Last revised: November 27, 2009


Music Album - #2.

 Bremerhaven, Germany

"Lili Marleen" by Marlene Dietrich

Lyrics

"Lili Marleen"

This poem was originally titled "Das Madchen unter der Laterne" (German for "The girl under the lantern") - It became famous as "Lili Marleen" -- A German love song, first recorded by Lale Anderson in 1939 and became popular during World War II.

The Original German Lyrics:

Vor der Kaserne,
vor dem grossen Tor,
stand eine Laterne
und steht sie noch davor,
so wollen wir uns da wiedersehen,
wenn wir bei der Laterne stehen,
wie einst, Lili Marleen,
wie einst, Lili Marleen.
 

Unsere beide Schatten
sahen wie einer aus,
dass wir so lieb uns hatten,
dass sah man gleich daraus.
Und alle Leute sollen es sehen,
wenn wir bei der Laterne stehen,
wie einst, Lili Marleen,
wie einst, Lili Marleen.
 

Schon rief der Posten,
“Sie blasen Zapfenstreich.
Das kann drei Tage kosten.”
“Kamerad, ich komm sogleich.”
Da sagten wir, “Auf Wiedersehen”,
wie gerne wollt ich mit dir gehen,
mit Dir Lili Marleen,
mit Dir Lili Marleen.
 

Deine Schritte kennt sie,
Deinen zieren Gang.
Alle Abend brennt Sie,
Doch mich vergass Sie lang,
Und sollte mir ein Leids geschehen,
wer wird by der Laterne stehen,
mit dir, Lili Marleen,
mit dir, Lili Marleen?
 

Aus dem stillen Raume,
aus der Erde Grund,
hebt mich wie im Traume
dein verliebter Mund.
Wenn sich die späten Nebel drehen,
werde ich bei der Laterne stehen,
wie einst, Lili Marleen,
wie einst, Lili Marleen.

###.

 

"Lili Marleen"

                    Recorded by Marie Marlene Dietrich
(German-born American actress and singer) She
acted on the stage and in silent films in 1920s Berlin. Dietrich became a US citizen in 1939.

 The Literal English Translation:

In front of the barracks,
In front of the main gate,
Stood a lamppost,
And if it still is standing out front,
Then we’ll see each other there again,
As before, Lili Marleen,
As before, Lili Marleen.
 

Our two shadows
Looked like one,
That we held each other so fondly
Someone would think we were one.
And everybody will see it
When we stand by the lamppost,
As before, Lili Marleen,
As before, Lili Marleen.
 

Already the guard was crying,
“They’re blowing taps.
That could cost you three days.”
“Comrade, I’m coming right away.”
There we said farewell,
But I would rather have gone with you,
With you, Lili Marleen,
With you, Lili Marleen.
 

She knows your pace,
Your special stride.
Every evening she is burning,
Though she forgot me long ago.
And if a mishap should befall me,
Who would stand by the lamppost,
With you, Lili Marleen,
With you, Lili Marleen?
 

From out of silent space,
From out the lands of Earth,
Your beloved lips uplift me
As if in a dream.
When the nocturnal mists swirl,
I will be standing by the lamppost,
As before, Lili Marleen,
As before, Lili Marleen.

###.

 English Lyrics
By Tommie Connor, 1944
Lily of the Lamplight

Underneath the lantern,
By the barrack gate
Darling I remember
The way you used to wait
T'was there that you whispered tenderly,
That you loved me,
You'd always be,
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 Lilly of the Lamplight,
my own Lilly Marlene

Resting in our billets,
Just behind the lines
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 Lilly of the Lamplight,
My own Lilly Marlene

###.

 English Lyrics
By Marius Goring (Richardson)
Goring was English,involved in British broadcasts
to Germany during World War II and he had a
distinguished career in acting, radio and TV post-
war (changing his working name to Richardson)


Lily Marlene

In the dark of evening
where you stand and wait
Hangs a lantern gleaming
by the barrack gate.
We’ll meet again by lantern shine
as we did once upon a time
We two Lili Marlene
We two Lili Marlene
 

Our shadows once stood facing
a tall one and a small
They mingled in embracing
upon the lighted wall
And passers by could see and tell
who kissed my shadow there so well
My girl Lili Marlene
My girl Lili Marlene

###.


Song History

"Lili Marlene"  - There are almost 200
versions of this song. In the late 1940s
and early 1950s "Lili Marleen" was
recorded in English, as well as German,
by Marlene Dietrich. A verson with
French words by Henri Lemarchand was
recorded by Suzy Solider in 1941.

Country music legend Hank Snow also
recorded a very melodic version in the
1960s.  Click HERE to listen!

 


Last revised: November 27, 2009

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