“When Irish Eyes Are Smiling” is a beautiful American song from 1912 that pays tribute to Ireland. The lyrics were written by Chauncey Olcott and George Graff Jr while the music was composed by Ernest Ball. The great tenor John McCormack made the song famous during WWI. The song has since been recorded more than 200 times, by artists like Bing Crosby, Nelson Eddy, Ronan Tynan and many others.
The song is featured in nearly every film about Ireland and still remains very popular up to this day – yet many just sing the chorus only, leaving the two verses behind.
On this page you can find lyrics, a printable lyrics PDF file for free download and three sing-along videos of the song.
Printable Lyrics PDF
Click on the button to download a PDF file with lyrics to this song for free.
There’s a tear in your eye and I’m wondering why,
For it never should be there at all;
With such pow’r in your smile, sure a stone you’d beguile,
So there’s never a tear-drop 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, smile,
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 linnet’s sweet song, crooning all the day long,
Comes your laughter so tender and light;
For the spring-time of life is the sweetest of all,
There is ne’er a real care or regret;
And while spring-time is ours throughout all of youth’s hours,
Let us smile each chance we get.
Animated Sing-along Video
Children Choir Sing-along Video
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