Bert Kaempfert (also Kämpfert) (b. 16 October 1923 - d. 21 June 1980) was a… Read Full Bio ↴Bert Kaempfert (also Kämpfert) (b. 16 October 1923 - d. 21 June 1980) was a German orchestra leader and songwriter. He made easy listening and jazz-oriented records, and wrote the music for a number of well-known songs, such as "Strangers in the Night" (originally recorded by Ivo Robić) and "Spanish Eyes".

He was born in Hamburg, Germany, and studied at the School of Music there. A multi-instrumentalist, he was hired by Hans Busch to play with his orchestra before serving as a bandsman in the German Navy during World War II. He later formed his own big band, toured with them, then worked as an arranger and producer, making hit records with Freddy Quinn and Ivo Robic. In 1961, he hired The Beatles to back Tony Sheridan on "My Bonnie (Lies Over the Ocean)," "When the Saints Go Marching In," "Ain't She Sweet" and "Cry for a Shadow," in a session for Polydor. These turned out to be the Beatles' first commercial recordings. When Beatles manager Brian Epstein asked Kaempfert about further promoting The Beatles, Kaempfert informed Epstein that the company was only interested in The Beatles as Tony Sheridan's backup group. (It also turned out British Decca executive Dick Rowe turned them down in favor of local beat combo Brian Poole and the Tremeloes.) He then released The Beatles from their contract with Polydor.

Beddy Bye
Bert Kaempfert Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Strangers in the night,
Exchanging glances
Wandering the night,
What were the chances
We'd be sharing love
Before the night was through

Something in your eyes

Was so inviting
Something in your smile
Was so exciting
Something in my heart
Told me I must have you

Strangers in the night
Two lonely people
We were strangers in the night
Up to the moment
When we said our first hello
Little did we know
Love was just a glance away
A warm embracing dance away

And ever since that night
We've been together
Lovers at first sight
In love forever
It turned out so right

Strangers in the night
Two lonely people
We were strangers in the night
Up to the moment
When we said our first hello

Little did we know
Love was just a glance away
A warm embracing dance away
For strangers in the night.

Overall Meaning

Bert Kaempfert's song "Beddy Bye" isn't the song being referred to in these lyrics, instead, this is the song "Strangers in the Night" that was famously sung by Frank Sinatra. The lyrics describe two strangers who met by chance in the night and fell in love. The first stanza sets the scene for how they met, with it being completely unexpected and unplanned. The second stanza is about how the two strangers were drawn to each other, with something in each other's eyes and smiles that was so inviting and exciting. The third stanza talks about how, since they met that night, they have been together as lovers at first sight and how everything has turned out so right. The song ends with the chorus repeating that they were strangers in the night who found love.

Line by Line Meaning

Strangers in the night,
Two unknown individuals happening to come across each other in the night,

Exchanging glances
Sharing brief looks at each other,

Wandering the night,
Roaming around aimlessly during the night,

What were the chances
What were the probability or possibility of us meeting,

We'd be sharing love
We would end up having feelings of love for each other,

Before the night was through
Before the night comes to an end,

Something in your eyes
There was a certain quality in your eyes that caught my attention,

Was so inviting
It was welcoming and alluring,

Something in your smile
Your smile had a particular characteristic,

Was so exciting
It was thrilling and exhilarating,

Something in my heart
A feeling in my heart,