American Literature Artistic Response
World War II was the cause of extreme hardship all over Europe and Britain. Men were drafted if they had not already signed up to fight for their countries; women were left at home to work and care for the children. Estimated deaths range from 40 million to 50 million for civilians, and 22 million to 25 million military deaths. During wartime, music is arguably the most crucial medium for artistic expression. Music was just as important a morale booster as it is today, not just for the troops fighting overseas, but it also helped keep spirits up at home. “We’ll Meet Again” by Vera Lynn is a wartime classic. A favorite of servicemen during the 1940s, this song is both hauntingly romantic and dreadfully eerie.
Vera Lynn, honored as “The Forces’ Sweetheart”, was a very important figure in 1930s and 1940s wartime Britain. Not only was she a main source of inspiration on the radio waves and in person when she visited bases, but she was active at home in lifting spirits to wounded veterans and grieving mothers. “We’ll Meet Again” has lyrics that everyone at this time could relate to. Men were leaving their sweethearts for war, and mothers wove goodbye to their sons, neither sure if they would see each other again but ever optimistic. If they never met again in life, then they would after death. “We’ll Meet Again” soothed men in the field and their families at home.
We’ll meet again
Don’t know where
Don’t know when
But I know
We’ll meet again
Some sunny day