Carly Simon (born Carly Elisabeth Simon on 25 June 1945 - New York City, US… Read Full Bio ↴Carly Simon (born Carly Elisabeth Simon on 25 June 1945 - New York City, USA) is an American singer, musician, songwriter, and children's author. She rose to fame in the 1970s with a string of hit records, and has since been the recipient of two Grammy Awards, an Academy Award, and a Golden Globe Award for her work. Throughout her career, she has amassed a total of 13 Top 40 Hits including "You're So Vain", "Nobody Does It Better" and "Coming Around Again".

Simon's career began with a short-lived music group with her sister Lucy as The Simon Sisters. They had a minor hit in 1964 called "Winkin', Blinkin', and Nod", and made three albums together before Lucy left to get married and start a family. Later, Carly Simon collaborated with eclectic New York rockers Elephant's Memory for about six months. She also appeared in the 1971 Milos Forman movie Taking Off, playing an auditioning singer, and sang "Long Term Physical Effects", which was included in Taking Off, the 1971 soundtrack for the movie.

Simon's major breakthrough was 1972's No Secrets. The album spawned several successful singles, including Simon's biggest hit, "You're So Vain". Simon continued to produce successful albums through the 1970s and early 1980s, moving into film scores after she was dropped by her record label in 1985. She performed the main title song for the James Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me - "Nobody Does It Better" which was a worldwide hit in 1977.

Lili Marlene
Carly Simon Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Outside the barracks by the corner light
Darling I remember how I'd wait for you at night
There we'd create a world for two, I'd wait for you
The whole night through, was there that you'd whisper tenderly
That you loved me, you'd always be
Be my Lili Marlene, be my Lili Marlene

I'd give you a rose to show I care,

And wind it through your golden hair
Then we would say goodnight and part,
I'll always keep you in my heart
With me Lili Marlene, with me Lili Marlene

My Lili of the lamplight, my own Lili Marlene

Overall Meaning

The song "Lili Marlene" by Carly Simon tells the story of a soldier reminiscing about a past love he had while stationed outside the barracks by the corner light. He vividly remembers waiting for her at night and creating a world for two. He would wait for her the whole night through and it was there that she would whisper tenderly that she loved him and would always be his Lili Marlene. He also describes how he would give her a rose to show that he cared for her and wind it through her golden hair. The song ends with him declaring that she will always be with him, his Lili of the Lamplight, his own Lili Marlene.

Line by Line Meaning

Outside the barracks by the corner light
At the corner light outside the barracks

Darling I remember how I'd wait for you at night
I remember waiting for you at night, my dear

There we'd create a world for two, I'd wait for you
Together we created a world for ourselves and I waited for you

The whole night through, was there that you'd whisper tenderly
Throughout the entire night, you whispered sweet nothings to me

That you loved me, you'd always be
You professed your love for me, saying you'll always be with me

Be my Lili Marlene, be my Lili Marlene
Be my Lili Marlene, my love

I'd give you a rose to show I care,
To show my love, I would give you a rose

And wind it through your golden hair
I would put the rose in your golden hair

Then we would say goodnight and part,
We would bid goodnight and part ways

I'll always keep you in my heart
I'll always remember you and keep you in my heart

With me Lili Marlene, with me Lili Marlene
Be with me, Lili Marlene