Learning English on St. Patrick's Day
Here is a song that is typically associated with St. Patrick’s Day, which is always celebrated on March 17. This day, which originated as a religious holiday, is now a day when we celebrate Irish people, Irish traditions, and, sometimes, green beer! Listen to the following video of a famous song, “When Irish Eyes Are Smiling” and follow along using the lyrics below (vocabulary included after the lyrics!)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGOM5ZT6hnA
Lyrics to 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, 'tis like the 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
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 and light
For the springtime of life
Is the sweetest of all
There is never a real care or regret
And while springtime is ours
Throughout all of youth's hours
Let us smile each chance we get
When Irish eyes are smiling
Sure, 'tis like the 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
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Chauncy Olcott / Ernest Ball / George Graff
When Irish Eyes Are Smiling lyrics © EMI Music Publishing, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc
Vocabulary:
Tear : : a drop of liquid that comes from your eyes especially when you cry : teardrop
Beguile: to attract or interest someone
Lilting: the attractive quality of speech or music that rises and falls in a pleasing pattern
Twinkle: a friendly or happy expression in your eyes
‘Tis : old-fashioned contraction of “it is”
Gay: old-fashioned word that means “happy”
Steal: to get more attention than others during (a performance, scene, etc.)
Linnet: a type of bird
Crooning: singing
Morn: a short word for “morning”