Posted on 03/06/2020 11:05:08 AM PST by simpson96
The song was written about a year after the Royal Air Force and German aircraft had been fighting over southern England, including the white cliffs of Dover, in the Battle of Britain. Nazi Germany had conquered much of Europe and in 1941 was still bombing Britain. With neither America nor the Soviet Union having yet joined the war, Britain was the only major power fighting the Axis powers in Europe (see The Darkest Hour). The American lyricist, Nat Burton, wrote his lyric unaware that the bluebird is not indigenous to Britain and asked Kent to set it to music. Notable phrases include "Thumbs Up!" which was an RAF and RCAF term for permission to go, and "flying in those angry skies" where the air war was taking place.
The lyrics also looked towards a time when the war would be over and peace would rule over the iconic white cliffs, Britain's symbolic border with the European mainland.
The full song includes two verses rarely found in recordings:
I'll never forget the people I met braving those angry skies. I remember well as the shadows fell, the light of hope in their eyes. And tho' I'm far away, I can still hear them say "Thumbs Up!" for when the dawn comes up,... There'll be blue birds over...
When night shadows fall, I'll always recall out there across the sea Twilight falling down on some little town; It's fresh in my memory. I hear mother pray, and to her baby say "Don't cry," This is her lullaby.... There'll be blue birds over...
(Excerpt) Read more at youtube.com ...
*music ping*
Does anybody here remember Vera Lynn?
Yes, Dame Lynn is still kicking....Another one of her songs that always moved me was “When The Lights Go On Again...(All Over the World).”
Beat me.
> Does anybody here remember Vera Lynn? <
Oh, yes. My three favorite female singers, in no particular order: Vera Lynn, Jo Stanford, Rosemary Clooney.
Vera Ellen is as close as I get.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=meNFkulYffo
In #6, Jo Stafford, not Jo Stanford. The Russians are messing with my posts again.
She also did a nice English version of “Lili Marlene”, tho I still like Lale Anderson’s German one better.
So, are the ‘Bluebirds’ blue fighter planes?
So, are the ‘Bluebirds’ blue fighter planes?
Yes.
I took a boat across the English Channel from Calais, France to Dover, England. The cliffs are white alright.
She will be 103 on March 20th.
“Lynn is now 103 years young.”
That was my first question. Thanks for the update.
I met Walter Kent’s son, Walter Kent, Jr., about ten years ago, maybe more. He was fairly young then.
Walter Kent also wrote the music for “I’ll Be Home for Christmas”.
I always liked this video a lot:
Vera Lynn - We’ll Meet Again (1943)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5C4meGkNyc
That was beautiful!
Bfl
I love this song so much. From my parents era. I love this version. https://youtu.be/33-F1o3B0HE
I like “When I Grow Too Old To Dream” by Vera, might be the Spitfires though.
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