"Lift your head, darling, don't be afraid, of the things that might go wrong along the path...

" These
lyrics from the Eraserheads' legendary ballad "With a Smile" have offered consolation and comfort to
countless Filipinos since 1994. The recollections of how this song twice captured my heart are still
fresh in my thoughts. The first time was when I was a child and this song began to play in my head,
and the second time was when I read Inksteady's book "Taming the Waves." The creator of this song
employed simple words with big implications. Several messages were also delivered to the audience,
which depicted our daily struggles.

Eraserheads' main vocalist Ely Buendia, who is widely regarded as one of the Philippines' most
renowned music icons, wrote "With A Smile," a song of genuine love and encouragement. It's written
from the perspective of someone trying to console a loved one. "You can't win at everything, but you
can try," the song says in the first stanza. The artists are clearly reminding us that there is no
guarantee that we would always win in every conflict, but we could fight it out to claim that we tried.
The chorus plainly states that people may judge you based on your appearance and discourage you,
but you should not let these things get you down; with a little prayer and a song, everything will be
fine.

"With A Smile" is a well-known song that has a powerful message. I have to admit, it's the kind of song
that can bring me comfort in a way that others can't. Its performance, arrangement, lyrics, and tone
are all flawless. We can get by with a little prayer and a song in these trying times. This clearly
demonstrates that, despite all of the negative and painful events in our lives, we must remember to
smile. Continue to stand up and move forward if we are down. A simple grin has the potential to bring
us hope.