Lyr Req: Belleau Wood (Garth Brooks)

Subject: Garth Brooks--Christmas in the Trenches
From: bseed(charleskratz)
Date: 02 Dec 99 - 03:16 AM

Garth Brooks ended his Christmas special tonight with a very abbreviated but still stirring version of "Christmas in the Trenches," accompanied by only his own accoustic guitar. Actually, it was more a retelling of the narrative of the song--but still stirring, and it managed to move the audience like no other song performed by him or his guests in the special.

--seed

Subject: RE: Garth Brooks--Christmas in the Trenches
From: catspaw49
Date: 02 Dec 99 - 06:57 AM

Not being a fan of his, I didn't tune in. But let's face it, that song will get you every time. Its not all that long...why abbreviate it? Oh well.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Garth Brooks--Christmas in the Trenches
From: Roger the skiffler
Date: 02 Dec 99 - 08:42 AM

BS: would it be uncharitable of me to suggest that if GB were spending Christmas in the trenches we might omit to shout the "incoming" warning?
In the season of goodwill, I suppose it would- so I won't!
RtS

Subject: RE: Garth Brooks--Christmas in the Trenches
From: Willie-O
Date: 02 Dec 99 - 09:29 AM

I wouldn't cross the street to hear him, but for a New Country mega-star, GB has some interestingly progressive notions...only at the level he's at in that industry can you write your own ticket, pick your own material and try something against the advice of the spinmeisters.

Did he give McCutcheon credit as the writer? It actually irks me the number of times I've seen mainstream performers try to pass that song off as trad or let the audience think its their own...

Bill C

Subject: RE: Garth Brooks--Christmas in the Trenches
From: Blackcat2
Date: 02 Dec 99 - 10:10 AM

I'm no fan of Garth -

but our folk ensemble covers his "We Shall Be Free" that he co-wrote with his sister (I believe). We performed it at the City of Orlando's Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday service last year - mentioning that it was be Garth and the audience of 1000 + who were probably 80% African American gave us and the song an overwhelming level of applause.

Subject: RE: Garth Brooks--Christmas in the Trenches
From: bseed(charleskratz)
Date: 02 Dec 99 - 11:39 AM

Roger, I couldn't quite figure out what you were saying (and I'd rather not be addressed as B.S., if you don't mind--unpleasant memories, ya know).

And to the others, generally I agree with your opinions of Garth Brooks--most of his stuff is greatly over-produced, his stage shows are more Mick Jagger than Woodie Guthrie--but the guy CAN sing, and maybe he'll get the idea from the response to the song that "less is more" and venture into more traditional, accoustic material and arrangements. I think I'd buy a Brooks "unplugged" CD that covered trad or "outlaw country" songs. (by the way, his guitar playing was fine--his custom (I didn't recognize it) guitar quite beautiful in both appearance and sound.

--seed

--seed

Subject: RE: Garth Brooks--Christmas in the Trenches
From: catspaw49
Date: 02 Dec 99 - 11:43 AM

Now I gotta' watch it...the guitar was probably Takemine.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Garth Brooks--Christmas in the Trenches
From: Roger the skiffler
Date: 02 Dec 99 - 11:50 AM

Sorry,Charles, the BS was meant to denote the quality of my contribution, not to address it to you!
I'll go and lie down now in a darkened room till I'm more charitable, too many committee meetings this week!
"EAGLE FLIES TOMORROW"
RtS

Subject: Lyr Add: BELLEAU WOOD (Garth Brooks, Joe Henry)
From: Jeremiah McCaw
Date: 02 Dec 99 - 05:58 PM

It may be an entirely different song about the same incident (unless you're sure). Garth does one song called "Belleau Wood 1917". Was this perhaps the one you heard? As well, there's another song in the DT called Christmas 1914.


BELLEAU WOOD
Written by Garth Brooks and Joe Henry
As recorded by Garth Brooks on "Sevens" (1997)

Oh, the snowflakes fell in silence over Belleau Wood that night,
For a Christmas truce had been declared by both sides of the fight.
As we lay there in our trenches, the silence broke in two
By a German soldier singing a song that we all knew.

Though I did not know the language, the song was "Silent Night."
Then I heard my buddy whisper, "All is calm; all is bright."
Then the fear and doubt surrounded me 'cause I'd die if I was wrong,
But I stood up in my trench and I began to sing along.

Then across the frozen battlefield, another's voice joined in,
Until one by one each man became a singer of the hymn.

Then I thought that I was dreaming, for right there in my sight
Stood the German soldier 'neath the falling flakes of white.
And he raised his hand and smiled at me as if he seemed to say,
"Here's hoping we both live to see us find a better way."

Then the devil's clock struck midnight and the skies lit up again,
And the battlefield where heaven stood was blown to hell again.

But for just one fleeting moment, the answer seemed so clear:
Heaven's not beyond the clouds; it's just beyond the fear.
No, heaven's not beyond the clouds; it's for us to find it here.

Subject: RE: Garth Brooks--Christmas in the Trenches
From: MichaelM
Date: 02 Dec 99 - 06:38 PM

Maybe I'm missing something but this song (which I have heard performed numerous times) has always infuriated me. Why is it anything but the most profound hypocrisy to share music, food and companionship with a human being on one evening and then seek every chance to put a bullet through his head the next morning? It reminds me of Charles Dickens' depiction in "A Christmas Carol" of the good men of the town who collect for the poor "only one day of the year, Mr. Scrooge" and then treat them as pets or meat the other 364 days.

Michael

Subject: RE: Garth Brooks--Christmas in the Trenches
From: catspaw49
Date: 02 Dec 99 - 06:45 PM

I think that the point is exactly that...."On both ends of the rifle, we're the same."

Spaw

Subject: RE: Garth Brooks--Christmas in the Trenches
From: Jeri
Date: 02 Dec 99 - 06:56 PM

Michael, it's what war is. We kill people in places where we have, or once had friends and loved ones. Songs about the truce are powerful because the condense all of that hypocricy down into one specific, time and place.

Subject: RE: Garth Brooks--Christmas in the Trenches
From: Joe Offer
Date: 02 Dec 99 - 08:20 PM

BSeed, was it the McCutcheon song that Brooks performed, or was it the "Belleau Wood" song cited above?
For the sake of another question, let's say it was the McCutcheon song. How much would McCutcheon get paid if his song were to be performed by another singer on a prime-time televison show?
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Garth Brooks--Christmas in the Trenches
From: BanjoRay
Date: 02 Dec 99 - 08:59 PM

"Belleau Wood 1917" seems to be a little strange in its idea - the brief christmas celebration apparently happened just the once, in 1914. Standing up out of a trench on any other christmas in the war would have got you dead instantly. Cheers Ray

Subject: RE: Garth Brooks--Christmas in the Trenches
From: catspaw49
Date: 02 Dec 99 - 09:41 PM

True there BanjoRay....WWI was the transitional war. All wars are to a degree, but the "attitude" and techological change may have been the ggreatest there.

Hey Joe--That's a damn fine question. I wonder who we got that knows a lot about "that end" of royalty issues? Is it different for TV or movies or major stars? Is it worth more? Maybe a thread query?

Spaw

Subject: RE: Garth Brooks--Christmas in the Trenches
From: Jeremiah McCaw
Date: 03 Dec 99 - 09:45 AM

Interesting viewpoint, Michael. I suppose I look at it as one single moment of sanity breaking through the madness.

I seem to recall reading that when the word of the incident got out to the upper levels of command, that all the officers of the men involved were court martialed - on both sides!

Subject: RE: Garth Brooks--Christmas in the Trenches
From: catspaw49
Date: 03 Dec 99 - 10:07 AM

Ya know Jeremiah, I have only done the standard readings on WWI and the particular incident that spawned this song, but your thought makes me want to investigate a little deeper. The Court Martials all around are just so poetic....I have to check this one out for myself. That's no offense to you meant in any way, just "too poetic" if you know what I mean.

Spaw

Subject: Lyr Add: THE MAN HE KILLED (Thomas Hardy)
From: bseed(charleskratz)
Date: 03 Dec 99 - 12:33 PM

THE MAN HE KILLED (A. E. Houseman Thomas Hardy)

Had he and I but met
At some old ancient inn,
We might have set us down to wet
Right many a nipperkin,

But ranged as infantry
And standing face to face,
I shot at him (as he at me)
And killed him in his place.

I shot him dead because...
Because he was my foe.
That's so, my foe of course he was,
That's true enough, although

He thought he'd 'list, perhaps,
Off-hand like, just as I--
Had sold his traps, was out of work,
No other reason why.

Oh, quaint and curious war is:
You shoot a fellow down
You'd treat if met where any bar is
Or help to half a crown.

In most wars, soldiers kill other soldiers with whom they have far more in common than with those who send them to kill and be killed.

--seed

Subject: RE: Garth Brooks--Christmas in the Trenches
From: sophocleese
Date: 03 Dec 99 - 02:14 PM

"the old lie, In dolce et decorum est pro patria more"

Blast I'm not sure of that last word. Wilfred Owens. What always gets me in the song Christmas in the Trenches is the bravery of the single soldier who started out across the field with only a white flag showing. He was a truly great man, they and we need many more like him.

Subject: RE: Garth Brooks--Christmas in the Trenches
From: Jeremiah McCaw
Date: 03 Dec 99 - 05:59 PM

No offense assumed, 'Spaw. Operative words were "seem to recall". Please let us know what hard history stuff you encounter. I'm gettin' more intrigued myself.

Subject: RE: Garth Brooks--Christmas in the Trenches
From: Jeremiah McCaw
Date: 03 Dec 99 - 06:39 PM

Curiosity gonna be my downfall one day ...

Looks like the court martial part was wrong. For what appears to be a fairly comprehensive summation, go to the BBC News site at

http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/special_report/1998/10/98/world_war_i/newsid_197000/197627.stm

And a very comprehensive article can be found at

http://www.worldwar1.com/temp/truce.txt

Subject: RE: Garth Brooks--Christmas in the Trenches
From: catspaw49
Date: 03 Dec 99 - 06:43 PM

Well geez Jeremiah.....I was kinda' looking forward to ramblin' round the web during my usual late night insomnia...but THANKS!!!! I'll read them during my usual late night insomnia instead!

Spaw

Subject: RE: Garth Brooks--Christmas in the Trenches
From: Mountain Dog
Date: 04 Dec 99 - 08:17 AM

Hello, All

I saw the special, too and, though no particular fan of Garth's, I was quite riveted by his closing piece. I wanted to find the tune, but had no luck searching the remains of OLGA nor other lyric/TAB sites I frequent, so wanted to thank Jeremiah McCaw for supplying the lyrics.

McCutcheon's Christmas in the Trenches is one that still raises the hairs on the back of my neck each time I hear or play it. First hearing was when a dear friend of mine "shushed" a semi-boistrous crowd in the dwindling hours of a Christmas-season party and introduced it by saying: "Hey, be quiet for a minute and listen to this! It's important." In the silence after his impromptu performance, no one disagreed.