When Irish Eyes Are Smiling - 
Song Lyrics & composer information

  • A St Patrick's Day classic
  • Ironically, of the three contributing composers to the song, none of them were Irish
  • Words by Chauncey Olcott (born Chancellor "Chauncey" Olcott 7/21/1858 - died 3/18/1932) and George Graff Jr. (born 1886, died 1973)
  • Music by Ernest R. Ball (born 7/22/1878 & died 5/3/1927)
  • The song When Irish Eyes Are Smiling was written in 1912 for the show "The Isle Of Dreams", produced by Chauncey Olcott
  • Olcott and Ball were both inducted into the Songwriters Hall Of Fame in 1970
  • Although he was born in Buffalo NY, Olcott also wrote another classic song paying tribute to Ireland, "My Wild Irish Rose" in 1899
  • In 1947 Olcott's life story was memorialized in the Warner Brothers movie "My Wild Irish Rose" starring Dennis Morgan
  • Ernest Ball was a charter member of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), and was an extremely successful composer as well as Vaudeville performer
  • The song was later used as the opening song on the radio show "Duffy's Tavern"
  • The verses to the song are almost unknown and unheard today, but the chorus is now a fixture in Irish pubs worldwide

 

Song Lyrics - When Irish Eyes Are Smiling

There's a tear in your eye, and I'm wondering why
For it never should be there at all.
With such power in your smile, sure a stone you'd beguile
So there's never a teardrop should fall.
When your sweet lilting laughter's like some fairy song,
And your eyes twinkle bright as can be;
You should laugh all the while and all other times, while,
And now smile a smile for me.

When Irish eyes are smiling, sure it's like a morn in spring.
In the lilt of Irish laughter, you can hear the angels sing.
When Irish hearts are happy, all the world seems bright and gay,
And when Irish eyes are smiling, sure they steal your heart away.

For your smile is a part of the love in your heart,
And it makes even sunshine more bright.
Like the linnets sweet song, crooning all the day long,
Comes your laughter so tender and light.
For the springtime of life is the sweetest of all,
There is ne'er a real care or regret;
And while springtime is ours throughout all of youth's hours,
Let us smile each chance we get.

When Irish eyes are smiling, sure it's like a morn in spring.
In the lilt of Irish laughter, you can hear the angels sing.
When Irish hearts are happy, all the world seems bright and gay,
And when Irish eyes are smiling, sure they steal your heart away.

Note that the lyrics posted here are those as interpreted and performed by The Oracle Band. In a few cases we have taken some liberties with the lyrics to make them more appropriate for tasteful gatherings. Their use here is intended as an aid for people in selecting music for their wedding reception or private party, and may not be reproduced for any commercial, for-profit use.

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