Lyrics by Chauncey Olcott and George Graff, jr.
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.
When Irish eyes are smiling...
"When Irish Eyes Are Smiling" è una spensierata canzone dedicata all'Irlanda con testo di Chauncey Olcott e George Graff, jr. e musica di Ernest R. Ball. La canzone fu scritta per lo spettacolo "The Isle O' Dreams" del 1912, in cui veniva cantata dallo stesso Olcott, In seguito, grazie all'interpretazione di molti cantanti famosi. continuò a essere uno standard familiare per generazioni.
