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.
Lili Marlene
Anne Shelton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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, My own Lili Marlene.
Time would come for roll call, Time for us to part,
Darling I'd caress you and press you to my heart,
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 was 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 a billet, just behind the line,
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 Lili of the lamplight, My own Lili Marlene.
"Lili Marlene" is a love song that describes a soldier's feelings for a woman named Lili who waits for him under a particular lantern by the barrack gates. The song opens with the nostalgic memory of how Lili would wait for the soldier under the lantern and whisper tenderly to him about their love. The "Lamplight" could symbolize the hope that the couple has for their love to keep burning.
Then, the song plunges into the pain and sadness of knowing that the time for roll call and the order of sailing are coming, which means that they have to say goodbye to each other again. However, even though they have to part, they hold each other tight and kiss good-night under the lamplight before they go their separate ways. As the soldier leaves to go somewhere over there, Lili is left waiting in the street where she heard his footsteps. The separation from the one she loves is painful, with Lili unable to meet the soldier as he leaves.
The final verse that speaks about the soldier being in a billet on the line and how Lili's sweet face seems to haunt his dreams signifies how they still hold onto their love story, and the hope that they will be reunited under the lantern again someday, even though they are separated by the war.
Line by Line Meaning
Underneath the lantern, by the barrack gate,
I remember being at the barrack gate with my love, where the lantern light shone upon us.
Darling I remember the way you used to wait.
I remember your tender patience and how you waited for me always.
'Twas there that you whispered tenderly,
It was there that you spoke to me in a gentle loving manner.
That you loved me, You'd always be,
You professed your love for me and promised to always be mine.
My Lili of the lamplight, My own Lili Marlene.
You are my Lili of the lamplight, my own Lili Marlene, the love of my life.
Time would come for roll call, Time for us to part,
Roll call would come eventually, and we would have to bid farewell.
Darling I'd caress you and press you to my heart,
In the moments before parting, I would hold you close and cherish your embrace.
And there 'neath that far off lantern light,
As we stood far apart under the lantern light,
I'd hold you tight, We'd kiss good-night,
I would embrace you firmly, and we would exchange a goodnight kiss.
My Lili of the lamplight, My own Lili Marlene.
You are my Lili of the lamplight, my own Lili Marlene, the love of my life.
Orders came for sailing somewhere over there,
Orders came to set sail overseas to an unknown location.
All confined to barracks was more than I could bear;
Being limited to the barracks was hard to endure.
I knew you were waiting in the street,
I was aware that you waited for me in the street.
I heard your feet, But could not meet,
I heard the sound of your footsteps, but was unable to meet you.
My Lili of the lamplight, My own Lili Marlene.
You are my Lili of the lamplight, my own Lili Marlene, the love of my life.
Resting in a billet, just behind the line,
I found myself in a rest station just behind the battlefront.
Even tho'we're parted, your lips are close to mine.
Even though we are separated, I feel as though your lips are still near mine.
You wait where that lantern softly gleams.
I imagine you waiting for me where the lantern flickers softly.
Your sweet face seems to haunt my dreams.
Your lovely face lingers in my memory and dreams.
My Lili of the lamplight, My own Lili Marlene.
You are my Lili of the lamplight, my own Lili Marlene, the love of my life.
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Hans Leip, Norbert Schultze
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Teresa Ferencová
Another lover hits the universe, the circle is broken. But with death comes rebirth, and like all lovers and sad people, I am a poet.
- Kill Your Darlings (My favorite quote from the movie. It also is the most heartbreaking movie in the world but at the same time the most beautiful movie in the world and also my favorite. I love it so much and cry every time I watch it)
lovecherryzoldyck
+Tereska Ferencová SAAAAMMME i feel this
Lilly Pad
Tereska Ferencová I love KYD
Lilly Pad
Tereska Ferencová based on a true story, if you read about it and I don't understand that poem Ginsberg is making it sound like he was in a relationship with Dave with in fact not, BTW David Kammerer had a Sexual Obsession for Lucien Carr they first meant when Carr was 11 and Kammerer 29 at boyscouts Kammerer was the scout Master and Carr was the boy scout I've done a lot of research about the "Beat Generation" and I agree I love this song is Beautiful
domu 00
aaahhh same <333
Lilly Pad
Tereska Ferencová same Kill your Darlings was the Best. though I never understood that poem
dave Drolett
Such a magnificent voice, One can easily see why all the allied solders fell in love with such a wholesome female voice. I'm sure she brought many boy back home if only in memory of a girl left behind. Most moving! Bravo
David Walsh
I love this version of this iconic song. Anne is often compared to Vera Lynn, these comparisons are silly as they have very differing singing styles. Both are excellent in their own way.
chaskenny
A great, but somewhat forgotten singer. She was the only British singer to broadcast with the Glenn Miller when he was in the UK during the war. He rated her voice so highly that he gave her a bracelet of solid gold to represent her voice. She should have been in the aeroplane with him when he disappeared in 1944. She was under contract to the British Dance Band Leader, Bert Ambrose at the time. Ambrose refused to release her. In doing so,,he saved her life!
Dominik Reis
Nossa essa música é pura nostalgia de quando eu assistia esse filme