Lili Marleen
"Lili Marleen" is based on a German poem written by Hans Leip in 1915, set to music by Norbert Schultze in 1938. Lale Andersen's 1939 recording was broadcast nightly on Radio Belgrade from 1941, becoming a phenomenon among German soldiers in North Africa. The song transcended enemy lines — British and Allied troops loved it too. It is the only song known to have been hugely popular on both sides of a world war.
British troops in North Africa heard the German broadcasts and adopted the song. Marlene Dietrich later recorded an English version that became equally famous. See the British version under "United Kingdom."
- Video
- Lyrics
Vor der Kaserne, vor dem großen Tor
(In front of the barracks, in front of the main gate)
Stand eine Laterne und steht sie noch davor,
(There stood a lantern, and it still stands there,)
So woll'n wir uns da wiederseh'n,
(So we want to meet there again,)
Bei der Laterne woll'n wir steh'n
(By the lantern we want to stand)
Wie einst, Lili Marleen,
(As once, Lili Marleen,)
Wie einst, Lili Marleen.
(As once, Lili Marleen.)Unsere beiden Schatten sah'n wie einer aus,
(Our two shadows looked like one,)
Dass wir so lieb uns hatten, das sah man gleich daraus,
(That we loved each other so, one could see right away,)
Und alle Leute soll'n es seh'n,
(And all the people should see it,)
Wenn wir bei der Laterne steh'n
(When we stand by the lantern)
Wie einst, Lili Marleen,
(As once, Lili Marleen,)
Wie einst, Lili Marleen.
(As once, Lili Marleen.)Schon rief der Posten, sie bliesen Zapfenstreich,
(Already the sentry called, they blew the last post,)
Das kann drei Tage kosten! Kam'rad, ich komm sogleich.
(That can cost three days! Comrade, I'm coming right away.)
Da sagten wir auf Wiedersehen,
(Then we said goodbye,)
Wie gerne wollt' ich mit dir geh'n,
(How gladly I would go with you,)
Mit dir, Lili Marleen,
(With you, Lili Marleen,)
Mit dir, Lili Marleen.
(With you, Lili Marleen.)