Martha Reeves & The Vandellas were one of the most successful groups in the… Read Full Bio ↴Martha Reeves & The Vandellas were one of the most successful groups in the Motown roster during the 1960s and fully active from 1960 to present, performing at various times doo-wop, pop, rock and roll and soul.

The label's second most-successful all-female singing group after The Supremes, Martha Reeves & The Vandellas were known for a churchier, more southern-styled soul than the Supremes, as typified in Motown hits such as "(Love Is Like A) Heat Wave", "Jimmy Mack", "I'm Ready For Love", "My Baby Loves Me", "Nowhere to Run", and, their signature song, "Dancing in the Street".

The group had its origins in Detroit, Michigan in 1957, and had initially gone by the name The Del-Phis. It originally was a quartet comprising childhood friends Martha Reeves, Rosalind Ashford, Annette Beard, and original lead singer Gloria Williams. Williams left after a failed single on the Checkmate label, leaving the quartet as a trio. They changed their name to The Vells signing a deal with Motown's Mel-o-dy label, and singing background for established Motown performers such as Mary Wells and Marvin Gaye before signing a new deal with Motown's Gordy label on September 21, 1962, after which the group changed its name to Martha and the Vandellas.

In 1964, the Vandellas' lineup changed with Betty Kelley replacing Sterling. In 1967, Kelley was fired and was replaced by Martha's younger sister, Sandra "Lois" Reeves. In 1969, Ashford was also fired and replaced by Sandra Tilley. The lineup of the Reeves sisters and Tilley continued after Martha's return from an institution after suffering a nervous breakdown. The group disbanded following a farewell concert, held at Detroit's Cobo Hall on December 21, 1972., however, Reeves still performs with sister Lois and another Reeves sister, Delphine.

Danke Schoen
Martha Reeves & The Vandellas Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Danke schoen, darling, Danke schoen,
Thank you for all the joy and pain.
Picture shows, second balcony was the place we'd meet,
Second seat, go Dutch treat, you were sweet.

Danke schoen, darling, danke schoen,
Thank you for funny cards from Spain.
I recall Central Park in fall how you tore you dress,

What a mess, I confess that's not all.

Danke schoen, darling danke schoen,
Thank you for walks down Lover's Lane.
I can see hearts carved on a tree
Letters intertwined for all time.
Yours and mine, that was fine.

Danke schoen, darling danke schoen,
Thank you for seeing me again.

Tho' we go on our sep'rate ways
Still the mem'ry stays for always.

Overall Meaning

The song "Danke Schoen" by Martha Reeves & The Vandellas is a nostalgic love letter to a former lover. The lyrics express gratitude for the moments shared together, both good and bad, acknowledging that they all contributed to the relationship that once was. The line "thank you for all the joy and pain" captures the sentiment that even though the relationship may have ended, it was still worth experiencing because it brought both joy and pain, both of which were important for personal growth.

The second verse talks about specific memories shared between the couple, including meeting at the second balcony and going Dutch treat, receiving funny cards from Spain, and walking down Lover's Lane. The line "I can see hearts carved on a tree, letters intertwined for all time" suggests that even though they are no longer together, the memories and the love they shared will be forever intertwined and remembered.

Line by Line Meaning

Danke schoen, darling, Danke schoen,
Expressing gratitude to a loved one.

thank you for all the joy and pain.
Appreciating the emotions and experiences shared with the loved one, both good and bad.

Picture shows, second balcony was the place we'd meet,
Recalling a time when they would meet each other at a specific location, the second balcony, as seen in pictures.

second seat, go Dutch treat, you were sweet.
Remembering the details of their meetings, such as sitting in the second seat and sharing expenses with their date who was kind and affectionate.

Danke schoen, darling, danke schoen,
Once again, expressing gratitude to the loved one.

thank you for funny cards from Spain.
Appreciating the small gestures of thoughtfulness, like receiving humorous cards from a faraway place like Spain.

I recall Central Park in fall how you tore you dress,
Recollecting a specific instance in which the loved one tore their dress in Central Park during autumn.

what a mess, I confess that's not all.
Admitting that it was a chaotic situation and there were more memorable times shared with the loved one beyond this instance.

Danke schoen, darling danke schoen,
Again, expressing gratitude to the loved one.

thank you for walks down Lover's Lane.
Appreciating romantic walks taken down a scenic path nicknamed Lover's Lane.

I can see hearts carved on a tree
Visualizing a tree with hearts carved into the bark, symbolizing the love shared between the two.

letters intertwined for all time.
The letters carved in the tree represent their names connected together, forever united as one.

Yours and mine, that was fine.
The pairing of their names on the tree was a beautiful and satisfactory moment for both of them.

Danke schoen, darling danke schoen,
Continuing to express gratitude to the loved one.

thank you for seeing me again.
Being grateful for the opportunity to see and spend time with the loved one once more.

Tho' we go on our sep'rate ways
Acknowledging that their paths may diverge from each other in the future, as they may not be together forever.

still the mem'ry stays for always.
Despite the possibility of separation or distance, the memories and love shared between them will always remain in their hearts and minds.

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Bert Kaempfert, Kurt Schwabach, Milt Gabler

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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