Keep on Smilin' — Rockin’ Dopsie Jr. Lyrics

Annotations and Meaning:

"Keep on Smilin'" by Rockin' Dopsie Jr. seems to be celebrating the putting up of a good front in response to adversity. That's both a literal reminder and a metaphor of how one ought to keep smiling in the face of several obstacles.
The song begins by addressing someone who claims to have "the blues" and feels alone and defeated.

It advises one to "keep on smiling," meaning it is one of the ways among many possible ways to keep positive. It is not to deny, not even ignore one's troubles, but to find that strength in order to push through. When they refer to themselves going "crazy" and being accused, this brings in the concept of mental stress and that individual coping is to be held in high esteem.

The recommendation to take comfort in a lover or pursue an easy life ("find a piece of land") suggests both seeking comfort in love and going back to basics, as usually the case with humans, by repeatedly seeking comfort in a lover or pursuing an easy life.

The chorus merely underscores "smile through the pain," "walk through the pain," and "go through changes till the sun comes up again." Literally, it represents the routine of suffering and recuperation, attaining that whatever difficulty there is, always this possibility of rebirth or returning to happiness. Interestingly, the song also identifies social occasions that might make you feel out of place or unwanted, like "singing in a home you don't care about," and moving from urban to rural life as a means of finding oneself again, like in "from city boy to country man. These scenarios underscore themes of belonging, identity, and the pursuit of authenticity.

The idea to hang up in a local bar and ask oneself ("are you a farmer, are you a star?") relates to the human existential thought and search for purpose. It looks at the way people can completely lose themselves, forgetting who they really are amidst the chaotic life and the relevance of being happy with what they have and are without role completion. Ultimately, "Keep on Smilin'" becomes a sort of anthem for perseverance and hope. It encourages the listener to grin and bear the pitfalls thrown his way by life, suggesting that a person can only be happy and at peace only by embracing change, looking for true relationships, and smiling at the simple things. It found itself in the "Road House" soundtrack, reinstating the message of resilience for any kind of song and sending waves of power through all who are fighting their battles.