The Nightingales of War


A Berlin cabaret artist during the 1930s chanteuse, Lale Andersen was to record “The Song of a Young Soldier”. This poem, composed by Hans Leip, was later renamed “Lili Marlene” and set to music in 1938 by composer Norbert Schultze. Andersen’s recording of “Lili Marlene” brought her international acclaim. A beautiful woman, Lale Andersen will always be synonymous with this lonely soldier’s poem to his sweetheart. This heart-wrenching poem had been penned in his barracks shortly before the 18-year old was posted to the Russian front.

“Lili Marlene” was a story about two young women. Lili was Hans Leip’s sweetheart whilst Marlene was a young nurse who was dating his comrade-in-arms. The only other famous Marlene was collaborator Marlene Dietrich. However, Marlene was not Dietrich’s real name. She was born Marie Magdalene. The Marlene is made up of the first and last letters of her Christian names.

When “The Song of a Young Soldier” was first put to music, fewer than 700 discs were sold. These discs, if any survived, would now be worth a fortune. In 1941 Radio Belgrade, situated in German occupied Yugoslavia, broadcast Lale Andersen’s “Lili Marlene” as a space filler.

The response to Lale Andersen’s “Lili Marlene” took everyone by surprise. Her poignant rendition was enthusiastically adopted not only by the Afrika Korp, but by the British Eighth Army too. British Forces favourites Anne Shelton and Vera Lynn sang the ballad during BBC broadcasts to British troops serving in various theatres of war. The ballad has since been translated into 48 languages and was to become the most popular wartime song ever recorded.

With the prejudices and bitterness of war largely forgotten, Lale Andersen took part in the 1961 Eurovision Song Contest in which she reached 13th position. The iconic vocalist later completed a world tour. Her book, The Sky Has Many Colours topped Der Spiegel magazine best-selling list.

Lili Marlene (English Version)

Outside the barracks by the corner light,
I’ll always stand, and wait for you at night.
We will create a world for two, I’ll wait for you,
The whole night through,
For you Lili Marlene, for you Lili Marlene.

Bugler tonight don’t play your call to arms,
I want another evening with your charms;
Soon we will say, goodbye and part,
I’ll always keep you in my heart,
With me Lili Marlene, with me Lili Marlene.

Give me a rose to show you really care,
Tie to the stem a lock of golden hair;
Maybe tomorrow you’ll feel blue,
But then will come a love that’s new –
For you, Lili Marlene, for you, Lili Marlene.

When we are marching in the mud and cold,
And when my pack seems more than I can hold;
My love for you renews my might,
I’m warm again, my pack is light
It’s you, Lili Marlene, it’s you, Lili Marlene.

Source Article from http://renegadetribune.com/the-nightingales-of-war/

You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Leave a Reply

Powered by WordPress | Designed by: Premium WordPress Themes | Thanks to Themes Gallery, Bromoney and Wordpress Themes