The Sunshine of Your Smile

Original sheet music from 1913

"The Sunshine of Your Smile" was a British popular song published in London in 1913 just before the First World War by Francis, Day and Hunter. The lyrics were by Leonard Cooke and the music by Lilian Ray.^[1]

Lyrics

The following lyrics are taken from the sheet music published in 1913:^[1][2]

Verse 1:

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.

Refrain:

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!

Verse 2:

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!

Refrain:

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!

Recordings

Below is a list of artists who have recorded the song and the recording date and record information (where known):

• Olga, Elga and Eli Hudson, 1914^[3]
• Fred Douglas, 1914^[3]
• Ernest Pike, 1914^[3]
• Jessie Broughton, c. 1915
• William Thomas, c. 1915, Regal G6745
• Gertie Dickeson, 1915^[3]
• John McCormack, 1916^[4]
• Norah Johnson, 1916^[3]
• Jussi Björling, 1930
• Lilian Davies, 1930^[3]
• Frank Sinatra, 1941
• James Melton, 1950
• Mike Berry, 1980

Listen to the song

You can use the following links to listen to "The Sunshine of Your Smile" being sung:

• As sung by John McCormack on YouTube

References