Marlene was known in school for her "bedroom eyes" and her first affairs were at this stage in her life - a professor at the school was terminated.
Marlene enjoyed music and attended concerts. She was adept at playing the violin and piano. By the time she was in her mid-teens, Marlene had discovered the stage. Acting was to be her vocation. In 1921, Marlene applied for an acting school run by Max Reinhardt. She was accepted. She appeared in several stage productions, but never had more than a couple of spoken lines. In short, she wasn't setting the stage world on fire.
She attempted films for the first time in 1922 Her first film was So sind die Männer (The Little Napoleon) (1923) which was followed by Tragödie der Liebe (Love Tragedy) (1923). On this last project, she met Rudolf Sieber and married him in 1924. The union lasted until his death in 1976 although they didn't live together the whole time.
The remainder of her early film career was generally filled with bit roles. After being seen in the German production of Der blaue Engel (The Blue Angel) (1930) in 1930, Marlene was given a crack at Hollywood. Her first US film was Morocco (1930) with Gary Cooper, which was followed by Dishonored (1931). This latter movie had her cast as a street walker who is appointed a spy. The film was rather boring but was a success because of Marlene's presence. In 1932, Marlene filmed Shanghai Express (1932) which proved to be immensely popular, grossing $3 million. Once again, she was cast as a prostitute. The next film was Blonde Venus (1932) which turned out to be a horrible production. Her co-star was Cary Grant and once again she was cast as a prostitute.
During this period Dietrich had been typecast as a woman of low morals and she wanted different parts. Her chance came in 1939 in Destry Rides Again (1939) when she was cast as "Frenchy", a Western saloon hostess. This began a new direction for Marlene since it shed the previous typecasting. All through the 1940s, she appeared in well-produced, well-directed films such as Manpower (1942), The Spoilers (1942), The Lady Is Willing (1942) and Pittsburgh (1942).
Afterwards the roles came less frequently, perhaps one to two films every year. In 1945, Marlene didn't appear in any. She only made seven productions in the 1950's. Her last role of any substance was Judgment at Nuremberg (1961). Despite the lack of theatrical roles, Marlene still made appearances on the stage. However, by 1979, she was a shell of her former self. After breaking her leg in one performance, she never made a go of it in show business again.
Spending the last 12 years of her life bed-ridden, Marlene died on May 6, 1992 in Paris, France of kidney failure at the age of 90.
In Den Kasernen
Marlene Dietrich Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In den Kasernen, da schult man sie.
So war es immer, und endet nie.
In den Kasernen, da warten sie.
Von schönen Mädchen, da träumen sie
Die schönen Mädchen verlassen sie
So ist es immer, und endet nie.
Kommt man sie holen, dann gehen sie.
Ob sie auch wollen, das fragt man nie.
So war es immer, das wissen sie.
Kommt man sie holen, dann gehen sie.
Auf Menschen Brüder, da schießen sie.
Und Menschen Brüder befehlen sie.
So war 's schon immer, und endet nie
Auf Menschen Brüder, da schießen sie.
Kreuz unter Kreuzen, so enden sie.
Kreuz unter Kreuzen, wer denkt an sie.
So war es immer, begreift man nie.
Kreuz unter Kreuzen, so enden sie.
In den Kasernen, da warten sie.
Neue Kasernen, baut man für sie
Es ist wie immer, und endet nie.
In den Kasernen, da warten sie.
The lyrics of Marlene Dietrich's song "In Den Kasernen" describe the bleak and mechanical routine of military life. The first verse talks about how soldiers wait in the barracks, where they are trained and molded into obedient soldiers. The repeated phrase "So war es immer, und endet nie" (It has always been this way, and will never end) emphasizes the idea that this is an unchanging and unbreakable cycle. The soldiers dream of beautiful girls, but those dreams are shattered as they are forced to leave their loved ones behind when they are called to duty. In the third verse, the soldiers are ordered to shoot their fellow human beings, emphasizing the cruelty and inhumane nature of war. The final verse talks about how soldiers ultimately end up buried under crosses, forgotten by the rest of the world.
The song's repetition of phrases and melancholic tone paints a picture of the sadness and hopelessness of life as a soldier. Marlene Dietrich's somber vocals add to the emotional impact of the lyrics, emphasizing the despair that comes with a life dictated by duty and war.
Line by Line Meaning
In den Kasernen, da warten sie.
Soldiers wait in the barracks.
In den Kasernen, da schult man sie.
The barracks are also where soldiers are trained.
So war es immer, und endet nie.
This has always been the case and will never change.
Von schönen Mädchen, da träumen sie
Soldiers dream of beautiful girls.
Die schönen Mädchen verlassen sie
The beautiful girls leave them.
Kommt man sie holen, dann gehen sie.
When they are called, they go, whether they want to or not.
Ob sie auch wollen, das fragt man nie.
It is never asked if they want to go.
Auf Menschen Brüder, da schießen sie.
They shoot at their fellow men.
Und Menschen Brüder befehlen sie.
They give orders to other men.
Kreuz unter Kreuzen, so enden sie.
They end up under crosses.
Wer denkt an sie?
Who remembers them?
Neue Kasernen, baut man für sie.
New barracks are built for them.
Contributed by Madison Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@MartinPuskin
Lyrics in German:
In den Kasernen, da warten sie.
In den Kasernen, da schult man sie.
So war es immer, und endet nie.
In den Kasernen, da warten sie.
Von schönen Mädchen, da träumen sie
Die schönen Mädchen verlassen sie
So ist es immer, und endet nie.
Von schönen Mädchen, da träumen sie.
Kommt man sie holen, dann gehen sie.
Ob sie auch wollen, das fragt man nie.
So war es immer, das wissen sie.
Kommt man sie holen, dann gehen sie.
Auf Menschen Brüder, da schießen sie.
Und Menschen Brüder befehlen sie.
So war 's schon immer, und endet nie
Auf Menschen Brüder, da schießen sie.
Kreuz unter Kreuzen, so enden sie.
Kreuz unter Kreuzen, wer denkt an sie.
So war es immer, begreift man nie.
Kreuz unter Kreuzen, so enden sie.
In den Kasernen, da warten sie.
Neue Kasernen, baut man für sie
Es ist wie immer, und endet nie.
In den Kasernen, da warten sie.
@MartinPuskin
Lyrics in German:
In den Kasernen, da warten sie.
In den Kasernen, da schult man sie.
So war es immer, und endet nie.
In den Kasernen, da warten sie.
Von schönen Mädchen, da träumen sie
Die schönen Mädchen verlassen sie
So ist es immer, und endet nie.
Von schönen Mädchen, da träumen sie.
Kommt man sie holen, dann gehen sie.
Ob sie auch wollen, das fragt man nie.
So war es immer, das wissen sie.
Kommt man sie holen, dann gehen sie.
Auf Menschen Brüder, da schießen sie.
Und Menschen Brüder befehlen sie.
So war 's schon immer, und endet nie
Auf Menschen Brüder, da schießen sie.
Kreuz unter Kreuzen, so enden sie.
Kreuz unter Kreuzen, wer denkt an sie.
So war es immer, begreift man nie.
Kreuz unter Kreuzen, so enden sie.
In den Kasernen, da warten sie.
Neue Kasernen, baut man für sie
Es ist wie immer, und endet nie.
In den Kasernen, da warten sie.
@MartinPuskin
Translation (disclaimer that neither German nor English is my mother tongue and I tried to keep the rhythm so it doesn't sound that natural in English):
In the barracs, there they wait.
In the barracs, there they are trained.
So it's always been, and it never ends.
In the barracs, there they wait.
Of beautiful girls, there they dream.
The beautiful girls they leave behind.
So it is always, and it never ends.
Of beautiful girls, there they dream.
Comes a call for them, then they go.
Whether they want to, they are never asked.
So it's always been, that they know.
Comes a call for them, then they go.
At fellow men, there they shoot.
And to fellow men, they give orders.
So it 's always been, and it never ends.
At fellow men, there they shoot.
A cross among crosses, such is their end.
A cross among crosses, who thinks of them.
So it's always been, one never grasps it.
A cross among crosses, such is their end.
In the barracs, there they wait.
New barracs are built for them.
It is as always, and it never ends.
In the barracs, there they wait.
@Shahrdad
In the barracks, there they wait
In the barracks, there they're trained
The same old story that never ends
In the barracks, there they wait
Of beautiful girls they dream
The beautiful girls they leave behind
The same old story that never ends
Of beautiful girls they dream
When the call comes, then they go
Whether they want to go, no one asks them
The same old story that never ends
When the call comes, then they go
At their fellow men, they shoot,
And their fellow men order them to.
The same old story that never ends
At their fellow men, they shoot
Cross amidst crosses, this is their end
Cross amidst crosses, who thinks of them?
The same old story, you never understand
Cross amidst crosses, this is their end
In the barracks, there they wait.
New barracks are built for them
The same old story that never ends
In the barracks, there they wait
@helgajezewski746
Es ist wie immer 💖💟💝💗💜💓💚Marlene nur gut Du warst da. ... Auf der Erde kommt nichts weg 💖💕💞💝💘💛💗du bist noch hier in Berlin
@ara9256
Bravo!!!! So war es immer..... und so wird es immer sein !!!! Wenn wir nicht endlich was dagegen tun !!!!!
Im Geiste von Marlene !!!!
@kimmylovesvintage3931
I really love this song! It is one of my uncle's favorites! I will always love Marlene!
@MarleneInterviews
Tout le talent d'interpétation de Marlene. Merci.
@dieymissousa7796
Quem veio pela Elke maravilha?
@sinemsvintage7664
My favorite song. ♥
@MARLENEBERLIN
vielen dank fürs hochladen Hertha Koch (texterin von In den Kasernen) wäre sehr glücklich...
@LAVideoArt
Gott, wie schlimm... sie hat Recht... es ist wie immer! :-(
@moodsawa
Kenyan and trully love this song, it made me shed tears n I just happened to stumble upon it researching history...lyrics and translation, anyone???
@MartinPuskin
Lyrics in German:
In den Kasernen, da warten sie.
In den Kasernen, da schult man sie.
So war es immer, und endet nie.
In den Kasernen, da warten sie.
Von schönen Mädchen, da träumen sie
Die schönen Mädchen verlassen sie
So ist es immer, und endet nie.
Von schönen Mädchen, da träumen sie.
Kommt man sie holen, dann gehen sie.
Ob sie auch wollen, das fragt man nie.
So war es immer, das wissen sie.
Kommt man sie holen, dann gehen sie.
Auf Menschen Brüder, da schießen sie.
Und Menschen Brüder befehlen sie.
So war 's schon immer, und endet nie
Auf Menschen Brüder, da schießen sie.
Kreuz unter Kreuzen, so enden sie.
Kreuz unter Kreuzen, wer denkt an sie.
So war es immer, begreift man nie.
Kreuz unter Kreuzen, so enden sie.
In den Kasernen, da warten sie.
Neue Kasernen, baut man für sie
Es ist wie immer, und endet nie.
In den Kasernen, da warten sie.