Another song from my recent performance at The Melbourne Circle.
In 1915, Hans Leip, supposedly on guard duty at the time wrote a farewell poem for two girl friends, Lili and Marleen. The original title was Das Mädchen unter der Laterne. Shortly before WWII, in 1938, it was set to music by Norbert Schultze. It became the most popular song of WWII, the unofficial anthem of the foot soldiers of both sides in the war. It is said to have been translated into 48 languages.
The story goes that a British song publisher named J. J. Phillips reprimanded a group of British soldiers for singing a German song. One of them replied angrily, "Why don't you write us some English words?" Phillips collaborated with Tommie Connor, a British songwriter, to produce an English version in 1944. Ann Shelton's recording was a hit in the Allied countries, and Vera Lynn sang it over the BBC to the Allied troops.
Apart from Ann Shelton's initial hit, the best known recordings of the song were made by Marlene Dietrich (both in German and English) in the late 1940s and early 1950s. It has been recorded by many artists, including Perry Como (1944), Hank Snow (1960s) and Al Martino (1968).
You can see a playlist of my European and South American songs here: [ Ссылка ]
Lyrics and chords:
C ........................ F ....................... G7
Vor der Kaserne vor dem grossen Tor
...................................................................... C
Stand eine Laterne, und steht heute noch davor!
... F ........................................... G7
Steht da und kann es nicht verstehn,
................................................ C
Was wieder mal bei uns geschehn
....... G7 .............. C .......... G7 .............. C
Wie einst Lili Marleen, wie einst Lili Marleen.
Geht es noch um Ehre oder nur um Macht?
Was hat uns mit einmal um den Verstand gebracht?
Wie wir's auch wenden, wie wir's auch drehn -
Wir werden vor dem Richter stehn.
Dereinst, Lili Marleen, dereinst, Lili Marleen!
Wer birgt die Toten verweht im Wüstensand?
Wer zählt die Opfer am ölverseuchten Strand?
Sag, wieviel Leid muss noch geschehn,
Bis wir den Wahn, den Irrsinn sehn?
O Gott, Lili Marleen! O Gott, Lili Marleen!
Aus dem stillen Räume, aus der Erde Grund
Hebt mich wie im Traume dein todesbleicher Mund!
Eh sich die späten Nebel drehn,
Lass Krieg und Hass zu Ende gehen
Noch heut, Lili Marleen! Noch heut, Lili Marleen!
(English Words, by Tommie Connor)
C ................................... F ................... G7
Underneath the lantern by the barrack gate
.................................................................. C
Darling I remember the way you used to wait,
............ F ................................. G7
'Twas there that you whispered tenderly
........................................ C
That you loved me, you'd always be
........... G7 .... C .................. G7.............. C
My Lilli of the lamplight, my own Lilli Marlene.
Time would come for roll call, time for us to part
Darling I'd caress you and press you to my heart
And there 'neath that far off lantern light,
I'd hold you tight, we'd kiss "good-night,"
My Lilli of the lamplight, my own Lilli Marlene
Orders came for sailing somewhere over there,
All confined to barracks was more than I could bear;
I knew you were waiting in the street,
I heard your feet, but could not meet,
My Lilli of the lamplight, my own Lilli Marlene.
Resting in a billet just behind the line,
Even tho' we're parted your lips are close to mine;
You wait where that lantern softly gleams,
Your sweet face seems to haunt my dreams,
My Lilli of the lamplight, my own Lilli Marlene.
Lyrics and chords of many of my songs are no longer available, as my website has expired. I am currently posting lyrics to the information panels on all my videos and those that are too long to post in full will be found on my new website: [ Ссылка ]
