Dame Vera Lynn, the endearingly popular “Forces’ Sweetheart” has died at 103. Lynn got crowds singing, smiling and crying with sentimental favourites such as “We’ll Meet Again,” and “The White Cliffs of Dover as she serenaded British troops abroad during the Second World War. She was a popular favourite who symbolised the spirit and sentiment of the War with evocative songs, which she continued to sing as the country underwent enormous changes over the next 80 years.
If some found her overly sentimental, nobody doubted that her singing reminded combatants what they were really fighting for was – as she put it – “precious, personal things rather than ideologies which gave people hope of better times”.
In a statement her family said they were deeply saddened to announce the passing of one of Britain’s best-loved entertainers at the age of 103 surrounded by her close family.
Lynn possessed a down-to-earth appeal, reminding servicemen of the ones they left behind. She once told The Associated Press she was an ordinary girl who was somebody they could associate with.
Tributes poured in from political leaders, entertainers and thousands of fans.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said her “charm and magical voice entranced and uplifted our country in some of our darkest hours. Her voice will live on to lift the hearts of generations to come.”
Lynn hosted a wildly popular B-B-C radio show during the war called “Sincerely Yours” in which she sent messages to British troops abroad and performed the songs they requested.
The half-hour program came on during the highly coveted slot following the Sunday night news.
She once said “Winston Churchill was my opening act.”
In September 2009, long after her retirement, Lynn topped the British album chart with a best hits collection titled “We’ll Meet Again – The Very Best of Vera Lynn.” It reached No. 1, despite competition from the release of remastered Beatles’ albums.
Read more in the Telegraph
…and listen here…
The White Cliffs Of Dover
There’ll be bluebirds over
The white cliffs of Dover
Tomorrow
Just you wait and see
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 though I’m far away
I still can hear them say
Bombs up…
But when the dawn comes up
There’ll be bluebirds over
The white cliffs of Dover
Tomorrow
Just you wait and see
There’ll be love and laughter
And peace ever after
Tomorrow
When the world is free
The shepherd will tend his sheep
The valley will bloom again
And Jimmy will go to sleep
In his own little room again
There’ll be bluebirds over
The white cliffs of Dover
Tomorrow
Just you wait and see
There’ll be bluebirds over
The white cliffs of Dover
Tomorrow
Just you wait and see…
Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: Walter Kent / Nat Burton