Smoke In Your Eye

Posted by RRC on April 30, 2007

In Reply to: Smoke In Your Eye posted by Brandon on April 30, 2007

: Unreleated to the "**** in your eye" post, what does this phrase mean. I've heard it used several times, but the prime example I can remember is from a Les Savy Fav song, "Pills":

: "I must admit," I said with a smile "I'm frightened as a child."

: And I suspect by the smoke in your eye you're thinking "so am I".

: Now, my thoughts are that it means someone who has tears in their eye but is too proud to admit it, using "smoke in my eye" as an excuse for the teariness. Anyway, any help on this phrase would be appreciated.

: Thanks!

Given that the speaker in the song is talking to a burning bush, I don't think you should worry so much about assigning a figurative meaning.
Perhaps you could work on the Kern/Harbach song "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" written for the 1933 musical "Roberta":
They, said some day you'll find,
All who love are blind,
When you heart's on fire, you must realize,
Smoke gets in your eyes.

• Smoke In Your Eye Brandon 30/April/07
  • Smoke In Your Eye RRC 30/April/07
    • Smoke In Your Eye pamela 01/May/07
      • Burning bush Lewis 08/May/07