I'll Be All Smiles Tonight
The Chieftains Lyrics

In the song "I'll Be All Smiles Tonight" by The Chieftains, the lyrics tell the story of a woman who is putting on a brave face despite the pain and heartbreak she is feeling inside. She vows to smile tonight, despite the fact that her heart may break tomorrow. She adorns herself with roses and precious gems, trying to project an image of happiness and lightness of heart to others, even if they know her well. She witnesses the man she loves enter the room with his new bride, and although he once smiled upon her, she remains unchanged and determined to keep smiling.

The song is a poignant meditation on the human condition, particularly human emotions like love, pain, heartbreak, and the need to keep up appearances. The singer of the lyrics is trying to hide her true feelings beneath a mask of smiles and social graces, even though she knows she will suffer in the end. The bittersweet nature of the song is captured in the opening lines - "I'll be all smiles tonight, love / I'll be all smiles tonight / Though my heart may break tomorrow / I'll be all smiles tonight" - which speak to the idea of putting on a brave face in the face of adversity.

Overall, "I'll Be All Smiles Tonight" is a powerful song that captures the depth and complexity of human emotion, particularly the ways in which we try to conceal our true feelings from others. The song's haunting melody and lyrics have made it a classic in the folk and Irish music traditions.