In the early Seventies, the band switched to hard rock and had its first successes, including a brace of Top 40 hits. After original singer Veerman left and drummer Keizer took his place behind the microphone, the band made a musical U-turn and opted for commercial radio pop, adding female co-vocalist Annie Schilder and laying the foundation for their status as the most popular Dutch band ever (in terms of hit singles and albums). BZN has had over 50 hits in the Dutch hit parade to date.
BZN's claim to fame started with the song "Mon Amour" (1976), which held the #1 hit parade ranking for over 5 weeks. Outside of the Netherlands the band has had some success as well, amongst which several hits in South Africa (such as "Yeppa" in 1990) and minor successes with their French-language songs in Canada.
Through the years there have been many lineup changes, the most important of which have been the departure of Schilder in 1984 (replaced by Carola Smit) and in 1988 of the brothers Cees and Thomas Tol (keyboards), who until then had been responsible for most of the music and lyrics. The band remained nevertheless successful, making their last major change in strategy when they decided to write in Dutch instead of English as of 2003.
BZN are also responsible for the initial success of singer Jan Smit (singer), who was discovered by BZN at the age of 10 and went on to have pop and schlager successes in The Netherlands, Germany and Belgium.
On February 15 2006, BZN announced they would do one final tour and then call it quits. This goodbye tour is scheduled to last until June 2007.
Lilly Marlene
BZN Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Darling I remember, the way you used to wait
't Was there that you whispered tenderly
That you'd love me, you'd always be,
My Lilly of the lamplight, my own Lilly 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 "goodnight"
My Lilly of the lamplight, my own Lilly 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 a billet, just behind the line
Even though were 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
My Lilly of the lamplight, my own Lilly Marlene.
BZN's Lilly Marlene is a song about longing and separation between two lovers during wartime. The lyrics depict a wistful tale of a soldier's memories with his beloved Lilly Marlene. They used to meet by the barrack gate underneath a lantern, where she whispered tenderly to him that she would love and always be his Lilly of the lamplight. The second verse suggests that their time together was limited because of roll call, and they had to part ways. However, they passionately embraced each other under the lantern light, kissed each other goodnight, and called each other's name.
The song then moves on to the next phase where the soldier is ordered to sail somewhere over there, and he is confined to his barracks. He remembers Lilly Marlene waiting for him in the street, but he could not meet her. As the song progresses, he is now resting in a billet behind the line, but Lilly Marlene remains close to his heart, and her sweet face always appears in his dreams. The song's melancholic tone and vivid imagery of longing for a loved one during wartime create a heart-wrenching and poignant narrative of love, distance and loss.
Line by Line Meaning
Underneath the lantern, by the barrack gate
I remember standing with you by the lantern near the barracks
Darling I remember, the way you used to wait
I recall how you used to wait patiently for me
't Was there that you whispered tenderly
It was there that you whispered sweet nothings to me
That you'd love me, you'd always be,
You promised to love me and be with me always
My Lilly of the lamplight, my own Lilly Marlene
You were my precious Lilly, the light of my life
Time would come for roll call, time for us to part
We had to part when it was time for roll call
Darling I'd caress you, and press you to my heart
I held you close and loved you deeply
And there 'neath that far off lantern light
We stood together under the distant glow of the lantern
I'd hold you tight, we'd kiss "goodnight"
I embraced you tightly and kissed you goodnight
My Lilly of the lamplight, my own Lilly Marlene
You were always my Lilly, my precious love
Orders came for sailing, somewhere over there
I received orders to sail away to some far-off place
All confined to barracks, was more than I could bear
Being confined to the barracks without you was unbearable
I knew you were waiting in the street
I knew you were waiting for me outside
I heard your feet, but could not meet
I heard you walking, but couldn't come to you
My Lilly of the lamplight, my own Lilly Marlene
I longed for you, my Lilly, my love
Resting in a billet, just behind the line
I rested in a shelter, just behind the front line
Even though were parted, your lips are close to mine
Although we were apart, I still feel your love and closeness
You wait where that lantern softly gleams
I imagine you waiting for me where the lantern shines softly
Your sweet face seems, to haunt my dreams
I dream of your sweet face every night
My Lilly of the lamplight, my own Lilly Marlene
You are always in my heart as my precious Lilly
My Lilly of the lamplight, my own Lilly Marlene.
You were my Lilly of the lamplight, my love.
Contributed by Katherine J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Andrew atm
Foarte frumos!!! Thank you, BZN.
Gabi Wiegand
Ein tolles Lied und perfekt für die Stimme von Carola Smith, Danke !
Michael Friedman
Lovely song and wonderful musical performance !
PineyCreekGhost
One of the best versions of this song i have ever heard. Absolutely wonderful. :^)
Pamela Rossell
Agree, one of the best versions of this popular WWII song.
Jürgen Marquordt
So nice voice from Carola
Margareta Lungu
Este, in opinia mea, una din cele mai frumoase melodii in plan international si intro interpretare superba de catre formatia BZN, cea mai preferata pentru mine
Maria Shilling
ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL. BRAVO BZN. Thank you so much for sharing.
Richard Habicher
Oh what a very beautiful song and Band still in best oft memories. It was WW2 and so much suffering but then this did help to bring a time for hope and to go on!
Carlos Alberto
Ótima postagem com todas essas músicas BZN