Geoffrey Parsons (lyricist)


Geoffrey Claremont Parsons was an English lyricist. Best known for writing the lyrics in 1954 for the song "Smile",

Life

Parsons worked at the Peter Maurice Music Company run by James Phillips, who wrote under the pen name John Turner.
The company specialized in adapting songs originally in foreign languages into the English language. Phillips would usually assign a song to Parsons and, when the latter was finished, suggest some changes. The credits for the English lyrics would then be given as "John Turner and Geoffrey Parsons."
1954, Parsons penned what would become his most famous lyrics. Working for his boss, he wrote the poignant lyrics to a song Charlie Chaplin had composed for an earlier film, Modern Times. When the movie was released in 1936, the music quickly become associated with Chaplin and his films. Parsons wrote the lyrics to "Smile". After a few tweaks by the boss, the song was then published as "Smile", Music by Charlie Chaplin and Lyrics by John Turner and Geoffrey Parsons.
Nat King Cole recorded the first version with lyrics. It charted in 1954, reaching number 10 on the Billboard charts and number 2 in October on the UK Singles Chart.

Personal life

Parsons died in Eastbourne in 1987.

Songs