Billy Cotton & His Band - Smile, Darn Ya, Smile (1931)

Let's all get together with this one
thought in mind: make this world
a better, brighter place.

Tell each bluenose and gloom-chaser
you'll ever find, "Hey, there--wipe
that frown right off your face!"

Smile, darn ya, smile! You know this old world
is a great world after all. Smile, darn ya, smile,
and right away watch lady luck pay you a call.

Things are never black as they are painted.
Time for you and joy to get acquainted.

Make life worthwhile.

Come on and smile, darn ya, smile!

Billy Cotton & His Band "Smile, Darn Ya, Smile" vocal by Cyril Grantham and Trio

"Smile, Darn Ya, Smile" is a great song!

Words by Charles O'Flynn & Jack Meskill.

Music composed by Max Rich.

Published in 1931 by De Sylva, Brown and Henderson, Inc.

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Billy Cotton was born William Edward Cotton on May 6, 1899, at the start of the Boer War.

On radio and TV, he was famous for his opening cry of ’’Wakey Wakey."

During World War I, he landed at Gallipoli (1915) though he was only 16.

Bill joined the Royal Flying Corps, being Commissioned in March 1918.

Cotton's career as a bandleader was successful, but he not play an instrument or read music.

Billy died of a stroke while attending a boxing contest on March 25. 1969.

His autobiography, I Did It My Way, was published in 1970.