WHEN IRISH EYES ARE SMILING
Lyrics by Chauncey Olcott & George Graff, Jr.
Music by Ernest R. Ball
Copyright: M. Witmark & Sons, 1912

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 smile,
So 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 it steals your heart away.

For your smile is a part
Of the love in your heart,
Sure it rivals the sunshine so bright.
Like the linnet's 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 never a care or regret.
So, while springtime is ours,
Through the sunshine and showers,
Let us smile each chance we get.

When Irish eyes are smiling...

Perhaps one of the many computer-geen-ee-eye of the Mudcat can supply the bewildering cluster of red digits that will provide the melody to the verses. That sort of cybermagic is well beyond me. I'm surprised none of 'em offered the words, though. Perhaps you have to be as old as I am to remember them! If you're desperate, Michelle, call me, and I'll sing a verse to you over the phone. 860-364-5661 (That's in Connecticut).

Sandy