We'll Meet Again

As a WWII history buff,  I was surprised to read that British songbird Vera Lynn died this morning.  I assumed she had passed on years ago, but, bless her heart, she made it to 103.  

Lynn, who in 2000 was named as the Briton who best exemplified the spirit of the 20th century, sang some of the iconic songs that helped unite the British people during the war including "White Cliffs of Dover." As a 20-year-old backpacking his way through Europe, I got teary-eyed on a boat from Calais to Dover when I saw those chalk-white cliffs drawing nearer and was reminded of Lynn's song and what it represented. 

Lynn's most famous song was one every Brit who lived through that God-forsaken era knew by heart, "We’ll Meet Again."

We'll meet again

Don't know where

Don't know when

But I know we'll meet again some sunny day

Keep smiling through

Just like you always do

'Till the blue skies drive the dark clouds far away…

The Queen, who well remembers the war— as a teenage princess she served as a mechanic — referenced the song in her recent address to the nation about the COVID-19 crisis. 

If you have two minutes, click the video above to see Lynn performing it at various points over her astonishingly long career.  It’s a simple song, beautifully delivered, that perfectly expresses the hopes of a beleaguered nation. It will give you goosebumps. Sadly, I can’t imagine any song that exemplifies the spirit of our beleaguered nation at this particular juncture other than “Crazy."

Once you've done that, click the video below to hear a version recorded throughout England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland last month to mark the 75th anniversary of VE day. It doubles as a hopeful reminder that, once this current crisis is over and a vaccine and/or cure is discovered, the British people will be able to resume their normal lives. That's a sentiment not only Brits but everyone in our world brought low by this common enemy can get behind.

Until that day comes, keep smiling through.