He was born in Glasgow, Kentucky, where his father was a barber who loved music and inspired Billy to teach himself to play the mandolin at age 3, while suffering a case of the measles. He went on to learn a number of other instruments.
In 1941, Vaughn joined the United States National Guard for what had been planned as a one-year assignment, but when World War II broke out, he was sent abroad till the war ended in 1945. He decided to make music a career when he was discharged from the army at the end of the war, and attended Western Kentucky State College, now known as Western Kentucky University, majoring in music composition. He had apparently learned barbering from his father, because he did some while studying at Western Kentucky to support himself financially, when he was not able to get jobs playing the piano at local night clubs and lounges. While he was a student there, three other students, Jimmy Sacca, Donald McGuire and Seymour Spiegelman, who had formed a vocal trio, The Hilltoppers, recruited Vaughn to play the piano with them. He soon added his voice to theirs, converting the trio to a quartet. As a member of the group, he also wrote their first hit song, Trying, which charted in 1952.
In 1954 he left the group to join Dot Records in Gallatin, Tennessee as music director. He subsequently formed his own orchestra, which had a big hit in that same year with Melody of Love. He went on to have many more hits over the next decade and a half, and based purely on chart successes, was the most successful orchestra leader of all time.
Lili Marlene
Billy Vaughn Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'll always stand and wait for you at night
We will create a world for two
I'll wait for you the whole night through
For you, Lili Marlene
For you, Lili Marlene
Bugler tonight don't play the call to arms
Then we will say goodbye and part
I'll always keep you in my heart
With me, Lili Marlene
With me, Lili Marlene
Give me a rose to show how much you care
Tie to the stem a lock of golden hair
Surely tomorrow, you'll feel blue
But then will come a love that's new
For you, Lili Marlene
For you, Lili Marlene
When we are marching in the mud and cold
And when my pack seems more than I can hold
My love for you renews my might
I'm warm again, my pack is light
It's you, Lili Marlene
It's you, Lili Marlene
My love for you renews my might
I'm warm again, my pack is light
It's you, Lili Marlene
It's you, Lili Marlene
The lyrics to Billy Vaughn's song Lili Marlene speak of a soldier's deep love for a woman named Lili Marlene. The song speaks of waiting for her outside the barracks by the corner light every night and creating a world for the two of them. The soldier asks the bugler not to play the call to arms, wanting to spend another evening with Lili Marlene's charms. However, their time together must come to an end and they must part. The soldier promises to keep her in his heart and be with her whenever he sings the song.
The lyrics also speak of the soldier's love for Lili Marlene renewing his might, making his pack feel lighter when he is marching in the mud and cold. This speaks to the power of love and the way it can sustain us in even the most difficult times. The song is a beautiful testament to the power of love and how it can offer us a lifeline in the midst of chaos and war.
Line by Line Meaning
Outside the barracks, by the corner light
I always wait for you by the light post outside the barracks.
I'll always stand and wait for you at night
I will stay up all night waiting for you.
We will create a world for two
We have a special connection that creates a world for just us.
I'll wait for you the whole night through
I will wait for you all night even if it takes until morning.
For you, Lili Marlene
This is all for you, Lili Marlene.
Bugler tonight don't play the call to arms
I don't want to fight, I just want to spend time with you.
I want another evening with her charms
I desire to spend another evening with you.
Then we will say goodbye and part
Eventually we will have to say goodbye to each other.
I'll always keep you in my heart
Even when we are apart, I will always think of you.
With me, Lili Marlene
You will always be with me, Lili Marlene.
Give me a rose to show how much you care
Give me a token of your affection so I know you care.
Tie to the stem a lock of golden hair
Attach a lock of your hair to the rose for me to keep.
Surely tomorrow, you'll feel blue
You will feel sad tomorrow when we are apart.
But then will come a love that's new
But soon enough, we will find new love.
For you, Lili Marlene
This is all for you, Lili Marlene.
When we are marching in the mud and cold
When we are fighting in harsh conditions,
And when my pack seems more than I can hold
When my gear and equipment feel too heavy to carry,
My love for you renews my might
Thinking of you gives me strength.
I'm warm again, my pack is light
I feel warm and my heavy gear feels light because of you.
It's you, Lili Marlene
It's all because of you, Lili Marlene.
It's you, Lili Marlene
You are the reason why I can keep going, Lili Marlene.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Hans Leip, Norbert Schultze
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@kystars
Yes this was originally a German song from world war 1. It became popular during world war 2 not only with the Germans, but allies as well. Beautiful song about love between a soldier and is girl.
@renatonunes2550
WHAT A BEAUTIFUL MELODY ( and song, of course ) SONG. Unofortunately so many today have been led to believe it was a NAZI Propaganda song. It was NOT and it was loved by fighting MEN on BOTH SIDES in the Balcan, Italian and Meditteraneam fronts.
@kystars
Right that song actually came from world war 1. NOT the 2nd world war, but it became popular during world war 2.