He was educated at Canon Slade Grammar School on a scholarship but never completed his education there because at the age of 14 his talent as a singer was recognised by Herman Darewski who signed him up to tour with his dance band. When his voice broke he learnt to play the guitar and played in local dance bands whilst working as hat salesman then for Bolton Parks Department and later as a golf pro. He then joined Oscar Rabin's orchestra where he both played with the band and did musical arrangements, they also broadcast on the radio. He also worked with Geraldo but turned down an offer from Val Parnell to conduct the London Palladium Orchestra and chose in 1951 to join the BBC Northern Dance Orchestra, the BBC's then in-house big band, as its arranger-conductor.
Ainsworth achieved a huge degree of success with the BBC NDO whose reputation as one of the top bands in the UK was in no small amount due to his hard work and high standards. In 1956 he announced during Sunday Night at the London Palladium his engagement to Teddie Beverley of the Beverley Sisters. They could not marry immediately and in 1957 he announced that the engagement was cancelled.
He resigned from the BBC in 1960 and went freelance. He was signed up by Granada TV to replace Peter Knight as presenter of Spot the Tune".
In 1965 he conducted the orchestra at the Royal Command Performance at the London Palladium for the third time. He conducted in the Eurovision Song Contest five times, 1975, 1976, 1977 for Belgium, 1978 and 1990. He was the musical director for the BBC's anniversary programme Fifty Years Of Music broadcast in 1972.
Lili Marlene
Alyn Ainsworth Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
By the barrack gate
Darling I remember
The way you used to wait
'Twas there that you whispered tenderly
That you loved me
You'd always be
My Lili of the lamplight
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 Lili of the lamplight
My own Lili Marlene
Orders came for sailing
Somewhere over there
All confined to barracks
'Twas more than I could bear
I knew you were waiting in the street
I heard your feet
But could not meet
My Lili of the lamplight
My own Lili Marlene
Resting in our billet
Just behind the line
Even though we're parted
Your lips are close to mine
You wait where that lantern softly gleamed
Your sweet face seems
To haunt my dreams
My Lili of the lamplight
My own Lili Marlene
My Lili of the lamplight
My own Lili Marlene.
The lyrics of Alyn Ainsworth's song Lili Marlene revolve around a deep longing for a loved one who is far away. The singer reminisces about how his lover used to wait for him by the barrack gate, under the lantern, and whispered tender words of love to him. The singer remembers these moments fondly as he sings, "My Lili of the lamplight, my own Lili Marlene."
However, the joy of their time together was always brief, as they had to part ways when it was time for roll call. The singer expresses his intense love for his lover as he says he'd press her to his heart and kiss her goodnight, under the lantern light. The song then takes a turn, as the singer receives orders to sail away, leaving his lover behind. He recalls the heart-wrenching moment when he heard her footsteps but couldn't meet her. He expresses his unending love for her, even though they are separated, as he says, "My Lili of the lamplight, my own Lili Marlene."
In the final verse of the song, the singer is resting in his billet, behind the line, but his memories of his lover are still vivid. Even though they are apart, he feels that she is close to him as he feels her lips are close to his. He remembers the lantern where they used to meet, and how her sweet face still haunts him. The song ends with the lines, "My Lili of the lamplight, my own Lili Marlene."
Line by Line Meaning
Underneath the lantern
I remember meeting you by the lantern near the barracks
By the barrack gate
It was near the entrance to the barracks
Darling I remember
I can't forget
The way you used to wait
How you patiently waited for me
'Twas there that you whispered tenderly
It was there that you whispered lovingly
That you loved me
That you cared for me deeply
You'd always be
You promised to always remain
My Lili of the lamplight
My beloved under the light of the lantern
My own Lili Marlene
My special Lili Marlene
Time would come for roll call
We had a time for military attendance
Time for us to part
Time for us to say goodbye
Darling I'd caress you
I would tenderly touch you
And press you to my heart
And hold you tightly against my chest
And there neath that far off lantern light
Under the light of that distant lantern
I'd hold you tight
I would embrace you firmly
We'd kiss good night
We would share a lovely goodnight kiss
Orders came for sailing
We were given orders to go on a voyage
Somewhere over there
To a faraway place
All confined to barracks
We were all stuck in the barracks
'Twas more than I could bear
It was harder than I could handle
I knew you were waiting in the street
I was aware that you were waiting in the street
I heard your feet
I could hear the sound of your footsteps
But could not meet
But I couldn't go to you
My Lili of the lamplight
My love under the light of the lantern
My own Lili Marlene
My cherished Lili Marlene
Resting in our billet
I was taking a break in our quarters
Just behind the line
Just behind the military front line
Even though we're parted
Even though we were separated
Your lips are close to mine
I could still feel the warmth of your lips on mine
You wait where that lantern softly gleamed
You were waiting where the lantern was dimly shining
Your sweet face seems
I could still see your beautiful face
To haunt my dreams
To be in my thoughts and dreams constantly
My Lili of the lamplight
My beloved under the light of the lantern
My own Lili Marlene
My special Lili Marlene
My Lili of the lamplight
My beloved under the light of the lantern
My own Lili Marlene.
My cherished Lili Marlene.
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Hans Leip, Norbert Schultze
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind