Hi All:
Thanks for all the suggestions. It has been helpful. I wanted songs that were full of fun or sentimental and reflective. They could come from 1850 or 1950 as long as they seem to fit the time and the era of 1914.
I am not looking for historical accuracy. It is a stage play based/inspired about the actual event. There is music, and I thought music was important since music is often a way we communicate and bond. The only Christmas carols are the ones sung by the Germans at the beginning the music after that is all upbeat. Except for the last song.
The war has started again. One of the soldiers was killed, and the camaraderie of the night before shattered. Captain Anderson the leader of the Allied forces is sitting in the battlefield, feeling worn and battered by all that has occurred in the last twenty four hours. He is alone. He picks up his guitar (note in reality I truly doubt a soldier would be carrying around a guitar through the war) and plays Belleau Wood and as the last strains of the song are heard the curtain comes down.
I have thought of many songs to end the play, Christmas in the Trenches, Belleau Wood, Christmas 1914. My brother suggested Give Peace a Chance or Imagine by John Lennon. In the end the choice will be decided later, and will all depend on copyright.
I am looking for ideas of songs to fill my stage play with. I am very grateful to all of you for the help you have offered. I will continue to check in on this thread to see if anything has been added.
Thank you much, Grace