When Irish Eyes Are Smiling chords

Méav Ní Mhaolchatha

Song Key: C Major

Time Signature: 3/4

Tempo: Valse moderato espressive (moderately paced waltz played expressively)


Guitar Tuning: E A D G B e

Skill Level: Beginner

Guitar Chords: C, C7, F, G, G7, D7, A7, Am

Ideal for beginners with easy chords - all charts below.

Chord Chart Legend
C Major C7 F Major F Major Am G Major G7 D7 A7 A7-V2
Lefties Chord Chart Legend
C Major-LH C7-LH F Major-LH F Major-LH Am-LH G Major-LH G7-LH D7-LH A7-LH A7-V2-LH

When Irish Eyes Are Smiling

Song Key is highlighted - Transpose to any other key 
               C      Am       F       G7
Intro 3/4  ‖       |       |       |       ‖ 

             C                  
1. There's a tear in your eye    And I'm wond-er-ing why
                                    G7
   For it ne-ver should be there at all
                                           C              A7
   With such pow'r in your smile    Sure a stone you'd be-guile
              D7                        G    G7
   So there's nev-er a tear-drop should fall
             C
   When your sweet lilt-ing laugh-ter's    Like some fa-iry song
                         C7            F
   And your eyes wink-le bright as can be
              D7                             G
   You should laugh all the while    And all other times smile
           D7                G    G7
   And now smile a smile for me
  
             C      G        C       C7             F              C
Chorus: When I-rish eyes are smil-ing    Sure, it’s like a morn in Spring
               F              C        A7          D        D7      G   G7
        In the lilt of I-rish laugh-ter    You can hear the an-gels sing
             C      G          C     C7          F                      C
        When I-rish hearts are hap-py    All the world seems bright and gay
                 F      Dm       C    A7               D7         G7      C
        And when I-rish eyes are smil-ing    Sure they steal your heart a-way

           C       Am      F       G7
        ‖(way) |       |       |       ‖


             C      G        C       C7             F              C
Chorus: When I-rish eyes are smil-ing    Sure, it’s like a morn in Spring
               F              C        A7          D        D7      G   G7
        In the lilt of I-rish laugh-ter    You can hear the an-gels sing
             C      G          C     C7          F                      C
        When I-rish hearts are hap-py    All the world seems bright and gay
                 F      Dm       C    A7               D7         G7      C
        And when I-rish eyes are smil-ing    Sure they steal your heart a-way...

Song Details:

Album Cover
Album Cover
  • Composer: Ernest R. Ball
  • Lyricists: Chauncey Olcott & George. Graff Jr.
  • Date: 1912
  • Lyrics Begin: There's a tear in your eye, and I'm wondering why, for it never should be there at all,
  • Genre: Irish Folk Song
  • Featured Artist: Méav Ní Mhaolchatha - original member of Celtic Woman.
  • Album by RTÉ Concert Orchestra: The Spirit Of Ireland
    Released: 1997
    Country: Ireland
    Format: CD, Compilation
    Label: Richmond Productions Limited

Early recordings of the song include the verses, but most of the later recordings only feature the chorus. Méav is one of the few artists in the modern era to record the song with one of the verses.

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