"When the Lady Smiles" is a 1984 song by Dutch band Golden Earring. It was the first single from their album N.E.W.S. (NorthEastWestSouth). Following their United States top 10 hit "Twilight Zone", "When the Lady Smiles" was a chart disappointment in America, only reaching No. 76 on the Billboard Hot 100. However, the song became the band's fifth Hot 100 charter, making Golden Earring the most successful Dutch band on the United States singles chart.
In the Netherlands, "When the Lady Smiles" became Golden Earring's fifth number-one song. The song debuted at No. 9 on the United States Top Rock Tracks chart, but its controversial music video prevented the song from achieving further success in America.
The commercial success of "When the Lady Smiles" in the United States was thwarted by the song's controversial music video. Directed by Dick Maas, one scene portrays Golden Earring lead singer Barry Hay attempting to rape a nun on a metro car. Because of the rape scene, the video was banned from MTV.
In the United States, the song debuted at No. 9 on the Top Rock Tracks chart (now Mainstream Rock Airplay), slipped to No. 11 in its second week and then fell off the chart completely because of the music video ban.
Lyrics:
[Verse 1]
When the lady smiles
You know it drives me wild
Her lips are warm and resourceful
When her fingertips go drawing
Circles in the night
Then the mood is soft and sensual
And I love it, yeah I love it
It's the answer to all my dreams
[Bridge]
Every time it feels like the earth is shaking
It doesn't matter
A glass is falling
I hear it shatter
Maybe it's raining
Faster and faster
Shadow dancing
[Refrain]
Together oh I
I'm a-betting on the game of love
Oh oh oh I
I'm betting that love is gonna come out
When the walls no longer shout
Back at me, and I'm feeling proud
[Chorus]
When the lady smiles
She holds me in her hand
As a matter of fact
She could always let me down
But when the lady smiles
I can't resist her call
As a matter of fact
I don't resist at all
'Cause I'm walking on clouds
And she is leading the way
[Verse 2]
My friends tell me
She is the beast inside your paradise
I guess you've heard it all before
A fallen angel
That has got you hypnotized
And that always needs some more
And I love it, yeah I love it
She's done nothing to mislead me
[Bridge]
'Cause every time we meet
The earth is shaking
It doesn't matter
A glass is falling
I hear it shatter
Maybe it's raining
Faster and faster
Shadow dancing
[Refrain]
Together oh I
I'm betting on the game of love
Oh oh oh I
I'm betting that love is gonna come out
When the walls no longer shout
Back at me, and I'm feeling proud
[Chorus]
When the lady smiles
She holds me in her hand
As a matter of fact
She could always let me down
But when the lady smiles
I can't resist her call
As a matter of fact
I don't resist at all
'Cause we're walking on clouds
And she is leading
[Outro]
Oh no, oh no, oh nooooo......
