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.
a nightingale sang in berkeley
Anne Shelton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The night we met
There was magic abroad in the air
There were angels dining at the Ritz
And a nightingale sang in Berkeley square
I may be right I may be wrong
But I'm perfectly willing to swear
A nightingale sang in Berkeley square
The moon that lingered over London town
Poor puzzled moon he wore a frown
How could he know we two were so in love
The whole damned world seemed upside down
The streets of town were paved with stars
It was such a romantic affair
And as we kissed and said goodnight
A nightingale sang in Berekeley square
How strange it was
How sweet and strange
There was never a dream to compare
To those hazy crazy nights we met
And a nightingale sang in Berkeley square
Ah this heart of mine
Loud and fast
Like a merry-go-round in a fair
We would dance cheek to cheek
And a nightingale sang in Berkeley square
The dawn came stealing up
All gold and blue
To interrupt our rendez-vous
I still remember how you smiled and said
Was that a dream or was it true?
Our homeward step was just as light
As the dancing feet of astaire
And like an echo far away
And a nightingale sang in Berkeley square
And a nightingale sang in Berkeley square
That night in Berkeley square.
Anne Shelton's song "A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square" is a classic wartime love song that is full of longing and romanticism. The song is set on a certain night when the singer met their lover in Berkeley Square, the famous London square that has seen many important historical events, such as protests, celebrations, and even royal weddings. The lyrics evoke a magical feeling that was in the air that night, with the angels dining at the Ritz, and the moon that lingered over London town appearing perplexed as if it knew that the two lovers were destined to be together.
The most captivating part of the song is the recurring theme of the nightingale singing in Berkeley Square. The song suggests that this bird's song was a symbol of the magic and wonder of the night. The song also portrays the streets of the town as being paved with stars, creating an incredibly romantic ambiance.
As for the facts surrounding the song, it was written in 1939 by Eric Maschwitz and Manning Sherwin, and first recorded in 1940 by the famous British band, the Ambrose Orchestra, with vocals by Anne Shelton. The song gained immense popularity during World War II, and it is still considered to be one of the most significant love songs ever written.
Line by Line Meaning
That certain night
On a particular evening
The night we met
The night we first encountered each other
There was magic abroad in the air
An enchanting atmosphere prevailed
There were angels dining at the Ritz
The Ritz hotel was full of prominent, glamorous guests
And a nightingale sang in Berkeley square
The singer recalls a bird singing nearby
I may be right I may be wrong
The singer acknowledges possible uncertainty
But I'm perfectly willing to swear
The performer is passionate about the moment
That when you turned and smiled at me
The performer cites a memorable moment
A nightingale sang in Berkeley square
The feathered songster was nearby
The moon that lingered over London town
The moon was present, presumably shining
Poor puzzled moon he wore a frown
The singer imagines the moon’s curious reaction
How could he know we two were so in love
The singer speculates about the moon's limited viewpoint
The whole damned world seemed upside down
The singer recollects the feeling of being in love
The streets of town were paved with stars
The singer describes the romantic, magical quality of the evening
It was such a romantic affair
The singer expresses the event was a romantic one
And as we kissed and said goodnight
The singer recalls the events of the evening
A nightingale sang in Berkeley square
The performer recounts the bird’s presence
How strange it was
The singer reflects on past events
How sweet and strange
The singer comments on their memories
There was never a dream to compare
The singer suggests that nothing compares to the experience
To those hazy crazy nights we met
The performer recollects the fun, unpredictable moments
And a nightingale sang in Berkeley square
The performer recalls the bird singing
Ah this heart of mine
The singer comments on their emotional state
Loud and fast
The singer intensifies the description of their heart rate
Like a merry-go-round in a fair
The singer uses a simile comparing the heart to a ride
We would dance cheek to cheek
The singer describes romantic dance moves
And a nightingale sang in Berkeley square
The performer recalls the bird's presence once more
The dawn came stealing up
The singer describes the beginning of the new day
All gold and blue
The performer adds color to their description
To interrupt our rendez-vous
The new day rudely disrupted the romantic moment
I still remember how you smiled and said
The performer mentions the other person’s reaction and words
Was that a dream or was it true?
The singer recalls the dreamlike quality of the evening
Our homeward step was just as light
The performer comment on their mood
As the dancing feet of astaire
The singer uses a simile to describe their light step
And like an echo far away
The performer notes how far away the experience feels
And a nightingale sang in Berkeley square
The performer recalls the bird's continued presence
And a nightingale sang in Berkeley square
The song ends with the repeated line and the image of the nightingale singing
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, SHAPIRO BERNSTEIN & CO. INC.
Written by: ERIC MASCHWITZ, MANNING SHERWIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Susan
That certain night
The night we met
There was magic abroad in the air
There were angels dining at the Ritz
And a nightingale sang in Berkeley square
I may be right I may be wrong
But I'm perfectly willing to swear
That when you turned and smiled at me
A nightingale sang in Berkeley square
The moon that lingered over London town
Poor puzzled moon he wore a frown
How could he know we two were so in love
The whole damned world seemed upside down
The streets of town were paved with stars
It was such a romantic affair
And as we kissed and said goodnight
A nightingale sang in Berkeley square
How strange it was
How sweet and strange
There was never a dream to compare
To those hazy crazy nights we met
And a nightingale sang in Berkeley square
Ah this heart of mine
Loud and fast
Like a merry-go-round in a fair
We would dance cheek to cheek
And a nightingale sang in Berkeley square
The dawn came stealing up
All gold and blue
To interrupt our rendez-vous
I still remember how you smiled and said
Was that a dream or was it true?
Our homeward step was just as light
As the dancing feet of Astaire
And like an echo far away
And a nightingale sang in Berkeley square
And a nightingale sang in Berkeley square
That night in Berkeley square.
Fluffy Puppy
Thanks to Good Omens I can’t listen to this song without getting emotional
Agata Russo
The wedding's song of crowley and aziraphale
Dave Carter
Have always loved this song. This is a great version too.
Susan
That certain night
The night we met
There was magic abroad in the air
There were angels dining at the Ritz
And a nightingale sang in Berkeley square
I may be right I may be wrong
But I'm perfectly willing to swear
That when you turned and smiled at me
A nightingale sang in Berkeley square
The moon that lingered over London town
Poor puzzled moon he wore a frown
How could he know we two were so in love
The whole damned world seemed upside down
The streets of town were paved with stars
It was such a romantic affair
And as we kissed and said goodnight
A nightingale sang in Berkeley square
How strange it was
How sweet and strange
There was never a dream to compare
To those hazy crazy nights we met
And a nightingale sang in Berkeley square
Ah this heart of mine
Loud and fast
Like a merry-go-round in a fair
We would dance cheek to cheek
And a nightingale sang in Berkeley square
The dawn came stealing up
All gold and blue
To interrupt our rendez-vous
I still remember how you smiled and said
Was that a dream or was it true?
Our homeward step was just as light
As the dancing feet of Astaire
And like an echo far away
And a nightingale sang in Berkeley square
And a nightingale sang in Berkeley square
That night in Berkeley square.
Kambalache
Adore this theme so much!! Many thanks for having it posted,)*
Franco 117
A nightingale with covid 19 coughed in Berkeley Square.
How times have changed
TheTwizzler
People on here thinking of Good Omens and I’m over here like WILL ROLAND SANG THIS FOR BROADWAY SINGS FOR PRIDE
W
Thanks Good Omens
José
I'ts best swing song .
Cheryl Maroz
Absolutely