Ronnie Burns - Smiley (1969) 

I met Ronnie after work one night 35 years ago a really nice guy...and he treated me like i was the important one in the room...a real gentleman ...One of OZ Shining Stars !

I was 21 years when he sang that song always loved it , it reminds me of a very good friend I lost to that useless war R.I.P. Kev 🇦🇺🙏🏻🇦🇺

I was 11yrs old when I first heard this fantastic song on the radio ❤ so many good memories...I used to sing along to it ❤

I had the opportunity to back him in the early 1970s, in one of his shows and found him to be one of the nicest people I ever met, along with Johnny Farnham, as he was called back then. Not just extremely talented performers , but a real credit to show business.. Real proud Aussies..

I was living in australia when this song came out. Went home to the states and had to report for my induction physical and was drafted 55 years ago

This song played every day on the long school bus trips in 1970. I never knew the meaning of the lyrics then. A classic really.

I remember watching this in 1969 ,an i still love it❤ from Sydney Australia 🇦🇺 ❤

At one time my favourite song. Best days ever, the best era to have grown up.

I loved this song I was a young girl my mother died that year. My life changed so much.

I was 18 and eligible for the draft when this song was riding high in the Aussie charts in 1970. My older brother had doged the draft by taking an apprenticeship in a draft exempted profession, but I had no such option. I felt this song right down into the depths of my heart - I didn't want to go to the war in Vietnam. I was lucky - my birthday wasn't drawn. It's still a fabulous song that reaches right out to me.

Heard this song on the radio this morning being Anzac Day 2022. My mum and dad served in WW2. I was pretty young during the Vietnam War but I remember a few guys a bit older than me being conscripted. I remember seeing protests in Melbourne and then young men coming back after the war, some with some pretty horrific stories. I pay my respect to anyone that serves their country, unfortunately some paid the ultimate price. Now we have many great Australians of Vietnamse descent and Aussies have enjoyed travel to Vietnam some married with families etc. With all the talk of war in the world again I wonder if the human race can ever learn from history.

i was 7 years old when this was sung i remember it like yesterday. wasnt life so good back then in australia ?

i remember this song from happening 70/71 a wonderful time to be alive

Such a great era for Aussie music. He signed the album for me..

I’m a lovelorn teenager again! I was a Ronnie Burns girl, the other singers were good, but Ronnie was my favourite. I remember this song like it was yesterday. Even as a naive teenager who had a sheltered life, I even then could detect a sadness to the song. It was my favourite. Thank you Ronnie Burns for the songs, the shows and the voice.

Love this song and Ronnie's performance. I was 9 when this came out and it was the first record I ever had of my own, after asking my parents to buy it for me.

a timeless Australian classic

Perhaps the best lament for the individual consequences of war ever written and so brilliantly performed.

What a beautiful song.

Heard this Gem on the radio today and thought what a top song

A truly beautiful song from long ago still great today

I have heard this described as Australia's first protest song against the Vietnam War. The lyrics escaped me as a youngster but love this song now.

Written about Normie Rowe, and when he came home from Vietnam the song was right, that big broad smile was gone!

Such a nice guy. Saw him few years ago with Daryl Cotton and Russell Morris. What a great show. So down to earth not like some other international entertainers who don't have time for their fans 😄😄

Great anti Vietnam War song. We had some great song writers and bands during this era.

I loved this song and Ronnie singing it. I was all of 6 at the time. I haven't heard it for 50 years but remember it clearly. But today I just got the Vietnam reference "off to the asian war".... didn't understand that at all in the day. Innocent.

Great Song .. I first heard it when becoming aware of music around 11/12 in Christchurch New Zealand 69/70 ..

Ah.. the memories of my youth....

Takes me back the good days .

His daughter, Lauren was a participant in Taekwondo during the Sydney Olympics and I think she won a gold medal too

I was only about 4 years old when this come out wow amazing .. was a great song 🎧..

1979. I turned 17 and yep, at 18 my number was pulled out of the hat. This song meant so much to me.

This song was written for Normie Rowe before he went to Vietnam.

God I Love that Song And the Way it was Sung Just Wonderful

Could listern to ronnie burns all day ...😃💜

Smiley You're out in the world today Smiley You're all on your own Smiley - Hey They say you're a man today Boy how you've grown Yesterday there was laughter and songs to sing Yesterday we had loving to burn Yet today there is peace to bring When will they learn? Smiley You're off to the Asian War And we won't see you smile no more No we won't see you smile no more No more laughter in the air No more laughter in the air Feel the tension in the air Where is love? Smiley You're out in the world today Smiley You're all on your own Smiley - Hey The Family said to say Wish you were home Smiley You're off to the Asian War And we won't see you smile no more No we won't see you smile no more No more laughter in the air No more laughter in the air Feel the tension in the air Where is love? No more laughter in the air No more laughter in the air Feel the tension in the air When will they love?

What bugs me is that there are still people who think it was a legitimate war, unbelievable.

Wow this old dog has learnt something new, yet it's something old. NZs Craig Scott did this song a few years later (early to mid 70s), both versions are AWESOME and nostalgic to me. ❤️🌹

Take me back to the good old years. 2021 is just soul destroying. 💜🙏💜

Always AWESOME, Golden Dadio MWAH love Birdie 🐦 xxx

I've met him many years ago anyway he seems very nice and he was with his wife and Lauren was very young

I still love this song so much. This was the year I emigrated to Oz from U.K. when I was 7. Why wouldn't Johnny Young sing this himself, he could have done it. Still love Ronnie Burns version though.

Hit Scene was hosted by Dick Williams on ABC. Loved this song then and still do.

1969😪😥😭2023

Adding to my playlist.

Loved Ronnie's songs.

When Johnny was writing this Ronnie at the time a s I ran Ronnies fan club and my ex was also on his way to Vietnam so went down well to me

Thanks for uploading this. Loved it when it came out and love it even more now.

Yeah just love these old songs from aussie stars...

Great song

This can out at the time my number came up for nashos and was heartfelt by may

First heard thisclassic on Happening 70 thought it sounded better when slower

i loved this song when i was growing up i australia

He is indeed a gentleman…. Gigged with him……

A great social commentry

thank you ronnie 1987 kew / brunswick east

A great Johnny Young song

Sung with Passion

4 people haven't got a clue :)

Classic hit!

His daughter, Lauren won a gold medal at the Olympics

Thank You

just watched, I remember when 'Smiley' absolutely SMASHED a commentor live on air. Forget the OSCARS !! Ron Casey went down!!!

My nickname was smily,as I was always smiling my uncle gave me the nickname may he rest in peace and I hope he is smiling from above

Classic

the flute makes this

This was very much one of the last of the corny, children's-orientated hit singles of the 1960s. Such music seemed to come to quite an abrupt end with the turn of the decade as the whole media seemed to be having a really big "out with the old, in with the new" focus when the 1970s came.

Precursor to Countdown..this is the presenter. On Saturday at lunchtime.

It was raining and I don't think anyone knew where Ronnie and I think Alison Durban were supposed to set up, so it ended up in the Sundale carpark. It was amazing. Not sure of the day; early 70s.

And what about that fantastic guitar riff that opens this song! The whole record it tremendous, though it probably gets a little overblown as it closes, but regardless, I love it.

We say the good old days but vietnam was not. I remember being little and not understanding why they made such young ones fight a war overseas, and why not the old ones. I still ask the same questions. I have kids, and grandkids who wont understand it either, Why why why,

This song was written about Normie Rowe after he was conscripted and sent to Vietnam Conflict.

Craog Scott a NZ singer also did a cover version in 1971 which charted. .

I was only 6

Interesting symbols in the background....given this 1969.

nice

I was there, but the sight of that hippy shirt made me grin. Looks like an old ladies bed jacket... Lol. I know I looked far worse - but I was careful to have no record left...

Pointless war. Pointless waste of so many lives. Nice song

smiley was meant to be Normie Rowe

Time Less

and he came back different (Normie)

2019 ? :)

Remember "The Flies" ????

Movie iN 1950,s young boy in Australia bush 10 years later sent to Vietnam war broken man

What happened to Ronnie . 💜💜💜💜

I think never but I hope I'm wrong

:) x

Who is the man hosting. his face looks familiar but his name escapes me. Always loved this song and Ronnie, my schoolgirl crush

Got through the Government of the day anti Vietnam War protest song banning

"Smiley" is Normie Rowe.

Nz version done by Craig Scott

A song about Normie Rowe, after he was conscripted.

Went to add it to my Spotify playlist and the song has been heavily edited (silenced in parts) to remove any part not deemed politically correct.

Fabulous anti war song ! Go up to the Asian War and we won't we won't see you smile no more!

wish he had a couple more big songs to me john farnham suffeedred the same unlucky deal till your the voice both are way better singers i reckon anyway that didnt have the songs they deserved....

Another War song!

Get a haircut Ron...and beware of the Flies ...

Was Smiley a real person or just a made up person?

Liberal and Country parties madness...it took the ALP to end this stupidity...

Here some gossip, the Vietnam war was why Mel Gibson`s old man moved to Australia from New York because he was dodging the draft & the reason he could do this is because his mother was Australian ! Born in Perth I believe !!!