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Smile: My smile is one of the first things people notice about me. It's not fake, it's not a facade but an extension of my heart. The song, "Smile" was a song that started from a poem my father wrote in 1994 during a time he was trying to smile more. He gave it to me during a time I was having a hard time smiling, not with my face but with my heart. It's also a song of showing respect, love, and compassion to the ones you love and everyone in between. IT IS NOT a song telling people on the street to smile. If you have ever been that person, find the nearest dumpster, sit in it, think about what you've done, and consider making some apologies. My Dad's words were used for the intro part and the chorus. I wrote the rest. Life is short, be a bright light to those who need it most.

lyrics

Smile
Music By: Nathaniel Hockman
Lyrics By: Nathaniel Hockman & David Hockman

I put on a smile this morning,
Because we all need one, you know?
Remember most of all,
Give a smile to the ones you love,
It may help, you know.
I put on a smile this morning,
Because we all need one, you know?
Remember most of all,
Give a smile to the ones you love,
It may help, you know.

Smile Marcella,
God I miss you, Wally.
And all the love from,
Mural & Lucy,
I had to list my,
Grand-family,
Because all of their DNA,
Equals me.

It’s not always easy giving a smile all the time,
And to everyone that comes your way,
But it should help you and also someone else,
To get through the day.

I’m one part David,
I’m one part Kathleen.
There’s one thing I know.
It’s what they taught me.
Always keep that smile,
Do what makes me happy,
Never lose that smile.
I thank my family.

It’s not always easy giving a smile all the time,
And to everyone that comes your way,
But it should help you and also someone else,
To get through the day.

The poem was written 3/12/1994,
Nowhere near a happy time,
My dad just wanted to smile more.
It’s been 18 years now out of the safe, see.
My father helped me,
One part David,
And one part Nee Nee.

It’s not every day that I need some help from you,
Then when I needed some you just swooped right in with your poem, on cue.
I never asked for much in my lifetime,
My dad reminded me that I’ve helped a lot in my short time.
It’s not always easy giving a smile all the time,
And to everyone that comes your way,
But it should help you and also someone else,
To get through the day.

You cannot always find the things you’ve always known,
You grab the wheel and push the fuel,
When you find a poem that makes you truly feel like,
Gold on this road and a combination of words with a man on a plan,
With me and myself and the happiness of life,
On a good track,
Sometimes a smile is the only way to react.

Smile.

credits

from Embody & Expel, released February 12, 2017

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Nathaniel Hockman Ypsilanti, Michigan

A long series of recordings started in 1997 as I began to figure out how to make music and recordings on my own. The discography will take some time to upload. My archive is under construction....always.

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