Listen to the bugle,
Hear its silv'ry call,
Carried by the night air
Telling one and all,
"Now is the time to meet your pearl,
To meet your girl,
To meet your girl",
As once I met Marleen,
My sweet Lili Marleen.
Underneath the lantern
By the barrack gate,
There I met Marlene
Every night at eight
That was the time in early spring
When birds all sing,
Then love was king,
Of my heart and Marleen's,
Of my heart and Marleen's.
Waiting for the drum beat
Signaling: "Retreat!"
Walking in the shadows
Where all lovers meet.
Yes, those were days of long ago -
I loved her so, I couldn't know
That time would part Marleen,
That time would part Marleen.
Then I heard the bugle
Calling me away,
By the gate I kissed her,
Kissed her tears away.
And, by the flickering lantern's light
I held her tight,
It was our last night,
My last night with Marleen
My last night with Marleen.
Still I hear the bugle,
Hear its silv'ry call,
Carried by the night air
Telling one and all,
"Now is the time to meet your pearl,
To meet your girl,
To meet your girl",
As once I met Marleen
My sweet Lili Marleen.