English Songs

Drink to Me Only With Thine Eyes (To Celia) - Chords, Lyrics and Origins

Origins

Drink To Me Only With Thine Eyes' lyrics are by the English Playwright and poet, Ben Jonson. Jonson, who died in 1637, was a contemporary, a rival, and indeed probably a friend, of William Shakespeare. Although best known for his plays, his poem, 'To Celia', - transformed into the song 'Drink To Me Only With Thine Eyes', has not only survived, but propspered in the years since his death. It was written in 1616, and set to music at some point later. Notable recordings include those by Paul Robeson and Johnny Cash. Johnny Cash gives the song a country treatment.

You can certainly mix and match the chords a little. For example, instead of the D7 at the end of the first, third and seventh lines of each verse, you may like to play an A minor chord. And on the sixth line a sequence of Am, C and D7 chords will work just as well as Em, Am and D7. Have a play with it and see what works for you.

Chords

Capo at 2nd Fret

G                   C      G                 D7
Drink to me only with thine eyes,

        G C     G          D7    G
And I   will pledge with mine;

G                C      G         D7
Or leave a kiss within the cup,

       G    C     G    D7 G
And I'll not ask for wine.

       G
The thirst that from the soul doth rise,

          Em    Am D7
Doth crave a drink divine;

G                   C              G         D7
But might I of Jove's nectar sup,

   G         C     G           D7 G
I would not change for thine.

G                 C         G      D7
I sent thee late a rosy wreath,

G          C        G        D7 G
Not so much honoring thee

G              C G                D7
As giving it a hope that there

G            C     G     D7    G
It could not withered be;

       G
But thou thereon didst only breathe

        Em       Am    D7
And sent'st it back to me,

G                      C          G              D7
Since when it grows and smells, I swear,

G         C G     D7 G
Not of itself, but thee.

Lyrics

Drink to me only with thine eyes,
And I will pledge with mine;
Or leave a kiss within the cup,
And I'll not ask for wine.
The thirst that from the soul doth rise,
Doth crave a drink divine;
But might I of Jove's nectar sup,
I would not change for thine.

I sent thee late a rosy wreath,
Not so much honoring thee
As giving it a hope that there
It could not withered be;
But thou thereon didst only breathe
And sent'st it back to me,
Since when it grows and smells, I swear,
Not of itself, but thee.