Last night, a collaboration between the late Juice WRLD and The Weeknd dropped, and the lyrics are haunting, seeming to foreshadow Juice’s accidental overdose in December.
The main theme in the song is about wanting another person to be genuinely happy, even if you are removed from their life entirely. It also touches on confronting inner demons and struggling with romantic relationships – concepts that are prevalent in many of Juice WRLD’s other songs. “Smile” speaks to the concept of unconditional love, with lines from the chorus like “I want you to prosper and come proper/ Even if that means I ain’t by your side.”
The most moving lyrics, especially considering the context of the two artists, may be Juice’s line “Devil on my shoulder tellin’ me I’ll die soon/I don’t really want that to impact you.” As the song was released, The Weeknd tweeted, “wish we could celebrate together” – touching fans around the world. This is The Weeknd’s first release since his album After Hours, which dropped late March this year.
Juice WRLD’s artistry continues to live on in his music – especially in this new release. “Smile” is out on all major platforms, and you can listen to the track below.