We'll Meet Again
A 1939 song that became a World War II anthem.
"We'll Meet Again" was written by English songwriters Ross Parker and Hughie Charles, who composed both the music and lyrics. The song was first recorded on September 28, 1939, by English singer Dame Vera Margaret Lewis—known professionally as Vera Lynn—alongside Arthur Young. It became one of the most iconic songs of the World War II period, striking a chord with soldiers heading to battle and the families and loved ones they left behind.
The piece was published by Michael Ross Limited, a company whose directors included Louis Carris, Ross Parker, and Norman Keen. Keen, an English pianist, worked with Parker and Charles on this song and many others for the publisher, such as "There'll Always Be an England" and "I'm In Love For The Last Time." Originally written in the key of D major at a tempo of 92 BPM, the first recording featured Lynn with Arthur Young playing the Hammond Novachord, an early electronic keyboard. A later re-recording in 1953 used a fuller orchestration and a chorus made up of British Armed Forces personnel.
During the Cold War, Lynn's recording was included in the BBC's Wartime Broadcasting Service (WTBS), a package of music and programs stored in 20 underground radio stations meant to broadcast public information and boost morale for 100 days after a nuclear attack. The song reached number 29 on the U.S. charts in 1954. On the 60th anniversary of VE Day in 2005, Lynn performed it in London alongside Petula Clark and Bruce Forsyth. In April 2020, a charity duet with Katherine Jenkins—originally released in 2014—reached number 72 on the UK Singles Chart, with proceeds supporting National Health Service (NHS) charities. After the 75th anniversary of VE Day in May 2020, Lynn's solo version also charted at number 55 in the UK.
The song inspired and lent its name to the 1943 musical film *We'll Meet Again*, in which Lynn stars in a loosely fictionalized version of her wartime role as a "forces' sweetheart." Her 1953 recording appears in the final scene of Stanley Kubrick's 1964 film *Dr. Strangelove*, where it plays with bitter irony over a nuclear holocaust that destroys humanity. It is also used in the closing scenes of the 1986 BBC serial *The Singing Detective*, and in the 2012 Disney series *Gravity Falls*, the villain Bill Cipher sings it to Ford Pines during the series finale.
Culturally, the song is credited as one of the first to feature the Hammond Novachord, the first polyphonic synthesizer. Traditionally, it is played on May 5 as the closing piece of the Liberation Day Concert in Amsterdam, marking the end of World War II in the Netherlands. In 2024, the South Netherlands Philharmonic performed it at the Netherlands American Cemetery to close a program commemorating the 80th anniversary of the country's liberation. On April 5, 2020, Queen Elizabeth II referenced the song in a rare televised address to Britain and the Commonwealth, thanking people for their efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic and acknowledging the hardships families faced. This reference spurred covers by West End stars, as well as by Lynn and Katherine Jenkins, just months before Lynn's death; Jenkins' version was released on iTunes as a benefit for NHS Charities Together. The song is also played in the waiting queue of the Tower of Terror ride at Walt Disney World and Disneyland Paris. During the series finale of *The Colbert Report*, dozens of past guests returned to sing it together. Pink Floyd's song "Vera," from their 1979 album *The Wall*, references both the lyrics of "We'll Meet Again" and Vera Lynn herself.
- year_published
- 1939
- first_recorded
- September 28, 1939
- composers
- Ross Parker and Hughie Charles
- original_performer
- Vera Lynn with Arthur Young
- nationality
- English
- field
- Popular music
- known_for
- World War II era anthem
Verified Timeline
Quick Facts
- Cover
- File:Cover_of_sheet_music_for_"We'll_Meet_Again"_by_Ross_Parker_and_Hughie_Charles.jpg
- Published
- 1939 by Michael Ross Limited
- Recorded
- September 28, 1939
- Genre
- Traditional Pop
- Writer
- Ross Parker, Hughie Charles
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The song was published by Michael Ross Limited, whose directors included Louis Carris, Ross Parker and Norman Keen. Keen, an English pianist, collaborated with Parker and Hughie Charles on "We'll Meet Again", as well as many other songs published by the company, including "There'll Always Be an England" and "I'm In Love For The Last Time". It was initially written in the key of D major, and set to a tempo of 92 BPM. The original recording featured Lynn accompanied by Arthur Young on Hammond Novachord, an early electronic keyboard, while a re-recording in 1953 featured a more lavish instrumentation and a chorus of British Armed Forces personnel. During the Cold War, Lynn's recording was included in the package of music and programmes held in 20 underground radio stations of the BBC's Wartime Broadcasting Service (WTBS), designed to provide public information and morale-boosting broadcasts for 100 days after a nuclear attack. The song reached number 29 on the U.S. charts in 1954. Lynn sang the song in London on the 60th anniversary of VE Day in 2005 alongside Petula Clark and Bruce Forsyth. In April 2020, a charity duet with Katherine Jenkins, released in 2014, reached number 72 on the UK Singles Chart, with proceeds going to National Health Service (NHS) charities. Following the 75th anniversary celebrations of VE Day in May 2020, the solo version by Lynn also reached number 55 in the UK chart.
Reader's Guide
"We'll Meet Again" holds enduring significance as a symbol of hope and separation during World War II, and its legacy extends far beyond the war years. The song inspired and gave its name to the 1943 musical film "We'll Meet Again", where Lynn stars in a loose adaptation of her life as a "forces' sweetheart" during the war. Lynn's 1953 recording is featured in the final scene of Stanley Kubrick's 1964 film "Dr. Strangelove" with a bitter irony, as the song accompanies a nuclear holocaust that wipes out humanity. The song is used in the closing scenes of the 1986 BBC television serial "The Singing Detective". In the 2012 Disney Channel and Disney XD animated series "Gravity Falls", villain Bill Cipher sings this song to Ford Pines during the series finale. The song has been credited as one of the first to make use of the Hammond Novachord, the first polyphonic synthesizer. Traditionally, this song is played on 5 May as a closure to the Liberation Day Concert in Amsterdam, to mark the end of World War II in the Netherlands. In 2024, the piece was performed by the South Netherlands Philharmonic at the Netherlands American Cemetery. "We'll Meet Again" closed the programme, which commemorated the 80th anniversary of The Netherlands' liberation. On 5 April 2020, Queen Elizabeth II referenced the song in a rare televised address that aired to Britain and the Commonwealth, where she expressed her gratitude for the efforts people are taking to mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic virus and acknowledged the severe challenges being faced by families across the world. The reference spurred covers by West End theatre stars with Lynn and Katherine Jenkins just some months before Lynn died. Jenkins' version was released on iTunes as a benefit for the NHS Charities Together. The song is one of several played in the waiting queue of the Tower of Terror ride at Walt Disney World and Disneyland Paris. During the series finale of "The Colbert Report", dozens of past guests of the show returned to sing the song together. The Pink Floyd song "Vera", from "The Wall" (1979), references lyrics of "We'll Meet Again" as well as Lynn herself.
Did You Know?
- The song was initially written in the key of D major, set to a tempo of 92 BPM.
- The original recording featured Lynn accompanied by Arthur Young on the Hammond Novachord, an early electronic keyboard.
- During the Cold War, Lynn's recording was included in the BBC's Wartime Broadcasting Service package for 20 underground radio stations, designed to broadcast for 100 days after a nuclear attack.
- Lynn sang the song in London on the 60th anniversary of VE Day in 2005 alongside Petula Clark and Bruce Forsyth.
- The song is traditionally played on 5 May as a closure to the Liberation Day Concert in Amsterdam to mark the end of World War II in the Netherlands.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who wrote "We'll Meet Again"?
The song was composed by two English songwriters, Ross Parker and Hughie Charles, who wrote both the melody and the lyrics.
Who first recorded "We'll Meet Again"?
English singer Vera Lynn laid down the original recording on September 28, 1939, performing the track alongside Arthur Young.
Why did "We'll Meet Again" become a World War II anthem?
Because it arrived right as the war began, its promise of reunion resonated deeply with troops heading to the front and the families left behind, cementing its status as one of the era's most beloved songs.
What year was "We'll Meet Again" released?
The song was published in 1939, placing it at the very start of the Second World War and making it one of the earliest musical symbols of that conflict.
What genre does "We'll Meet Again" belong to?
It is a popular-music ballad rooted in the English songwriting tradition of the late 1930s, written as a sentimental, singable tune rather than a jazz or classical piece.
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