Lili Marlene
 
pronounced "Lily Marlane"

Underneath the lantern by the barrack gate,
Darling, I remember the way you used to wait.
'Twas there that you whispered tenderly
That you lov'd me, You'd always be

    My Lilli of the lamplight, My own Lilli Marlene.

Time would come for roll call, time for us to part;
Darling, I'd caress you and press you to my heart.
And there neath that far off lantern light,
I'd hold you tight; We'd kiss goodnight.
    Chorus

Orders came for sailing somewhere over there,
All confined to barracks was more than I could bear.
I knew you were waiting in the street;
I heard your feet but could not meet.
    Chorus

Resting in a billet just behind the line,
Even though we've parted, your lips are close to mine.
You wait where that lantern softly gleams;
Your sweet face seems to haunt my dreams,
     Chorus





Alternate version:

Would you like to hear the story,  
of a girl that many soldiers know?
It's a tale of love in all it's glory,  
they tell when the lights are soft an' low!

Underneath the lamp post by the barrack gate,
Standing all alone every night you'll see her wait,  
She waits for a boy who marched away  
And though he's gone, she hears him say:  
 
"Oh promise you'll be true,  
fare thee well Lili Marlene,  
'till I return to you,  
fare thee well Lili Marlene! "
 
( This is the story of Lili Marlene! )
 
With a kiss she gave her promise,
to be constant as the stars above,  
every soldier knows she's kept her promise,  
and she has been faithful to her love!  
 
( Underneath the lamp post by the brigade
standing all alone every night you'll see her wait,  
for this is the place a vow was made  
and breezes sing her serenade . . . )  
 
"Oh promise you'll be true,  
fare thee well Lili Marlene,  
'till I return to you,  
fare thee well Lili Marlene, "
 
( This is the story of Lili Marlene!
Though wee stems have an ending,  
no one knows just what the end will be
but tonight when twilight is descending,  
if you'll come along, here's what you'll see . . . )  
 
Underneath the lamp post by the brigade
standing all alone every night you'll see her wait,  
and as they go marching to the fray  
the soldiers all salute and say:
 
We'll tell him you've been true,
fare thee well Lili Marlene,  
'till he returns to you,
fare thee well . . .
Lili Marlene!

 
Music by Norbert Schultze and English lyrics by Tommie Connor , 1944
Original German lyrics by Hans Leip
"Lili Marlene" was set to music by German composer Norbert Schultze in 1939 (who also wrote "Bombs on England") from a German poem by World War I German soldier Hans Leip who wrote the verse before going to the Russian front in 1916, combining the name of his girlfriend with that of a friend’s girlfriend. The song was heard while being broadcast to the German Army in Africa and adopted by the British Eighth Army, with English lyrics by Tommie Connor. Anne Sheldon's English hit record (London) started the songs popularity with the Allied countries. Marlene Dietrich featured it in public appearances and on radio while leading records were by Perry Como (Victor), Hildegarde (Decca) and Martha Tilton (Coral). Al Martino revived the song for Capitol Records in 1968.