"When Irish Eyes Are Smiling": Classic Song from 1912

The beloved ballad “When Irish Eyes Are Smiling” was written in 1912 by the trio:

• Ernest R. Ball (music)
• Chauncey Olcott (lyrics, performer)
• George Graff Jr. (lyrics)

Background

• Published by M. Witmark & Sons.
• Olcott, a famed Irish-American tenor, introduced it in the musical The Isle of Dreams.
• Became an instant hit; recorded by John McCormack, Bing Crosby, Connie Francis, and countless others.
• Synonymous with St. Patrick’s Day and Irish-American identity.

Legacy

Over a century later, it remains one of the most recognized “Irish” songs worldwide—though written by Americans for the stage. Its sentimental melody and lyrics (“Sure, a tear is a sigh…”) capture a romanticized Ireland.