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 โ 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 Andrรฉ 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 1939โ1945 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.
The Anniversary Waltz
Vera Lynn Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tonight when the lights were low
One dance led up to another
And now I can't let you go
So tell me I may always dance
The 'Anniversary Waltz' with you
Tell me this is real romance
Let this be the answer
To our future years
Through millions of smiles
And a few little tears
May I always listen to
The Anniversary Waltz
With you
Let this be the answer
To our future years
Through millions of smiles
And a few little tears
May I always listen to
The Anniversary Waltz
With you
Vera Lynn's song "Anniversary Waltz" is a beautiful ode to love and commitment. The song opens with the couple discovering each other in a low-lit dance floor, where one dance leads to another, and they eventually realize that they can't let go of each other. It's a classic love story that resonates with many people.
The lyrics of the song paint a picture of the couple's deep affection for each other. They want to dance the "Anniversary Waltz" together for the rest of their lives as a symbol of their love and commitment to each other. The song urges that this waltz be the answer to their future years, through millions of smiles and a few little tears.
The song is a testament to the enduring power of love and the desire for long-term commitment in a relationship. The lyrics speak of a deep connection that transcends time and space, and the hope that love will flourish for eternity. This makes the song a favorite choice for couples celebrating milestones in their journey together, such as wedding anniversaries.
Line by Line Meaning
We just discovered each other
We only just met and got to know each other
Tonight when the lights were low
It happened when the lighting was dim
One dance led up to another
We started dancing with each other and kept going
And now I can't let you go
I don't want to say goodbye, I want to keep spending time with you
So tell me I may always dance
Please promise me that we can always dance together
The 'Anniversary Waltz' with you
Specifically, it would mean a lot to me if we could dance the Anniversary Waltz together
Tell me this is real romance
Confirm that what we're feeling is genuine romantic attraction
An anniversary dream come true
Let's make this our reality, and in the future, we'll look back on this moment fondly as the start of our journey
Let this be the answer
Let this experience guide our future decisions
To our future years
For the rest of our lives together
Through millions of smiles
Through all the happy times we'll have
And a few little tears
And even when we go through some tough moments
May I always listen to
I hope I'll always have the opportunity to hear
The Anniversary Waltz
This specific song that means so much to us
With you
As long as I can always share the moment with you
Lyrics ยฉ BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Al Dubin, Dave Franklin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@markelijio6012
Dame Vera Lynn's songs were simply beautiful. Because songs that can tell a good story.
For Dame Vera, her songs were very very important to many of her fans today.
For example, "The Anniversary Waltz," "The White Cliffs of Dover,"
"It Had to Be You," "A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square, "Everybody Loves Somebody"
and "You'd Be So Nice to Come Nice To" were one of the most wonderful songs that focused
on people's lives and social issues to learn how to love and forgive each other.
And that's what makes Dame Vera Lynn songs ever more special because she's more than
an legendary singer and songwriter but also a perfectionist who knows what she knows
what to do and get exactly done right. She loves to sing and brings it all together for today's
audiences and fans alike. Because she cares about pop music and opening some doors for
wonderful artists such as Paige O'Hara, Jodi Benson, Aaron Neville, Christine Ebersole,
Debbie Shapiro Gravitte among others from Fall 1978 - present.
But for some others, whose efforts behind everything else such as dragging politics
and abusive language into their commentary somehow, no matter how much of a
stretch it is conceptually. They have to make up their minds, because Dame Vera Lynn
is endlessly beautiful, to be appreciated by anyone.
@susansallin3341
I tear up during the intro! Sentimental music can enrich and heal us. I recently survived a shooting at my Church. Vera Lynn's heartfelt renditions are key to keeping me going.
@amandacolina2622
I am so sorry to hear that. I will keep you in my prayers.
@kystars
hi Susan, so sorry to hear that. so many crazy people out there these days. praying for you my friend
@poohbear6797
Was that the Jehovah's witnesses shooting? So sad. I hope you feel better soon โค๏ธ
@MiaHessMusic
She was and always will be one of my musical inspirations. Young singers can learn a ton by listening to singers like Dame Vera. Bless her memory.
@warongratratanawarang3057
R.I.P. Dame Vera Lynn (103) ,This song is one of my mother's favourite song she passed away 7 months ago (86) thank you 10 Jul 2020 The Anniversary Waltz.......
@carolinebrock3039
My parents today are celebrating 71years together!!! My Father is living his last weeks in a Nursing Home! Cancer is so cruel!! My Mum is visiting him to give him an Anniversary Kiss!! This maybe a last goodbye!! What a perfect classic song from the wartime to Celebrate this so very Special day!!! So, Lovely to hear!!
@kelvinsurname7051
I hope he had a peaceful departure to the heavens above, and that you, your mom, family, and loved ones had time enough to say goodbye to him. God bless your family! Cherish his memories.
@elizabethstetler8044
I'm 70 and I can still hear my father hum to this tune when he was working in the garden, he would let me listen to his records on Saturdays
@mommy2bry
My grandmother passed 4 years ago. During our last visit, I played this for her a few times. It was her favorite song. She and Grandpa married just before he was sent overseas in WWII.