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When Irish Eyes Are Smiling (Song)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| “When Irish Eyes Are Smiling” | |
|---|---|
| Song | |
| Published | 1912 |
| Songwriter(s) | Lyricists: Chauncey Olcott, George Graff, Jr. Composer: Ernest Ball |
“When Irish Eyes Are Smiling” is a lighthearted song in tribute to Ireland. Its lyrics were written by Chauncey Olcott and George Graff, Jr., set to music composed by Ernest Ball, for Olcott’s production of The Isle O’ Dreams, and Olcott sang the song in the show. It was first published in 1912, at a time when songs in tribute to a romanticised Ireland were very numerous and popular both in Britain and the United States.
During the First World War the famous tenor John McCormack recorded the song.
The song continued to be a familiar standard for generations. Decades later it was used as the opening song on the radio show Duffy’s Tavern. The song has been recorded on over 200 singles and albums and by many famous singers, including Bing Crosby, Connie Francis,
- Peter O’Toole and Ed Sullivan
- John McDermott
- Kate Smith
- Méav Ní Mhaolchatha
- Mary Duff
- Porky Pig
- Brian Mulroney
- Margo O’Donnell
- When Irish Eyes Are Smiling (Instrumental Irish Favorite)
Lyrics
Verse 1: 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.
Chorus: 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.
Verse 2: 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.
(Chorus)
The song in the news
The song gained notoriety in Canada after the so-called Shamrock Summit between Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney and U.S. President Ronald Reagan held on Saint Patrick’s Day, 1985. At the end of the evening, the two leaders and their wives jointly sang “When Irish Eyes Are Smiling,” intended to celebrate both leaders’ Irish heritage. Mulroney was extensively criticized in the Canadian press for a “cloying performance” said to symbolize his government’s excessive closeness to Reagan’s.
In film
“When Irish Eyes are Smiling” has been used in the following movies and short subjects:
- “Return to Me,” 2000
- “It’s A Great Day For The Irish,” 1999
- “The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles (Ireland, April 1916),” 1993
- “Young Guns,” 1988 (Anachronistically, as the movie is set in 1877, 35 years before the song was published.)
- “Husbands,” 1970
- “Ducking the Devil,” 1957 cartoon
- “Canary Row,” 1950
- “Top o’ the Morning,” 1949 (sung by Bing Crosby).
- “The Time of Your Life,” 1948
- “My Wild Irish Rose,” 1947
- “Trap Happy Porky,” 1945
- “Irish Eyes Are Smiling,” 1944 (This is an actual movie about Ernest R. Ball)
- “My Favorite Blonde,” 1942
- “Notes to You,” 1941
- “Aviation Vacation,” 1941
- “Always a Bride,” 1940
- “The Long Voyage Home,” 1940
- “Tear Gas Squad,” 1940
- “It All Came True,” 1940
- “The Fighting 69th,” 1940
- “Let Freedom Ring,” 1939
- “The Crowd Roars,” 1938
- “North of the Rio Grande,” 1937
- “Roof Tops of Manhattan,” 1935
- “The Irish in Us,” 1935
- “In Caliente,” 1935
- “Ireland: ‘The Emerald Isle,” 1934
- “Stage Mother,” 1933
- “Titanic: Honor and Glory Demo trailer,” 2017
- “Older Than Ireland,” 2015
Copyright dispute
Fred Fisher Music Co. v. M. Witmark & Sons concerned the copyright of this song (which is now in public domain.)
When Irish Eyes Are Smiling (album)
| When Irish Eyes Are Smiling: A Collection of Old and New Songs of Erin | |
|---|---|
| Compilation album by Bing Crosby | |
| Released | 1952 |
| Recorded | 1947–1951 |
| Genre | Popular |
| Length | 23:21 |
| Label | Decca |
| Bing Crosby chronology | |
| Bing and Connee (w/ Connie Boswell) (1952) When Irish Eyes Are Smiling: A Collection of Old and New Songs of Erin (1952) Themes and Songs from The Quiet Man (w/ Victor Young) (1952) | |
When Irish Eyes Are Smiling is a Decca Records album by Bing Crosby of songs with an Irish theme. It was issued as a 10” LP as catalog No.DL 5403. Some of the songs had earlier been issued as a 3-disc 45rpm set (9-89).
A later 12” LP version with the same title was issued in 1956 as DL8262 with a different selection of songs.
Background
The maternal side of Crosby’s family had come from Ireland in the 19th century and he had grown up hearing traditional Irish songs. The first Irish song he recorded was “Did Your Mother Come from Ireland?” in 1940 and from then on, songs related to the Emerald Isle were a regular part of his catalog. The success of an earlier Crosby album of Irish songs encouraged Decca to put together another album of similarly themed tracks. This included two new songs which were reviewed by Billboard as follows:
St. Patrick’s Day Parade – Bing, in high spirits, turns on his winning Irish brogue for a sparkling etching of a new St Patty’s ditty of superior quality. Add another solid standard item to the lengthy Crosby list.
With My Shillelagh Under My Arm – Performance-wise, the same level of spirit and vigor is accomplished here but the song isn’t quite as strong as topside’s.
Track listing for 10″ LP
Recording dates follow song titles.
Side one
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Performed with |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | “When Irish Eyes Are Smiling” (May 7, 1946) | Chauncey Olcott, George Graff, Jr., Ernest Ball | John Scott Trotter and His Orchestra |
| 2. | “The Rose of Tralee” (July 17, 1945) | Edward Mordaunt Spencer, Charles William Glover | John Scott Trotter and His Orchestra |
|---|
| 3. | “My Girl’s an Irish Girl” (November 13, 1947) | Jack Popplewell | Victor Young and His Orchestra |
|---|
| 4. | “Galway Bay” (November 27, 1947) | Arthur Colahan | Victor Young and His Orchestra |
|---|
Side two
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Performed with |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | “How Can You Buy Killarney?” (November 6, 1949) | Joseph Hamilton Kennedy, Fred Grundland, Ted Steels, Gerald Morrison | Victor Young and His Orchestra |
| 2. | “Eileen” (November 6, 1949) | Max Liebman, Sylvia Fine | Victor Young and His Orchestra |
|---|
| 3. | “With My Shillelagh Under My Arm” (February 1, 1951) | Raymond Wallace, Billy O’Brien | Matty Matlock and His Orchestra |
|---|
| 4. | “St. Patrick’s Day Parade” (February 1, 1951) | Johnny Lange, Hy Heath | Matty Matlock and His Orchestra |
|---|
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