Lili Marlene

I was named after a song released by Perry Como in 1944. It was probably just becoming popular in Northern Ontario as I was born. The top ten songs made our Hit Parade about nine to ten months later than the radio stations in the south. I suspect that this was probably No. 1 in July 1945 when I was born.

Here are some details I found on the internet.

"A recording was made by Perry Como on June 27, 1944 and issued by RCA Victor Records as a 78rpm record (catalog number 20-1592-A) with the flip side "First Class Private Mary Brown". This recording was later reissued as catalog number 20-2824-A with flip side "I Love You Truly." The song reached chart position #13 on the United States charts. The song was recorded during the musicians' strike and consequently has a backing chorus instead of an orchestral backup.

"Lili Marlene" has been adopted as the regimental slow march by the Special Air Service, Special Air Service Regiment and Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry.

English lyrics

Tommie Connor, 1944

Underneath the lantern,

By the barrack gate

Darling I remember

The way you used to wait

T'was there that you whispered tenderly,

That you loved 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 good night,

My Lilli of the Lamplight,

My own Lilli Marlene

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,

My Lilly of the Lamplight,

My own Lilly Marlene

Resting in our billets,

Just behind the lines

Even tho' we're parted,

Your lips are close to mine

You wait where that lantern softly gleams,

Your sweet face seems

To haunt my dreams

My Lilly of the Lamplight,

My own Lilly Marlene

When I was growing up, I knew that this has originally been a German hit and I thought the song was written about Marlene Dietrich.