my wild Irish rose and When Irish eyes are smiling

The lyrics of My Wild Irish Rose and When Irish Eyes are Smiling were composed by Chauncey Olcott and you can find out a little more about the man who wrote these two very famous song lyrics about the Irish just below the lyrics to the two songs.

Strictly speaking they are not Irish music lyrics but since they are about the Irish and are closely associated with the Irish, I think they have to be included.

If you listen I'll sing you a sweet little song

Of a flower that's now droped and dead,

Yet dearer to me, yes than all of its mates,

Though each holds aloft its proud head.

Twas given to me by a girl that I know,

Since we've met, faith I've known no repose.

She is dearer by far than the world's brightest star,

And I call her my wild Irish Rose.

My wild Irish Rose, the sweetest flower that grows.

You may search everywhere, but none can compare with my wild Irish Rose.

My wild Irish Rose, the dearest flower that grows,

And some day for my sake, she may let me take the bloom from my wild Irish Rose.

They may sing of their roses, which by other names,

Would smell just as sweetly, they say.

But I know that my Rose would never consent

To have that sweet name taken away.

Her glances are shy when e'er I pass by

The bower where my true love grows,

And my one wish has been that some day I may win

The heart of my wild Irish Rose.

My wild Irish Rose, the sweetest flower that grows.

You may search everywhere, but none can compare with my wild Irish Rose.

My wild Irish Rose, the dearest flower that grows,

And some day for my sake, she may let me take the bloom from my wild Irish Rose.

When Irish eyes are smiling

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

And now smile a smile for me

When Irish eyes are smiling, sure it's like a morning 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 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

When Irish eyes are smiling, sure it's like a morning 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

about the Composer

Chancellor "Chauncey" Olcott( born July 21, 1858 – died March 18, 1932 ) was an American stage actor and songwriter.

Born in Buffalo, New York, in the early years of his career

Olcott sang in minstrel shows and Lillian Russell played a major

role in helping make him a Broadway star. Amongst his

songwriting accomplishments, Olcott wrote and composed the song

"My Wild Irish Rose" for his production of "A Romance of Athlone"

in 1899. Olcott also wrote the lyrics to "When Irish Eyes Are

Smiling" for his production of "The Isle O' Dreams" in 1912.

He retired to Monte Carlo and died there in 1932. His body was

brought home and interred in the Woodlawn Cemetery in The Bronx.

His life story was told in the 1947 Warner Bros. motion picture

"My Wild Irish Rose" starring Dennis Morgan as Olcott.The life

of Irish tenor Chauncey Olcott is chronicled from his childhood

to his days as the toast of New York. In between, his rise to the

top is complicated by romances with two women: his true love

Rose Donovan and stage star Lillian Russell, who wants to make

him a star

In 1970, Olcott was posthumously inducted into the Songwriters

Hall of Fame.









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