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Lyr Req: Christmas in the Trenches (J McCutcheon)

30 Nov 99 - 01:50 AM (#142516)
Subject: Christmas in the Trenches
From: jacintac@telusplanet.net

This song was recorded by John McDermott, from Nova Scotia, Canada

30 Nov 99 - 03:04 AM (#142537)
Subject: Lyr Add: CHRISTMAS IN THE TRENCHES^^^
From:

CHRISTMAS IN THE TRENCHES
(John McCutcheon)

My name is Francis Tolliver. I come from Liverpool.
Two years ago, the war was waiting for me after school.
To Belgium and to Flanders, to Germany, to here,
I fought for King and country I love dear.
'Twas Christmas in the trenches, where the frost so bitter hung.
The frozen fields of France were still. No Christmas song was sung.
Our families back in England were toasting us that day,
Their brave and glorious lads so far away.

I was lying with my messmate on the cold and rocky ground,
When across the lines of battle came a most peculiar sound.
Says I, "Now listen up, me boys!" Each soldier strained to hear
As one young German voice sang out so clear.
"He's singing bloody well, you know!" my partner says to me.
Soon, one by one, each German voice joined in harmony.
The cannons rested silent. The gas clouds rolled no more,
As Christmas brought us respite from the war.

As soon as they were finished and a reverent pause was spent,
"God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen" struck up some lads from Kent.
The next they sang was "Stille Nacht." "'Tis 'Silent Night'," says I,
And in two tongues one song filled up that sky.
"There's someone coming toward us!" the front line sentry cried.
All sights were fixed on one long figure trudging from their side.
His truce flag, like a Christmas star, shown on that plain so bright
As he, bravely, strode unarmed into the night.

Soon one by one on either side walked into No Man's Land.
With neither gun nor bayonet we met there hand to hand.
We shared some secret brandy and we wished each other well,
And in a flare-lit soccer game, we gave 'em hell.
We traded chocolates, cigarettes, and photographs from home,
These sons and fathers far away from families of their own.
Young Sanders played his squeezebox and they had a violin,
This curious and unlikely band of men.

Soon daylight stole upon us and France was France once more.
With sad farewells, we each prepared to settle back to war.
But the question haunted every heart that lived that wondrous night:
"Whose family have I fixed within my sights?"
'Twas Christmas in the trenches where the frost so bitter hung.
The frozen fields of France were warmed as songs of peace were sung.
For the walls they'd kept between us to exact the work of war
Had been crumbled and were gone forevermore.

My name is Francis Tolliver, in Liverpool I dwell.
Each Christmas come since World War I, I've learned its lessons well:
That the ones who call the shots won't be among the dead and lame,
And on each end of the rifle, we're the same.

HTML line breaks added. --JoeClone, 15-Nov-02.

30 Nov 99 - 06:14 AM (#142557)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Christmas in the Trenches
From: John in Brisbane

Both this great song and Christmas 1914 are in the DT. Regards, John

30 Nov 99 - 01:20 PM (#142702)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Christmas in the Trenches
From: The Burren Ranger.

Has anybody heard the stunning song 'A Silent Night (Christmas 1915)' by the Irish singer, Jerry Lynch(from his Cd 'The Dimming of The Day on the Dolphin label.? Goose bump time on this one.

17 Dec 07 - 03:57 PM (#2217477)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Christmas in the Trenches
From: open mike

a wonderful song for this season

17 Dec 07 - 04:07 PM (#2217486)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Christmas in the Trenches
From: Peace

Combine the threads?

17 Dec 07 - 05:54 PM (#2217575)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Christmas in the Trenches
From: topical tom

One of the most moving Christmas songs I have ever heard.

17 Dec 07 - 06:01 PM (#2217578)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Christmas in the Trenches
From: oldhippie

There are two "Christmas 1914" songs, are there not?
Mickey MacConnell does one and Mike Harding the other.

17 Dec 07 - 07:33 PM (#2217652)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Christmas in the Trenches
From: Stringsinger

John has recently released a children's book with the fine lyrics and great illustrations.

Frank

17 Dec 07 - 07:48 PM (#2217662)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Christmas in the Trenches
From: Sandy Mc Lean

I just to correct an error in the first post; John McDermott is from Ontario, not Nova Scotia. That being said we consider him to be one of our own and I believe that he feels the same.
Micky MacConnell does a different song on the same theme with a more tragic ending. It was written by his brother.
thread.cfm?threadid=64875

23 Dec 14 - 02:40 PM (#3688145)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Christmas in the Trenches (J McCutcheon)
From: IamNoMan

I ran into these clips today:

Christmas 1914 by Mike Harding

Sainsburys Ad for Christmas this year

23 Dec 14 - 08:03 PM (#3688242)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Christmas in the Trenches (J McCutcheon)
From: Tattie Bogle

Nice new recording by Irish singer/musician, Nuala Kennedy. You can hear it on YouTube or her Facebook page.

24 Dec 14 - 04:12 AM (#3688282)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Christmas in the Trenches (J McCutcheon)
From: Musket

Some of us remember Tony Capstick's take on 1914 in the trenches....