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.
Goodnight Children Everywhere
Vera Lynn Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Your Mummy thinks of you tonight
Lay your head upon your pillow
Don't be a kid or a weeping willow
Close your eyes and say a prayer
And surely you can find a kiss to spare
Tho' you are far away, she's with you night and day
Sleepy little eyes in a sleepy little head
Sleepy time is drawing near
In a little while, you'll be tucked up in your bed
Here's a song for baby, dear
Goodnight, children, everywhere
Your Mummy thinks of you tonight
Lay your head upon your pillow
Don't be a kid or a weeping willow
Close your eyes and say a prayer
And surely you can find a kiss to spare
Tho' you are far away, she's with you night and day
Goodnight, children, everywhere
The lyrics of Vera Lynn's "Goodnight Children Everywhere" convey a message of comfort and tenderness to children who are away from their mothers during the night. The song reassures these children that their mothers are always with them in spirit and encourages them to close their eyes and say a prayer before going to sleep. The lyrics also urge them not to be sad or cry like a weeping willow.
The song conveys a sense of nostalgia for a simpler time when children's lives were less complicated. The repetition of the phrase "Goodnight, children, everywhere" at the beginning and the end of the song emphasizes the universality of this message and reinforces the idea that all children need love and reassurance before going to bed. The song's gentle melody and hopeful lyrics create a soothing and peaceful atmosphere, making it a perfect lullaby.
Overall, "Goodnight Children Everywhere" encourages children to feel safe and secure, even when they are far away from their mothers. It is a comforting reminder that a mother's love is always present and that she is looking out for her children no matter what.
Line by Line Meaning
Goodnight, children, everywhere
A sweet and loving farewell to all the children in the world, wishing them a good night's sleep
Your Mummy thinks of you tonight
Assuring the children that their mothers are thinking of them and holding them close in their thoughts
Lay your head upon your pillow
Get comfortable and ready to sleep, rest your head and drift off into a peaceful slumber
Don't be a kid or a weeping willow
Don't act like a child or cry, be brave and strong and face the world with confidence
Close your eyes and say a prayer
As you go to bed, take a moment to reflect and communicate with a higher power
And surely you can find a kiss to spare
In your imagination, give yourself a loving kiss on the forehead to feel comforted and happy
Tho' you are far away, she's with you night and day
Even if you're physically apart, know that your mother is always with you, watching over you and loving you
Sleepy little eyes in a sleepy little head
The children are tired and ready for bed, their eyes are closing and they feel drowsy
Sleepy time is drawing near
The time for sleep is approaching, and the children should prepare to drift off into a peaceful slumber
In a little while, you'll be tucked up in your bed
Soon, the children will be cozily wrapped up in their blankets, sound asleep
Here's a song for baby, dear
A gentle lullaby to help the children fall asleep, soothing them with its lyrics and melody
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: HARRY PHILIPS, GABRIEL ROGERS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Goggerator
I was evacuated from Manchester to Lancaster and cried myself to sleep everynight - this song has always brought my childhood back to me - I was 11 ears old when WW11 broke out....she is the voice of the Blitz
Just a dum guy
Ouch
Just a dum guy
I’m sorry that happened to you
Just a dum guy
I’m a child she helped me cope with me Angry issues
May Chan
Ww2 or ww1 ther is no ww11
Eftemie Eduard-Cristian
@May Chan Since it's 1940 you can guess, but still, you can read ww11 as WWII (roman numerals)
MrGoto7734
Been listening to this every night now for over a year. I use it as my sign off song before I shut everything down for the evening. Such a sweet, lovely little tune to go to bed bye. Good night everybody. <3
Jack Phillips
Thank You so much for this, My grandfather wrote this, I unfortunately never met him but it can give me an insight to his brilliant mind. He was Harry Phillips by the way
MrDreamsandvisions
Vera Lynn is one of the most beloved singers of hope during WWII
Clare
She has the most amazing voice, doesnt she??