Asia: “The Smile Has Left Your Eyes” (1983)

And just when you thought there couldn’t be a weepier song than “Don’t Cry,” along came this.

Kronomyth 2.2: Downes in the dumps.

I read that John wrote this song for Geoff Downes in five minutes, which sounds about right. Although it’s one of my least favorite Asia songs, I admit that I find myself humming it often, so maybe I’m not giving it enough credit. The band released a sophisticated video to support it: a miniature French film about divorce that ends with a little girl jumping off a bridge. I know, right, just when you thought the song couldn’t be any more depressing. Truly, the best of Asia represented the worst of times: loneliness, depression, nuclear war. The B side is another overlooked Steve Howe contribution, poppier than most of what made it onto Alpha, although it feels like the finishing touches for it are missing.

Read more Asia reviews

Original 7-inch Single Version

A1. The Smile Has Left Your Eyes (John Wetton) (3:13)
B1. Lying To Yourself (John Wetton/Steve Howe) (4:12)

12-inch Single Version
A1. The Smile Has Left Your Eyes
B1. Lying To Yourself
B2. Midnight Sun

Back-to-Back Hits 7-inch Single
A1. Don’t Cry (John Wetton/Geoff Downes) (3:25)
B1. The Smile Has Left Your Eyes (John Wetton)  (3:13)

The Plastic

Released on 7-inch, 7-inch blue vinyl and 12-inch red vinyl single in October 1983 in the UK (Geffen, A/TA 3836), the US (Geffen, 7-29475), Australia (Geffen, GEF29475), Canada (Geffen, 92 94757) and the Netherlands (Geffen, GEFA 3836) with picture sleeve; reached #34 on the US charts (charted on October 15, 1983 for 20 weeks). UK versions feature unique picture sleeve.

  1. Re-released on 7-inch single in the US (Geffen Back-to-Back Hits, GGEF 0484) with “Don’t Cry.”
The Smile Has Left Your Eyes (B2B hits single)
GGEF 0484 single

1 thought on “Asia: “The Smile Has Left Your Eyes” (1983)

  1. Been years, had on cassette but MTV rarely if ever played the video, I’ve watched it many times now and no song/video instantly makes me cry like this. I believe it is because I ran away when I was 10 and sat in the attic as mom and dad panicked. I like to think she didn’t jump but went to see ASIA in Paris. To think John wrote this in 5 minutes also brings tears of joy to me now. I hope (Danielle) Natasha King has had a good life.

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