perform a musical instrument, yet I have memorized many songs from many genres.

Today’s song is one I heard as a boy. Back then both my parents smoked, almost everyone did. The reason I never smoked is because the smoke got in my eyes and I did not like the burning sensation it caused. In one of those contradictions that define us as human beings, though I do not care for the smell, stinging and taste of smoke I still find the sight of a woman smoking very erotic. All the pretty women smoked when I was a boy, movie and TV stars, advertised their favorite brands or those who paid them to say they were.

Even after losing a lung to cancer film star John Wayne kept smoking till he died of cancer caused by smoking many years later. Many a pretty lady died early due to smoking, men too. Smoke got in their eyes.

We have made great strides in educating people to the dangers of smoking. But today’s song is really about the danger of another passion, risking once heart to romance. When that lovely flame dies the smoke can also lead to your demise. As teen throb crooner Gene Pitney once sang, “Only love can break a heart, only love can mend it again.” Some habits are hard to break. Hearts like rules on the other hand seem made to be broken.

Your friend and fellow traveler,

David White

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1eQcPfEXaeSYaMYju8Ck5Lfewcc63sCvE/view?usp=drivesdk

Smoke Gets In Your Eyes