John Francis McCormack was born in Athlone, Ireland, the fourth of eleven children of Andrew and Hannah Watson on 14 June 1884, and was baptised in St. Mary's Church, Athlone on 23 June 1884. His father was employed in Athlone Woollen Mills.
John received his early education from the Marist Brothers in Athlone, and later attended Summerhill College, Sligo. In 1903 he won the coveted gold medal in the Dublin Feis Ceoil and it was this event which set him on his climb to success. John married Lily Foley in 1906 and the couple had two children Cyril and Gwen.
Fundraising enabled his voice to be trained under Sabbatini in Italy. In 1907 John McCormack made his first important operatic appearance at Covent Garden in Mascagni's Cavalleria Rusticana. By 1912 he began to turn his attention to the concert stage, where his voice quality and charisma ensured that he became the greatest lyric tenor of his day.
He made numerous recordings, the first on phonograph cylinder in 1904. His most commercially successful series of records were those for the Victor Talking Machine Company in the 1910s and 1920s. He was the first artist to record It's a Long Way to Tipperary, in 1914. He also regularly broadcast on the radio and appeared in a number of sound films.
In 1917 he became a naturalized citizen of the United States.
To many people the highlight of McCormack's Irish career was his singing of César Franck's Panis Angelicus to the thousands who thronged Dublin's Phoenix Park for the 1932 Eucharistic Congress.
He was much honoured and decorated for his services to the world of music. His greatest honour came in 1928, when he received the title Count from Pope Pius XI in recognition of his work for Catholic charities. Although he often came to be referred to as "Count John McCormack" in his professional life, this title was officially recognised within only the Catholic Church ever.
McCormack retired in 1944, and died the following year at his home in Glena, Booterstown, Dublin.
The Sunshine of Your Smile
John Mccormack Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Were you not mine, how dark this world would be
I know no light above that could replace
Love's radiant sunshine in your lovely face.
Give me a smile, the love-light in your eyes
Life could not hold a sweeter paradise
Give me the right to love you all the while
Shadows may fall across the land and sea
Sunshine from all the world may hidden be
But I shall see no clouds across the sun
Your smile shall light my life till life is done.
Give me a smile, the love-light in your eyes
Life could not hold a sweeter paradise
Give me the right to love you all the while
My world forever, the sunshine of your smile
My world forever, the sunshine of your smile
The Sunshine of Your Smile is a classic love song performed by John McCormack. The lyrics describe the exquisite beauty of the face of the singer's beloved, praising the "love's radiant sunshine" reflected in the smile. The song is a declaration of love, as the singer asks for the right to love the person with the "love-light" in their eyes forever. The song is also deeply emotional, with the singer claiming that the smile of the beloved lights up their life and that they will see no clouds until the end of time as long as the beloved smile stays with them.
Line by Line Meaning
Dear face that holds so sweet a smile for me
I address your pleasant and lovely face that always smiles at me with affection.
Were you not mine, how dark this world would be
If you were not in my life, the world would seem a dark and dismal place with no happiness.
I know no light above that could replace
There is no light or joy that could replace the love and happiness that radiates from your smile.
Love's radiant sunshine in your lovely face.
The sunshine of your smile represents the warmth and happiness of love itself.
Give me a smile, the love-light in your eyes
Please smile at me with the warm love and affection that I see in your eyes.
Life could not hold a sweeter paradise
Nothing in life could be sweeter or more wonderful than being loved by you.
Give me the right to love you all the while
Let me have the privilege to love and cherish you for all of eternity.
My world forever, the sunshine of your smile.
Your smile is the sunshine that brightens up my world and will continue to do so for all time.
Shadows may fall across the land and sea
Darkness and negativity may appear in various ways in the world.
Sunshine from all the world may hidden be
The bright, cheerful sunshine may be obscured by clouds or other obstacles.
But I shall see no clouds across the sun
Despite any obstacles or difficulties, your smile will continue to light up my life without any obstructions.
Your smile shall light my life till life is done.
Your smile will continuously brighten up my life until the very end.
Writer(s): Lilian Ray, Leonard Cooke
Contributed by Audrey M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Skyflyx [GD]
Dear face that holds so sweet a smile for me,Were you not mine, how dark the world would be! I know no light above that could replace Love's radiant sunshine in your dear, dear face.
Give me your smile, the love-light in your eyes, Life could not hold a fairer Paradise! Give me the right to love you all the while, My world for ever, the sunshine of your smile!
Shadows may fall upon the land and sea, Sunshine from all the world may hidden be; But I shall see no cloud across the sun; Your smile shall light my life, till life is done!
Give me your smile, the love-light in your eyes, Life could not hold a fairer Paradise! Give me the right to love you all the while, My world for ever, the sunshine of your smile!
Tiffney Fairless
What was it like sitting in the trenches and someone singing this song and thinking of home, how on earth did my grandda survive that hell.a better man never was born
Leo O'Callaghan
What a great voice, no modern technology, just pure vocal chords and what great diction. Simply the best.
Pete Cleverley
My dad used to sing this to my mum. He would play the piano and serenade her... This was their song....
Ken Crawford
As did my Dad. Ive always loved this song. Brings tears to my eyes every time.
David Prestidge
Beautiful beyond belief - what it must have been like to hear this great singer performing it live? I agree with Tom Smith that it is perhaps the most beautiful song ever written.
Kai tee
There are great voices and then there is the incomparable John McCormack, what a treasure!
Bruce Jackson
The smile of a woman one loves is a treasure.
Driz McMillan
That was the song my Grandad sang to my Grandmother until he died in 1966. She wouldn't listen to anyone else.
Enlightened Patriot
Wonderful, wonderful song which brings back long faint memories of my childhood at home in a post-WW2 bombed-out Liverpool. Thank you for uploading this little gem.