Morgan Wallen sent off 2024 with a bittersweet farewell through his somber new single, “Smile.” Released without prior notice, the track arrived alongside a poignant music video that ties in with the New Year’s Eve theme. In the video, Wallen took center stage during a New Year’s Eve special, where he’s initially set to perform his song “Love Somebody”—a track about longing. However, in a moment of creative rebellion, he disregarded the teleprompter and shifted the performance to “Smile,” a deeply reflective song about loss.
The lyrics reflect on fleeting moments and the complexities of pretending everything is alright, even when it’s not: “But it was good to see you smile / Girl you know it’s been a while / It was good to see you smile / Even if it was just for the picture.” Wallen sings about the contrast between outward appearances and inner realities, with a poignant line stating, “If someone were to see this they’d think everything’s alright / At least we got a pretty little moment frozen in time.”
As Wallen wraped up 2024, “Smile” marked an introspective and emotional close to a year of powerful musical collaborations and soul-searching releases.
Related Topics