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.
The Little Boy That Santa Claus Forgot
Vera Lynn Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The laughter and the joy they find in each new toy
I'll tell you of a little boy who lives across the way
This little fella's Christmas is just another day
He's the little boy that Santa Claus forgot
And goodness knows, he didn't want a lot
He sent a note to Santa
It broke his little heart
When he found Santa hadn't come
In the street he envied all those lucky boys
Then wandered home to last year's broken toys
I'm so sorry for that laddie
He hasn't got a daddy
The little boy that Santa Claus forgot
The lyrics of Vera Lynn's song, The Little Boy That Santa Claus Forgot, tell the poignant story of a little boy who is forgotten by Santa Claus. The song begins by describing the excitement that Christmas brings to children, but quickly reveals that the little boy in question doesn't experience this joy. He lives across the way from the singer and despite the festive season, Christmas is just another day for him. This immediately sets a sombre tone for the song.
The second verse of the song provides further insight into the little boy's situation. He didn't ask for much from Santa Claus, just some soldiers and a drum. However, when he wakes up on Christmas morning, his wish hasn't come true. This realization breaks his little heart and he watches enviously as other children in the street enjoy their new toys. He then sadly makes his way back home, where he finds last year's broken toys.
The outro of the song is particularly moving, as it reveals that the little boy doesn't have a daddy. It's a touching reminder that not every child is fortunate enough to have a loving family and supportive environment, which can make the festive season even more difficult for some. The Little Boy That Santa Claus Forgot is a beautiful song that highlights the importance of kindness and compassion, particularly during the holiday season.
Line by Line Meaning
Christmas comes but once a year for every girl and boy
Christmas is an annual event that every child looks forward to with excitement.
The laughter and the joy they find in each new toy
Children are thrilled with the fun and merriment that their new toys bring them.
I'll tell you of a little boy who lives across the way
The singer knows of a boy who lives in close proximity to her.
This little fella's Christmas is just another day
The little boy does not feel the excitement of Christmas like other children do.
He's the little boy that Santa Claus forgot
The child was left out of Santa's holiday festivities.
And goodness knows, he didn't want a lot
The child did not have greedy expectations for Christmas.
He sent a note to Santa
The boy wrote a message to Santa Claus asking for something special.
For some soldiers and a drum
He only asked for toy soldiers and a drum, simple toys compared to what many of today's children ask for.
It broke his little heart
The boy was devastated that Santa hadn't fulfilled his simple request.
When he found Santa hadn't come
The child was heartbroken when he discovered Santa had not brought him his desired toys.
In the street he envied all those lucky boys
He watched in longing as other children played happily with their new Christmas toys.
Then wandered home to last year's broken toys
Feeling dejected, the boy returned home to play with his old and worn-out toys from the previous year.
I'm so sorry for that laddie
The singer feels sympathy and compassion for the little boy.
He hasn't got a daddy
The child is missing a father figure in his life.
The little boy that Santa Claus forgot
The song is about a little boy who was not included in the joys of Christmas, with a focus on the fact that he did not receive any toys from Santa.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: TOMMIE CONNOR, MICHAEL CARR, JIMMY LEACH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@FreeportHometown
RIP Eric Fletcher Waters, and all the other fathers who never came home.
@estacion152
All fans of pink floyd much love Vera.
Vera never die while in our minds!
@GranthamStreet
+Carlos Balmaceda Maybe it's the thoughts that are helping her hang in there. She's 98.
@wickedhouston5538
@@GranthamStreet now 103
@Gershwinnvideos
R.I.P Vera Lynn born March 20th 1917 died June 18th 2020 at the age of 103
@creamypeanutbutterking5188
Hearts*
@ZingsVideos
I'm waiting for the maid to come in.
@xJoe90
DOES ANYBODY HERE REMEEEEEEMBER VERA LYNN?
@alekost1979
Remember how she said that we would meet again some sunny day…
@saintroddy
Bring the boys back home!