Dame Vera Margaret Lynn (Vera Margaret Welch, 20 March 1917 - 18 June 2020)… Read Full Bio ↴Dame Vera Margaret Lynn (Vera Margaret Welch, 20 March 1917 - 18 June 2020) widely known as "the Forces' Sweetheart", was an English singer, songwriter and actress. Her musical recordings and performances were enormously popular during the Second World War.
During the war she toured Egypt, India, and Burma (Myanmar) as part of ENSA, giving outdoor concerts for the troops. The songs most associated with her are "We'll Meet Again", "The White Cliffs of Dover", "A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square" and "There'll Always Be an England".
She remained popular after the war, appearing on radio and television in the UK and the US and recording such hits as "Auf Wiederseh'n Sweetheart" and her UK Number one single "My Son, My Son". Her last single, "I Love This Land", was released to mark the end of the Falklands War. In 2009, at age 92, she became the oldest living artist to top the UK Albums Chart.
She has devoted much time and energy to charity work connected with ex-servicemen, disabled children, and breast cancer. She is held in great affection by veterans of the Second World War to this day and in 2000 was named the Briton who best exemplified the spirit of the 20th century.
On 20th March, 2017 Dame Vera celebrated her 100th birthday.
Vera Margaret Welch was born in East Ham, London. She began performing publicly at the age of seven and adopted her maternal grandmother's maiden name, Margaret Lynn, as her stage name when she was eleven. Her first radio broadcast, with the Joe Loss Orchestra, was in 1935. At this point she was being featured on records released by dance bands including those of Loss and of Charlie Kunz.
Vera Lynn made her solo recording debut with the song "The General's Fast Asleep" on the 3rd October 1935, accompanied by the Rhythm Rascals (A pseudonym for Jay Wilbur's orchestra). The 9" 78 rpm single was issued on the Crown Records label, which went on to release a total of 8 singles recorded by Vera Lynn and Charles Smart on organ. Early recordings include "I'm in the Mood for Love" and "Red Sails in the Sunset".
In 1938 the Decca label took over control of the British Crown label and the UK based Rex label, they had also issued early singles from Lynn in 1937, including "Harbour Lights". In late September 1939 Vera Lynn first recorded a song that continues to be associated with her: "We'll Meet Again" was originally recorded with Arthur Young on the Novachord.
In 1940 she began her own radio series, "Sincerely Yours", sending messages to British troops stationed abroad. In this radio show she and a quartet performed the songs most requested to her by soldiers stationed abroad. She also went into hospitals to interview new mothers and send messages to their husbands overseas. She toured Burma and gave outdoor concerts for soldiers.
In 1941 Vera Lynn married Harry Lewis, clarinettist, saxophonist and fellow member of Bert Ambrose's orchestra.
In 1942 she recorded the Ross Parker/Hughie Charles song "We'll Meet Again" while making the film of the same name. The nostalgic lyrics ("We'll meet again, don't know where, don't know when, but I know we'll meet again some sunny day") had a great appeal to the many people separated from loved ones during the war, and it became one of the emblematic songs of the wartime period.
After the war, her "Auf Wiederseh'n Sweetheart" became the first record by a British artist to top the US charts, doing so for nine weeks, and she appeared regularly on Tallulah Bankhead's US radio programme "The Big Show". "Auf Wiederseh'n Sweetheart", along with "The Homing Waltz" and "Forget-Me-Not" gave Lynn a remarkable three entries on the first UK Singles Chart, a top 12 (which contained 15 songs owing to tied positions).
Lynn's career flourished in the 1950s, peaking with "My Son, My Son", a number-one hit in 1954. It was co-written by Eddie Calvert.
Throughout the 1940s and 1950s the Decca label issued all of Lynn's records, including several recorded with Mantovani and His Orchestra in 1942 and with Robert Farnon, from the late 1940s. Firstly they were only available as 78 rpm singles, which only feature two songs an A and a B-side. In the mid-1950s Decca issued several EP singles, which featured between two and four recordings per side, such as Vera Lynn's Party Sing Song from 1954 and singles were issued on two formats the known 78 rpm 10" and the recently introduced 45 rpm 7" single. In the late 1950s Lynn recorded four albums at Decca, the first; Vera Lynn Concert remains her only live recording ever to be issued on vinyl.
In 1960, after more than 20 years at Decca Records, Lynn signed to the US based MGM Records. In the UK her recordings were distributed by the His Masters Voice label, later EMI Records. Several albums and stand-alone singles were recorded with Geoff Love & His Orchestra. Norman Newell also took over as Lynn's producer in this period and remained with her until her 1976 album Christmas with Vera Lynn. Recording at EMI Records up until 1977, Lynn released thirteen albums with material as diverse as traditional Hymns, pop and country songs, as well as re-recording many of her known songs from the 1940s for the albums Hits of the Blitz (1962), More Hits of the Blitz and Vera Lynn Remembers – The World at War (1974). In the 1980s two albums of contemporary pop songs were recorded at the Pye Records label, both including covers of songs previously recorded by artists such as ABBA and Barry Manilow.
In 1982 Lynn released the stand-alone single "I Love This Land", written by André Previn, to mark the end of the Falklands War. Lynn's last recordings before her retirement were issued on the 1984 album Vera Lynn Remembers, produced by her husband, Harry. The album featured 17 re-recordings of songs known and associated with Lynn over her career.
Lynn was awarded the British War Medal 1939–1945 and the Burma Star.
She was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 1969 New Year Honours "for services to the Royal Air Forces Association and other charities", and was advanced to Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in the 1975 Birthday Honours for charitable services.
In 1976 she received an honorary doctorate from the Memorial University of Newfoundland. In 1977 She was made an honorary citizen of Nashville, Tennessee. She received the Freedom of the City of London in 1978.
She was made a Commander of the Order of Orange-Nassau in 1985. She was made an Officer of the Order of Saint John (OStJ) in 1998 and, in 2000, Lynn received a special "Spirit of the 20th Century" Award.
A street named in her honour, Vera Lynn Close, is situated in Forest Gate, London.
She was appointed Member of the Order of the Companions of Honour (CH) in the 2016 Birthday Honours for services to entertainment and charity.
A preserved example of the WD Austerity 2-10-0 class of steam locomotives at the North Yorkshire Moors Railway is named Dame Vera Lynn.
During the war she toured Egypt, India, and Burma (Myanmar) as part of ENSA, giving outdoor concerts for the troops. The songs most associated with her are "We'll Meet Again", "The White Cliffs of Dover", "A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square" and "There'll Always Be an England".
She remained popular after the war, appearing on radio and television in the UK and the US and recording such hits as "Auf Wiederseh'n Sweetheart" and her UK Number one single "My Son, My Son". Her last single, "I Love This Land", was released to mark the end of the Falklands War. In 2009, at age 92, she became the oldest living artist to top the UK Albums Chart.
She has devoted much time and energy to charity work connected with ex-servicemen, disabled children, and breast cancer. She is held in great affection by veterans of the Second World War to this day and in 2000 was named the Briton who best exemplified the spirit of the 20th century.
On 20th March, 2017 Dame Vera celebrated her 100th birthday.
Vera Margaret Welch was born in East Ham, London. She began performing publicly at the age of seven and adopted her maternal grandmother's maiden name, Margaret Lynn, as her stage name when she was eleven. Her first radio broadcast, with the Joe Loss Orchestra, was in 1935. At this point she was being featured on records released by dance bands including those of Loss and of Charlie Kunz.
Vera Lynn made her solo recording debut with the song "The General's Fast Asleep" on the 3rd October 1935, accompanied by the Rhythm Rascals (A pseudonym for Jay Wilbur's orchestra). The 9" 78 rpm single was issued on the Crown Records label, which went on to release a total of 8 singles recorded by Vera Lynn and Charles Smart on organ. Early recordings include "I'm in the Mood for Love" and "Red Sails in the Sunset".
In 1938 the Decca label took over control of the British Crown label and the UK based Rex label, they had also issued early singles from Lynn in 1937, including "Harbour Lights". In late September 1939 Vera Lynn first recorded a song that continues to be associated with her: "We'll Meet Again" was originally recorded with Arthur Young on the Novachord.
In 1940 she began her own radio series, "Sincerely Yours", sending messages to British troops stationed abroad. In this radio show she and a quartet performed the songs most requested to her by soldiers stationed abroad. She also went into hospitals to interview new mothers and send messages to their husbands overseas. She toured Burma and gave outdoor concerts for soldiers.
In 1941 Vera Lynn married Harry Lewis, clarinettist, saxophonist and fellow member of Bert Ambrose's orchestra.
In 1942 she recorded the Ross Parker/Hughie Charles song "We'll Meet Again" while making the film of the same name. The nostalgic lyrics ("We'll meet again, don't know where, don't know when, but I know we'll meet again some sunny day") had a great appeal to the many people separated from loved ones during the war, and it became one of the emblematic songs of the wartime period.
After the war, her "Auf Wiederseh'n Sweetheart" became the first record by a British artist to top the US charts, doing so for nine weeks, and she appeared regularly on Tallulah Bankhead's US radio programme "The Big Show". "Auf Wiederseh'n Sweetheart", along with "The Homing Waltz" and "Forget-Me-Not" gave Lynn a remarkable three entries on the first UK Singles Chart, a top 12 (which contained 15 songs owing to tied positions).
Lynn's career flourished in the 1950s, peaking with "My Son, My Son", a number-one hit in 1954. It was co-written by Eddie Calvert.
Throughout the 1940s and 1950s the Decca label issued all of Lynn's records, including several recorded with Mantovani and His Orchestra in 1942 and with Robert Farnon, from the late 1940s. Firstly they were only available as 78 rpm singles, which only feature two songs an A and a B-side. In the mid-1950s Decca issued several EP singles, which featured between two and four recordings per side, such as Vera Lynn's Party Sing Song from 1954 and singles were issued on two formats the known 78 rpm 10" and the recently introduced 45 rpm 7" single. In the late 1950s Lynn recorded four albums at Decca, the first; Vera Lynn Concert remains her only live recording ever to be issued on vinyl.
In 1960, after more than 20 years at Decca Records, Lynn signed to the US based MGM Records. In the UK her recordings were distributed by the His Masters Voice label, later EMI Records. Several albums and stand-alone singles were recorded with Geoff Love & His Orchestra. Norman Newell also took over as Lynn's producer in this period and remained with her until her 1976 album Christmas with Vera Lynn. Recording at EMI Records up until 1977, Lynn released thirteen albums with material as diverse as traditional Hymns, pop and country songs, as well as re-recording many of her known songs from the 1940s for the albums Hits of the Blitz (1962), More Hits of the Blitz and Vera Lynn Remembers – The World at War (1974). In the 1980s two albums of contemporary pop songs were recorded at the Pye Records label, both including covers of songs previously recorded by artists such as ABBA and Barry Manilow.
In 1982 Lynn released the stand-alone single "I Love This Land", written by André Previn, to mark the end of the Falklands War. Lynn's last recordings before her retirement were issued on the 1984 album Vera Lynn Remembers, produced by her husband, Harry. The album featured 17 re-recordings of songs known and associated with Lynn over her career.
Lynn was awarded the British War Medal 1939–1945 and the Burma Star.
She was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 1969 New Year Honours "for services to the Royal Air Forces Association and other charities", and was advanced to Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in the 1975 Birthday Honours for charitable services.
In 1976 she received an honorary doctorate from the Memorial University of Newfoundland. In 1977 She was made an honorary citizen of Nashville, Tennessee. She received the Freedom of the City of London in 1978.
She was made a Commander of the Order of Orange-Nassau in 1985. She was made an Officer of the Order of Saint John (OStJ) in 1998 and, in 2000, Lynn received a special "Spirit of the 20th Century" Award.
A street named in her honour, Vera Lynn Close, is situated in Forest Gate, London.
She was appointed Member of the Order of the Companions of Honour (CH) in the 2016 Birthday Honours for services to entertainment and charity.
A preserved example of the WD Austerity 2-10-0 class of steam locomotives at the North Yorkshire Moors Railway is named Dame Vera Lynn.
Be Like the Kettle and Sing
Vera Lynn Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When all the skies are grey and it's a rainy day
Think of the birdies in Spring
When your up to your neck in hot water
Be like the kettle and sing
Tell that umbrella man he's just an also ran
Think of a kid on a swing
When your up to your neck in hot water
Be like the kettle and sing
You'll find that life's always got a funny side
So come over on the sunny side
And wear a great big smile
It makes your life worth while
You'll have the world on a string
When your up to your neck in hot water
Be like the kettle and sing
When your trouble's are boiling over
Consult this recipe
Everybody will be in clover, happy as can be
When all the skies are grey and it's a rainy day
Think of the birdies in Spring
When your up to your neck in hot water
Be like the kettle and sing
Tell that umbrella man he's just an also ran
Think of a kid on a swing
When your up to your neck in hot water
Be like the kettle and sing
You'll find that life's always got a funny side
So come over on the sunny side
And wear a great big smile
It makes your life worth while
You'll have the world on a string
When your up to your neck in hot water
Be like the kettle and sing
Think of the birdies in Spring
When your up to your neck in hot water
Be like the kettle and sing
Tell that umbrella man he's just an also ran
Think of a kid on a swing
When your up to your neck in hot water
You'll find that life's always got a funny side
So come over on the sunny side
And wear a great big smile
It makes your life worth while
You'll have the world on a string
When your up to your neck in hot water
Be like the kettle and sing
When your trouble's are boiling over
Consult this recipe
Everybody will be in clover, happy as can be
When all the skies are grey and it's a rainy day
Think of the birdies in Spring
When your up to your neck in hot water
Be like the kettle and sing
Tell that umbrella man he's just an also ran
Think of a kid on a swing
When your up to your neck in hot water
Be like the kettle and sing
You'll find that life's always got a funny side
So come over on the sunny side
And wear a great big smile
It makes your life worth while
You'll have the world on a string
When your up to your neck in hot water
Be like the kettle and sing
The song "Be Like the Kettle and Sing" by Vera Lynn is an uplifting and optimistic song about finding joy even in difficult circumstances. The lyrics encourage listeners to think of the positive things in life, such as the beauty of spring, the joy of swinging on a swing, and the humor in any situation. The metaphor of the kettle represents the idea that even when we are feeling overwhelmed or in "hot water," we can still choose to sing and find joy.
The song also suggests that wearing a smile and having a positive attitude can make all the difference in life, and that there is always a "funny side" to any situation. The idea is that if we focus on the good things in life, we will be happier and more content, even when things are not going well.
Overall, "Be Like the Kettle and Sing" is a song that encourages listeners to embrace positivity and find joy in the little things in life, even during difficult times.
Line by Line Meaning
When all the skies are grey and it's a rainy day
When life gets tough and everything seems hopeless
Think of the birdies in Spring
Remember the beauty of nature and the good things in life
When your up to your neck in hot water
When you're in a difficult situation and feeling overwhelmed
Be like the kettle and sing
Stay positive and keep going, even in tough times
Tell that umbrella man he's just an also ran
Don't let negative people bring you down
Think of a kid on a swing
Remember the simple joys in life
You'll find that life's always got a funny side
Life can be unpredictable and full of surprises
So come over on the sunny side
Choose to focus on the positive
And wear a great big smile
Stay optimistic and cheerful
It makes your life worth while
Being happy and positive makes life more enjoyable
You'll have the world on a string
A positive attitude can lead to success and happiness
Consult this recipe
Follow these steps for positivity and happiness
Everybody will be in clover, happy as can be
Everyone will be happy and content
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: TOMMIE CONNOR, DESMOND O'CONNOR, WALTER RIDLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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comic mangaka
Vera Lynn is an absolute treasure
Wayne Brasler
This was a very big record and I think this film version is even better. It's only when you see Vera on film that you realize she had a sensational figure and carriage. As a singer she was and is one of a kind.
notes l
Wayne Brasler The Movie Version of the song is better than the Studio version :( because of the orchestra accompanying her, giving a rich retro sound. I can't find the (Song in the Movie Version) In YouTube.
Philip Chretien Karlsson
I agree: she's a true treasure who brought joy to millions of people during WW II. She did have that special personality and charisma. It must have been wonderful to hear her live in those years, despite the horrors that were going on, the blitz, as we hear, for one....
Daniel Victor
She continuous singing after the war…
Jeanie Barton
Hey thanks for the comment on my Vera effort - glad you enjoyed it, I can't rightly replicate the purity and clarity of voice that she had - like a silver bell I always thought... Still we all have our own sound which is for the best. This is one of my favourite songs I used to sing as a kid all the time, happy days!!
deguilhem corinne
I absolutely adore her, and this song is becoming one of my favorites ! She is both empowering and appeasing, in this wonderful song like in many others !
faithoffaith
Such a beautiful voice! The nations sweetheart!
Valentina Tenedini
I first heard this song in Lincoln in August 2018 during the celebration for the anniversary of the RAF.... It's become one of my favorite songs ever since, so meaningful and cheerful.... Lest we forget.
Martin Harrison
Wonderful clip of Vera in her prime