(There'll Be Bluebirds Over) The White Cliffs of Dover
Encyclopedia
" The White Cliffs of Dover" is a popular World War II
song made famous by Vera Lynn
with her 1942 recording—one of her best known recordings. Written in 1941 by Walter Kent
and Nat Burton, the song was also among the most popular Second World War tunes. It was written before America had joined World War II, to uplift the spirits of the Allies at a time when Nazi Germany
had conquered much of Europe
's area and was bombing
Britain
.
The song was written at a time when British and German aircraft had been fighting over the cliffs of Dover
in the Battle of Britain
: the song's lyrics looked toward a time when the war would be over and peace would rule over the iconic White Cliffs of Dover
, Britain's de facto border with the European mainland; however it was a vision that was not to be fulfilled, because bluebirds are not found in England, except in captivity.
The song is the terrace anthem of the supporters of Dover Athletic FC.
"The White Cliffs of Dover" is one of many popular songs that use a "Bluebird of Happiness
" as a symbol of cheer, in spite of the fact that the bluebird
is not indigenous to Britain.
On 18 February 2009, a story in The Daily Telegraph
announced that Vera Lynn was suing the British National Party
(BNP) for using her version of the "The White Cliffs of Dover" song on an anti-immigration album without her permission. Dame Vera's lawyer claimed sales of the song would help boost the BNP's coffers and would link Vera Lynn's name to the party's right-wing views by association.
On 12 October 2009 Ian Hislop
presented a half hour BBC Radio 4
programme about the song.
Role of music in World War II
World War II was the first major global conflict to take place in the age of electronically mass distributed music. By 1940 96.2% of Northeastern urban households in the United States of America had radio. The lowest group to take up, Southern Rural families still had 1 radio for every two...
song made famous by Vera Lynn
Vera Lynn
Dame Vera Lynn, DBE is an English singer-songwriter and actress whose musical recordings and performances were enormously popular during World War II. During the war she toured Egypt, India and Burma, giving outdoor concerts for the troops...
with her 1942 recording—one of her best known recordings. Written in 1941 by Walter Kent
Walter Kent
Walter Kent was a Jewish American composer who wrote the music for songs including the Christmas standard "I'll Be Home for Christmas", and the wartime hit " The White Cliffs of Dover", co-written with fellow American Nat Burton. He died at the age of 82-External links:...
and Nat Burton, the song was also among the most popular Second World War tunes. It was written before America had joined World War II, to uplift the spirits of the Allies at a time when Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
had conquered much of Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
's area and was bombing
The Blitz
The Blitz was the sustained strategic bombing of Britain by Nazi Germany between 7 September 1940 and 10 May 1941, during the Second World War. The city of London was bombed by the Luftwaffe for 76 consecutive nights and many towns and cities across the country followed...
Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
.
The song was written at a time when British and German aircraft had been fighting over the cliffs of Dover
Dover
Dover is a town and major ferry port in the home county of Kent, in South East England. It faces France across the narrowest part of the English Channel, and lies south-east of Canterbury; east of Kent's administrative capital Maidstone; and north-east along the coastline from Dungeness and Hastings...
in the Battle of Britain
Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain is the name given to the World War II air campaign waged by the German Air Force against the United Kingdom during the summer and autumn of 1940...
: the song's lyrics looked toward a time when the war would be over and peace would rule over the iconic White Cliffs of Dover
White cliffs of Dover
The White Cliffs of Dover are cliffs which form part of the British coastline facing the Strait of Dover and France. The cliffs are part of the North Downs formation. The cliff face, which reaches up to , owes its striking façade to its composition of chalk accentuated by streaks of black flint...
, Britain's de facto border with the European mainland; however it was a vision that was not to be fulfilled, because bluebirds are not found in England, except in captivity.
The song is the terrace anthem of the supporters of Dover Athletic FC.
"The White Cliffs of Dover" is one of many popular songs that use a "Bluebird of Happiness
Bluebird of happiness
The mythology of the bluebird of happiness has deep roots that go back thousands of years. Indigenous cultures across the globe hold similar myths and beliefs about the bluebird. It is a widely accepted symbol of cheerfulness, happiness, prosperity, hearth and home, good health, new births, the...
" as a symbol of cheer, in spite of the fact that the bluebird
Bluebird
The bluebirds are a group of medium-sized, mostly insectivorous or omnivorous birds in the genus Sialia of the thrush family . Bluebirds are one of the few thrush genera in the Americas. They have blue, or blue and red, plumage...
is not indigenous to Britain.
On 18 February 2009, a story in The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph is a daily morning broadsheet newspaper distributed throughout the United Kingdom and internationally. The newspaper was founded by Arthur B...
announced that Vera Lynn was suing the British National Party
British National Party
The British National Party is a British far-right political party formed as a splinter group from the National Front by John Tyndall in 1982...
(BNP) for using her version of the "The White Cliffs of Dover" song on an anti-immigration album without her permission. Dame Vera's lawyer claimed sales of the song would help boost the BNP's coffers and would link Vera Lynn's name to the party's right-wing views by association.
On 12 October 2009 Ian Hislop
Ian Hislop
Ian David Hislop is a British journalist, satirist, comedian, writer, broadcaster and editor of the satirical magazine Private Eye...
presented a half hour BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
programme about the song.