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.
It's a Sin to Tell a Lie
Vera Lynn Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's a sin to tell a lie
Millions of hearts have been broken
Just because these words were spoken
I love you, yes I do, I love you
If you break my heart I'll die
So be sure it's true
It's a sin to tell a lie
Be sure it's true when you say I love you
It's a sin to tell a lie
Millions of hearts have been broken
Just because these words were spoken
I love you, yes I do, I love you
If you break my heart I'll die
So be sure it's true
When you say I love you
It's a sin to tell a lie
The lyrics to Vera Lynn's "It's a Sin to Tell a Lie" is a cautionary tale about the power of words and the danger of false promises. The singer warns that telling someone you love them when you don't truly mean it can lead to heartbreak and devastation. The lyrics imply that while it may be tempting to say what someone wants to hear, it is essential to be honest about your feelings because the cost of lying is far too great. The song highlights the importance of trust and honesty in building healthy relationships and offers a sobering reminder of the consequences of dishonesty.
The repetition of "it's a sin to tell a lie" reinforces the moral message of the song and elevates it from a mere love song to a moral lesson. The singer acknowledges that many people have been hurt as a result of false declarations of love, and she urges the listener not to repeat these mistakes. The stark contrast between the joyful, romantic sentiment of the "I love you" refrain and the dire warning of the verses adds weight to the message of the song.
Overall, "It's a Sin to Tell a Lie" is a thoughtful meditation on the power of words and the importance of honesty in relationships. By highlighting the dangers of false promises and emphasizing the importance of truthfulness, the song provides a valuable lesson for all who listen.
Line by Line Meaning
Be sure it's true when you say I love you
Don't say 'I love you' unless you truly feel it
It's a sin to tell a lie
Lying about love can lead to heartbreak and is morally wrong
Millions of hearts have been broken
People often say 'I love you' without meaning it, causing emotional pain
Just because these words were spoken
Simply saying 'I love you' without genuine intent can have negative consequences
I love you, yes I do, I love you
The artist expresses their love for the listener
If you break my heart I'll die
The singer is deeply invested in the relationship and fears a potential breakup
So be sure it's true
Once again, emphasize the importance of genuine love
When you say I love you
The context for the previous line - the importance of honesty in expressing love
It's a sin to tell a lie
Reinforcement of the idea that dishonesty in love is immoral and harmful
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BILLY MAYHEW
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@gyeongjeong9682
Be sure it's true when you say I love you
It's a sin to tell a lie
Millions of hearts have been broken
Just because these words were spoken
I love you, yes I do, I love you
If you break my heart I'll die
So be sure it's true
When you say I love you
It's a sin to tell a lie
@randombikeride592
My Mum used to sing this to me as a child 😭 Thank you so much for this wonderful memory. I'll treasure this song for the rest of my life ❤
@user-wq3bo4qu3c
My mum used to sing this to my sons, she has sadly passed away and they are 35 and 39 now, i was singing it to my wee dog, when i wondeted if it was a real song or just a wee rhyme, lovely to here the full song x❤
@Fatimazelia
Finally found the authentic version of your favorite song.
........and you sang it just as beautifully!
RIP dear Tio Augusto!
@BelindaJeal-kx7ev
My Dad used to sing this and taught me it. He sadly died at the age of 89 in July xx
@FearRKO
My grandma used to sing this to me and I was just randomly singing it in a completely different way and then I’m like hmm I wonder what the original sounds like. Beautiful
@francisalanwormald6328
AT 80 ..R U KIDDING?? I ONLY NOW HEAR THIS LOVELY VERSION!!! BLESS MISS VERA!!!
@rosairedubrule60
97 years of love and patriotism.May you live on eternal paradise
@debpratt52
My Mom used to sing this song and she had a very beautiful voice. I love it so much and it makes me cry to hear it.
@marcmitchel25
Same story here.
@droppledrop2350
My Greatgrandfather was buried today while my greatgrandmother watched they were oth 95 turning 96 and when he was being buried they sang this song because this song is there theme song.