Annotation:To Ladies' Eyes
X:1 T:To Ladies' Eyes M:2/4 L:1/8 S:Kerr – Merry Melodies, vol. 3, No. 375 (c. 1880’s) Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion K:A E|EFAB|c2 (BA)|c>BBB|c>BBc|EFAB|c2 (BA)|B>AAB|cAA:| |:e|fefa|e2 (dc)|d>BBc|d>BBe|fefa|e2 (dc)|B>AAB|cAA:|
TO LADIES' EYES. AKA and see "Faugh-a-Ballagh," "Fill the Cup," "Gabhairín Buí (An)." Irish, Air or Polka (2/4 time). A Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AABB. "To Ladies' Eyes" is the name of a Sir Thomas Moore (1779-1852) song that begins:
To Ladies' eyes a round, boy,
We can't refuse, we can't refuse;
Though bright eyes so abound, boy,
'Tis hard to choose, 'tis hard to choose.
For thick as stars that lighten
Yon airy bowers, yon airy bowers,
The countless eyes that brighten
This earth of ours, this earth of ours.
But fill the cup -- where'er, boy,
Our choice may fall, our choice may fall,
We're sure to find Love there, boy,
So drink them all! so drink them all!
The song was printed in Moore's popular Irish Melodies, vol. 7, and is set to the Irish air "Faugh-a-Ballagh." The name derives from the Irish Fág an Bealach (or Fág a' Bealach), meaning 'Clear the way', and was a battle cry of Irish regiments, particularly those in the British army and the with Irish units in the American Civil War.
