In 1961 she participated in BBC TV's A Song for Europe Contest, the UK qualifying heat for the Eurovision Song Contest. Her entry, "I Will Light a Candle" was placed fourth. Lale Andersen, who recorded the original German version of "Lili Marleen" also entered the 1961 Eurovision Song Contest, although her song only made it to #13. Anne made another attempt at Eurovision in 1963 with "My Continental Love" - and came fourth again.
She also sang and acted in several motion pictures.
In 1990 she was awarded the OBE for her work with the "Not Forgotten Association", a charitable organization for disabled former service personnel from all wars. Anne Shelton died in Hurstmonceux, England in 1994 and was interred in the Brenchley Gardens cemetery in South East London.
I Know Why
Anne Shelton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Long before the Springtime is due?
And even though it's snowing, violets are growing
I know why and so do you
Why do breezes sigh every evening whispering your name as they do?
And why have I the feeling stars are on my ceiling?
I know why and so do you
When you smile at me I hear gypsy violins
I can see the sun when it's raining, hiding every cloud from my view
And why do I see rainbows when you're in my arms?
I know why and so do you
Why do robins sing in December
Long before the springtime is due?
And even though it's snowing, violets are growing
I know why and so do you
Why do breezes sigh every evening whispering your name as they do?
And why have I the feeling stars are on my ceiling?
I know why and so do you
When you smile at me I hear gypsy violins
When you dance with me, I'm in heaven when the music begins
I can see the sun when it's raining, hiding every cloud from my view
And why do I see rainbows when you're in my arms?
I know why and so do you
Anne Shelton's "I Know Why" touches on the inexplicable feeling of love, and the magical effect it can have on our perception of the world around us. The opening lines, "Why do robins sing in December, long before the Springtime is due?" suggest the sense of optimism and renewal that love can bring, even in the depths of winter. It's a metaphor for the way that love can make us see the beauty in the world, even when there seems to be little cause to celebrate. Similarly, the image of violets growing in the snow speaks to the idea of something unexpected and beautiful flourishing in difficult circumstances, a reminder that love can help us find hope and joy even in the darkest of times.
The second half of the song becomes more explicitly romantic, with the singer describing the way their lover makes them feel. The lines "When you smile at me I hear gypsy violins, when you dance with me, I'm in heaven when the music begins" suggest the transformative power of love, and the fact that it can make even the most ordinary moments feel magical. The singer sees rainbows when they're in their lover's arms, a symbol of hope and promise that underscores the idea that love can help us feel optimistic and hopeful about the future.
Overall, Anne Shelton's "I Know Why" is a tender and poetic expression of the way that love can transform our perspective and our sense of ourselves in the world. It's a reminder that even in difficult times, there is always the possibility for beauty and love to flourish.
Line by Line Meaning
Why do robins sing in December
What motivates robins to sing in December, a time not traditionally associated with bird song?
Long before the Springtime is due?
Why do robins sing out of season, before the usual time for bird song?
And even though it's snowing, violets are growing
How is it possible for violets to grow in snowy conditions?
I know why and so do you
Both the artist and the listener know why these phenomena are occurring.
Why do breezes sigh every evening whispering your name as they do?
What causes the breeze to make a sound like a sigh, while seeming to whisper the listener's name?
And why have I the feeling stars are on my ceiling?
What prompts the sense that stars are somehow present on the ceiling?
When you smile at me I hear gypsy violins
The act of the listener smiling results in the singer hearing the sound of gypsy violins.
When you dance with me, I'm in heaven when the music begins
Dancing together creates such an enjoyable experience for the artist that she feels like she is in a state of bliss upon the music starting.
I can see the sun when it's raining, hiding every cloud from my view
Why does it seem like the sun is still shining during a rainstorm, with all cloudy visibility obstructed?
And why do I see rainbows when you're in my arms?
How is it that rainbows appear when the artist is holding the listener close?
I know why and so do you
Both the singer and the listener understand why these experiences are happening.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MACK GORDON, HARRY WARREN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Shiv K P The Organist
I do love the old Albert Ambrose numbers! Him and Anne made absolute magic, bless them both and you too for sharing this audio with us!
elysianfields49
I just love Anne Shelton's interpretation of "I Know Why and So Do You." Her silky, smooth contralto voice made this song simply heavenly to hear!
John Martinez
ONE OF THE BEST SINGERS DURING THE 1940s.......I LOVED TO HEAR HER SING!!
tresareg
My Dad loved her voice and so preferred her version of 'Lily Marlene' to that of Vera Lynn
Michelle Duquette
Her voice is lovely, to be sure, but I really favor Glenn Miller's version from Sun Valley Serenade!! Brings me to tears every time!! Manhattan Transfer's rendition runs a very close second!! The tight harmonies of the Modernaires and the Transfer are what really strike my heart!!😢
Manuel Odabashian
What a beautifully mellow voice!
chaskenny
A great singer. Arguably the best female singer who began her careeer with Bert Ambrose.
Mia Hess Music
THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!! I wanted to hear the verse and heere it is!!!
Igor Sokolov
Прелесть.
Michael Rutledge
This song makes me want to cry. Danced my first dance with my darling Heather to this song, whom I met at a club dance in 1968. Three months later we were engaged, Sadly, I lost her to illness in 1971. I miss her so, and think of her almost every day.`