Lili Marlene

Music piece by:
Hans Leip
Testimony by:
Rogelio Felipe Castillo Acevedo
Experience in:
Campamento de Prisioneros Melinka, Puchuncaví, November 1974

We were forced to belt out these marching songs.

There was a comrade who had a limp and wore a platform shoe. When we marched his limp would throw us out of step, and then the marines would give us a good kicking.

When they realised what was causing our lack of coordination, they left that comrade out of the marches.


Tags:

Published on: 12 January 2015

Right next to the barracks
by the main gate
there stood a streetlamp
and it stands there still.
We're going to meet there again
under the streetlamp, we will be
like before, Lili Marlene.

Our two shadows
appeared as one
we loved each other so
it gave that impression.
And all the people will see it
when we are under the streetlamp
like before, Lili Marlene.

Soon the sentry called out
'They’re passing an inspection
this will cost you three days'.
Comrade, I’m on my way
so we said our goodbyes
how I would have loved to go with you
with you, Lili Marlene.

She knew the sound of your steps
your elegant way of walking
every evening she was burning
although now I had forgotten
and if something happens
who will stand under the streetlamp
with you? Lili Marlene.

From the silent space
from the lands of the earth
your adorable lips
keep me as if in a dream.
When the mist of night swirls all around
I will be by the streetlamp
like before, Lili Marlene.


Related testimonies:

  • Lament for the Death of Augusto the Dog (Lamento a la muerte del perro Augusto)  Sergio Vesely, Campamento de Prisioneros Melinka, Puchuncaví, 1975

    Augusto the dog (not to be confused with the journalist Augusto Olivares, affectionately nicknamed 'Augusto the Dog', who was murdered in the Presidential Palace on 11 September 1973), was the mascot of the political prisoners held at the Ritoque concentration camp, and accompanied his master when the military junta decided to close that prison and transfer the inmates to the neighbouring Puchuncaví concentration camp.

  • Ode to Joy (Himno a la alegría)  Luis Madariaga, Cárcel de Valparaíso, 1974 - 1976

    In prison, we would sing the 'Ode to Joy' when a comrade was released or sent to exile.

  • Today Was Visitors’ Day (Hoy fue día de visitas)  Sergio Vesely, Cárcel de Valparaíso, 1976

    Visitors’ day was an exceptional day that broke the monotonous routine of all the other days of the week.

  • Song of a Middle-Class Man (Canción de un hombre medio)  Sergio Vesely, Cárcel de Valparaíso, 1976

    In our political discussions, we always spoke disdainfully of the middle class. In the view of the Marxist ideologues in prison, that sector of society supported the dictatorship and it was necessary to reverse that trend.

  • How Can I Describe This to You? (Cómo hacer para darte una idea)  Sergio Vesely, Cárcel de Valparaíso, 1976

    This is one of two songs I wrote in prison for my beloved Graciela. In the song I tried to draw her closer to me, describing my everyday world and my experience of life as a captive.

Testimonies from the Cantos Cautivos platform can be cited and shared as long as they are attributed (including the author, our project’s name and URL), for non-commercial purposes and without modifications, as per the Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives Creative Commons licence (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0). Authorisation is required for 1) any reuse different from citations and sharing via the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 license of the platform data and its associated metadata, and 2) any use in events, concerts, plays, films, etc., of musical works written or recorded by project participants. To that end, we request that you send a proposal at least one month in advance to contact@cantoscautivos.org. For uses of musical works written or recorded by people outside the project, please contact copyright holders.