Rita Hayworth was one of, if not the most famous pin-up girls during the second world war. I think this song is about the experience a soldier has during war. Many carried pics of Rita Hayworth if they didn't have a girl back home; or perhaps she represents every soldier's "girl back home" and the fight these soldiers went through daily to keep their sanity while death and loss were all around them. I think it breaks your heart when you hear it because it really captures and mirrors the uncertain outcome of love during wartime; the fragility and strength of the human heart; living ever in love but heartbroken always. The soldier abroad and all he represents and how the image and idea of Rita functioned to keep each one going, battling to return to a love back home. Once home the love they held on to was often gone leaving them with the ghost of what life was before war and for many of the women waiting their ultimate fate was to be in love with a fallen mans ghost.
Rita Hayworth was one of, if not the most famous pin-up girls during the second world war. I think this song is about the experience a soldier has during war. Many carried pics of Rita Hayworth if they didn't have a girl back home; or perhaps she represents every soldier's "girl back home" and the fight these soldiers went through daily to keep their sanity while death and loss were all around them. I think it breaks your heart when you hear it because it really captures and mirrors the uncertain outcome of love during wartime; the fragility and strength of the human heart; living ever in love but heartbroken always. The soldier abroad and all he represents and how the image and idea of Rita functioned to keep each one going, battling to return to a love back home. Once home the love they held on to was often gone leaving them with the ghost of what life was before war and for many of the women waiting their ultimate fate was to be in love with a fallen mans ghost.
@hbthomps Good call on the soldier bit. It makes more sense the more I see the lyrics now.
@hbthomps Good call on the soldier bit. It makes more sense the more I see the lyrics now.