Note - This is the lesser-known original German version of the song.
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 and, with new words, 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.
This is a literal translation of the German words:
Before the barracks, before the big gate stood a lantern, and it stands there today! It stands there and cannot understand what is, once more, happening to us - as did once Lili Marleen!
Does it have to do with pride, or only power? What is it that has brought us out of our senses? Whichever way we twist or turn we will finally stand before the judge - some day, Lili Marleen!
Who buries the dead, gone for ever in the desert sand? Who counts the victims on the oil-soaked beach? Tell me, how much pain must we still suffer, until we see the stupidity, the uselessness of it all? Oh God, Lili Marleen!
From the quiet rooms, from the earth, there rises before me as in a dream your deathly pale mouth. Before the swirling mists clear, let war and hate come to an end - now, today, Lili Marleen!
The original song, then, is a plea for sanity in the turmoil of World War One and bears little resemblance to either the later German version or the popular British version, which was commissioned by the British government in order to "de-Teutonize" the song, which troops in the North African campaign had picked up from German broadcasts and captured POWs.
The best known recordings of the song were made by Marlene Dietrich (both in German and English) in the late 1940s and early 1950s, though the earliest English language version was probably by Ann Shelton. It has been recorded by many artists, including Perry Como (1944), Hank Snow (1960s) and Al Martino (1968).
Please excuse my erratic German pronunciation.
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!
You can see a playlist of my European songs here: [ Ссылка ]
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 ]
