Music structure and lyrics Smile (Lily Allen song)

musically, smile bubbly, mid-tempo tune barroom piano lick , subdued horns , reggae beat, singing in light falsetto, while organ riff contains sample of jackie mittoo playing keyboards on 1960s rocksteady song free soul soul brothers, written mittoo. , clement dodd received credit on song co-writers. described have cod-reggae groove smoulders barbecue , guitar , piano used background music, following notes gm—f basic chord progression. set in time signature of common time, having metronome of 96 beats per minute, , played in key of f major. lyrically, song describes allen s satisfaction in former lover s suffering, being in vengeful mood: @ worst / feel bad while, / smile / go ahead , smile, creating contrast between peppy melody , brassy lyrics . inspiration song came real life experience, when allen broke boyfriend, lester lloyd, resulting in drug overdose , hospitalization depression. singer claimed started depressed , suffers depression knows can bad can t out of bed. checked priory. tough emotional mess. [...] lyrics bitter-sweet . allen said later regretted direct approach of lyrics:

i m less inclined that, because gets repeated in way haven t said it, or taken out of context , spun in negative way — , makes me sad. m not, like, negative person. m quite positive, industry has made me feel angry , negative recently. m not enjoying @ moment.