Born in Bloomington, Indiana into a musical family, he began performing as a duo with his brother before going on to a successful solo career in country music. In 1956, Helms made his way to Nashville, Tennessee where he signed a recording contract with Decca Records. The following year would be filled with astonishing successes. Helms' first single in 1957 titled "Fraulein" went to No. 1 on the country music charts and made it into the Top 40 on the pop music charts. Later that same year he released "My Special Angel" that also went to No. 1 on the country charts and entered the Top 10 on Billboard magazines pop music charts, peaking at No. 7.
Released just a few days before Christmas of 1957, his song "Jingle Bell Rock" was a big hit but uniquely, it re-emerged four out of the next five years and sold so well that it repeated each time as a top hit and became a Christmas classic still played to this day.
Bobby Helms continued touring and recording for the next three decades. His pioneering contribution to the genre has been recognized by the Rockabilly Hall of Fame.
Helms spent most of his later years living just outside of Martinsville, Indiana, until the time of his death from emphysema and asthma in 1997.
Fraulein
Bobby Helms Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Lives an old German's daughter
By the banks of the old river Rhine
Where I loved her and left her
But I can't forget her
'Cause I miss my pretty Fraulein
Fraulein, Fraulein
When the stars seem to shine
By the same stars above you
I swear that I love you
You are my pretty Fraulein
When my memories wander
Away over yonder
To the sweetheart that I left behind
In a moment of glory
A face comes before me
The face of my pretty Fraulein
Fraulein, Fraulein
Walk down by the river
Pretend that your hand's holding mine
By the same stars above you
I swear that I love you
The lyrics of Bobby Helms’ “Fraulein” tell a story of a young man who fell in love with a German girl while he was stationed in Germany. He describes how he left her behind but cannot forget her. Even when he thinks of her, her face comes before him with fond memories. He urges her to look up at the stars and think of him as he does of her. He wishes to walk again by the banks of the river Rhine and hold her hand.
“Fraulein” is a beautiful song filled with longing, tenderness, and heartbreak. It perfectly captures the essence of a young love that was lost, and the constant yearning to rekindle it. The imagery of the old river Rhine and the stars above add to the song's wistful and romantic nature. The song's nostalgic tone creates a sense of longing for a time gone by, for a love that was once treasured.
Line by Line Meaning
Far across the blue waters
In a faraway place (across the ocean)
Lives an old German's daughter
There is a woman living there who is the daughter of an old German man
By the banks of the old river Rhine
She lives near the Rhine river
Where I loved her and left her
He fell in love with her there, but had to leave
But I can't forget her
He still remembers her and thinks about her all the time
'Cause I miss my pretty Fraulein
He misses her and wishes he could be with her again
Fraulein, Fraulein
Title of the song, a term of endearment for the woman he loves
Look up toward the heavens each night
Look at the stars in the sky at night
When the stars seem to shine
When the stars are especially bright
By the same stars above you
Referring to the stars in the sky above both of them
I swear that I love you
He promises that he loves her
You are my pretty Fraulein
He calls her his beautiful girl
When my memories wander
When he thinks back on the past
Away over yonder
Far away from where he is now
To the sweetheart that I left behind
To the woman he fell in love with and had to leave
In a moment of glory
In a significant moment of his life
A face comes before me
He visualizes her face
The face of my pretty Fraulein
He specifically thinks of her beautiful face
Walk down by the river
He imagines her walking along the riverbank
Pretend that your hand's holding mine
He asks her to imagine holding hands with him
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: LAWTON WILLIAMS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@royandjacqueline1294
We are enjoying Daniel O'Donnell singing this beautiful song on The Daniel O'Donnell Show. On The Spotlight TV Channel. We asked Google who's singing and she said she's 23% sure that it's Bobby Helms. She didn't realise that it was Daniel. We've never heard of him before. We are now huge fans.
Absolutely beautiful
🥰🇯🇲🏴🕊️🔥✝️
Far across the blue waters
Lives an old German's daughter
By the banks of the old River Rhine
Where I loved her and left her
But I can't forget her.
'Cause I miss my pretty Fraulein.
Fraulein, Fraulein
Look up toward the Heavens
Each night, when the stars start to shine
By the same stars above you
I swear that I love you
You are my pretty Fraulein.
When my memories wander
A way over yonder
To the sweetheart that I left behind
In a moment of glory
A face comes before me
The face of my pretty Fraulein.
Fraulein, Fraulein
Walk down by the river
Pretend that your hand's holding mine
By the same stars above you
I swear that I love you
You are my pretty Fraulein
🥰🇯🇲🏴🕊️🔥✝️
@cindrareese1690
My father who was 90 just passed away this past Saturday. This was his favorite song. I was able to pull it up on my cell phone and play it for him at the funeral home. He wanted no service but I played this for him and kissed him goodbye on his forehead. He was a POW from WW2. Love you Daddy, from your daddy's girl.
@georgschmidt5281
God bless you Girl i am 89 and Fraulein is my favorite country songs to..
@jamiethomas7298
Thank you for sharing this special moment. This is my first time hearing this song. I grew up in the 80s listening to my parents, aunts, uncles and grandparents playing this type of music. I love it.
@davidmear5593
I'm 75 and left my late wife in her forever resting place by the Rhineland-Palatinate.
@dmedman50
So sweet!
@kevinbutts4593
Makes me think of my parents😢 Dad always loved my mom even though they were divorced.
@staciaclark4054
My mom was my dad's pretty Fraulein. They met in Germany after WWII. Dad passed in 69. Mom last year. Dad being a soldier and mom being a war bride has always made this song special to me.
@johnmcgrath5052
What a beautiful story.
@raymondluk4620
A Wonderful Couple
God's Gracious Arrangements
@orvillelowrie3997
GOD BLESS YOU WHAT A WONDERFUL MEMORY TO HAVE IN YOUR HEART...