When Irish Eyes are Smiling Lyrics:
Fun Reasons to Sing Along!

When Irish Eyes are Smiling lyrics are a lighthearted tribute to the cultural mystique of the Emerald Isle.  When we hear it we are reminded of the irrepressible Irish spirit, full of laugher and joy even in the face of hardship.

Written just before a great famine, war for independence and a tragic civil war, When Irish Eyes are Smiling speaks of a more hopeful and innocent time. Tell us if you've heard it before:

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

Want to jump straight to the full When Irish Eyes are Smiling lyrics?  Tap here to see the complete song, along with  examples of our favorite performances.

Would you like to know a bit more about When Irish Eyes are Smiling lyrics?  Read on for some fun facts and information.

Things to Know About
When Irish Eyes are Smiling Lyrics

Here are five fun facts about the song.  Hopefully they will entice you to sing along next time you hear it!

1. By 'Irish folk song' standards, this one is relatively young - written 'just' a century ago.
2. It has been performed by innumerable artists, including Bing Crosby, Roger Whittaker and Frank Zappa.
3. As with many songs that have become Irish anthems, this one was not actually written by an Irish person - rather by an American with close family ties to Ireland.
4. The song has been played in many, many venues including being the opening song on the old radio show Duffy's Tavern.
5. In 1985 US President Ronald Reagan and Canadian Prime Minister Mulroney performed the song at what became known as the Shamrock Summit.  

When Irish Eyes are Smiling Lyrics

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 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 smile,
And now, smile a smile for me.

[Chorus]
When Irish eyes are smiling,
Sure, it's like the 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 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.

[Chorus]

Lyrics: Chauncey Olcott & George. Graff Jr.

Music: Ernest R. Ball.

Date: 1912

Category: Irish Folk

Our Favorite Performance of "Irish Eyes"

Any review of When Irish Eyes are Smiling must include the silky smooth sounds of Bing Crosby.

Another Version - Which Do You Like Better?

We are big fans of the beautiful voices of the Irish Tenors.  What do you think of this version of When Irish Eyes are Smiling ?

How to Use When Irish Eyes are Smiling

Well obviously, the best way to express your Irish side using When Irish Eyes are Smiling lyrics is ... to SING!  Visit a favorite Irish pub that offers live music.  Involve your guests in a sing-along at your next St Patrick's Day Party.

Want More Irish Song Lyrics?

It is probably obvious - at Irish Expressions, we love Irish songs!  The music of the Emerald Isle brings people together, telling stories that touch every human emotion.

Learning the lyrics and singing these songs gives us a deeper sense of connection with Ireland, wherever in the world we happen to be!

To help you build your own personal Irish songbook, we have over the years created many downloadable, share-able Irish games, puzzles, recipes, song lyrics, quizzes, and much, much more.

Want them right now?  Keep reading to learn about "Your Irish Expressions Playbook."

More Fun With Irish Expressions

Congratulations on learning more about the Emerald Isle and discovering what we like to call your "Irish Side."  You may be thinking "I'd love to actually VISIT Ireland but that's really not in the cards right now.  What am I supposed to do with the stuff I just learned?"

Well never fear!  Since 2009 we have collected all of the best printable, shareable resources we could find, to help you put your new knowledge of Ireland to good use.  We've put them all together in a single download we call "Your Irish Expressions Playbook," which contains over 50 pages of games, puzzles, recipes, songbooks, quizzes, travel guides and much, much more.

Purchase them ALL for one small price, print as many copies as you like and share them with your friends - with no limitations!   But order soon - we are already adding to the Playbook for future editions and this price will not last long. 

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