Christmas In The Trenches

CHRISTMAS IN THE TRENCHES Time: 4/4 Key: E

- John McCutcheon, 1984

- Record: John McCutcheon, Winter Solstice / Water From Another Time

INTRO: 1, 4, 57, 1

1 6m 4 2m

My name is Frances Tolliver, I come from Liver-pool

5 * 4 1

Two years ago the war was waiting for me after school

1 6m 4 2m

To Belgium and to Flanders, to Germany, to here

5 * 1 *

I fought for King and country I love dear

5 * 4 1

'Twas Christmas in the trenches, where the frost so bitter hung

1 6m 4 5

The frozen fields of France were still, no Christmas song was sung

1 6m 4 2m

Our families back in England were toasting us that day

5 * 1 *

Their brave and glorious lads so far a-way

1 6m 4 2m

I was lying with my messmate, on the cold and rocky ground

5 * 4 1

When a-cross the lines of battle came a most peculiar sound

1 6m 4 2m

Says I, now listen up me boys, each soldier strained to hear

5 * 1 *

As one young German voice sang out so clear

5 * 4 1

He's singing bloody well you know, my partner says to me

1 6m 4 5

Soon one by one each German voice, joined in in har-mo-ny

1 6m 4 2m

The cannons rested silent, the gas clouds rolled no more

5 * 1 *

As Christmas brought us respite from the war

1 6m 4 2m

As soon as they were finished, and a reverent pause was spent

5 * 4 1

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, struck up some lads from Kent

1 6m 4 2m

The next they sang was "Stille Nacht", 'tis "Silent Night" says I

5 * 1 *

And in two tongues, one song filled up that sky (SILENT NIGHT)

5 * 4 1

There's someone comin' t'wards us, the frontline sentry cried

1 6m 4 5

All sights were fixed on one lone figure trudging from their side

1 6m 4 2m

His truce flag like a Christmas star shone on that plain so bright

5 * 1 *

As he bravely strode un-armed into the night

CHRISTMAS IN THE TRENCHES (page 2)

1 6m 4 2m

Then one by one, on either side, walked into No Man's Land

5 * 4 1

With neither gun or bayonet, we met there hand to hand

1 6m 4 2m

We shared some secret brandy and wished each other well

5 * 1 *

And in a flare-lit soccer game, we gave 'em hell

5 * 4 1

We traded chocolates, cigarettes and photographs from home

1 6m 4 5

These sons and fathers far away from families of their own

1 6m 4 2m

Young Sanders played his squeezebox and they had a vi-o-lin

5 * 1 *

This curious and un-likely band of men

1 6m 4 2m

Soon daylight stole u-pon us, and France was France once more

5 * 4 1

With sad farewells we each began to settle back to war

1 6m 4 2m

But the question haunted every heart that lived that wondrous night

5 * 1 *

Whose family have I fixed within my sights

5 * 4 1

'Twas Christmas in the trenches where the frost so bitter hung

1 6m 4 5

The frozen fields of France were warmed as Christmas songs were sung

1 6m 4 2m

For the walls they kept be-tween us to ex-act the work of war

5 * 1 *

Had been crumbled and are gone for ever-more

1 6m 4 2m

Oh my name is Frances Tolliver, in Liverpool I dwell

5 * 4 1

Each Christmas come since World War One, I've learned it's lessons well

1 6m 4 2m

That the ones who call the shots, won't be a-mong the dead and lame

5 * 1 *

And on each end of the rifle, we're the same

Notes:

- Break after verses 4 and 6: The Minstrel Boy

- Break at V3L4: Silent Night

SYMBOLS:

- Asterisk (*) = new measure, play same chord

- Period (.) = 1/8 note rest at start of a measure

- Underline(_) = sustain note into next measure

CHORDS (Number System):

- Example: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

- Key of C: C D E F G A B

- Detailed description: /pub/guitar/other_stuff/numbering_system.txt

- Submitted by: Barrie McCombs (bmccombs@acs.ucalgary.ca)