From: atkins@nosc.mil (Hugh T. Atkins)
Subject: Christmas In The Trenches (lyrics and chords)
Organization: Naval Ocean Systems Center, San Diego, CA
Distribution: usa
Date: Tue, 22 Dec 1992 15:50:18 GMT

This was given to me by a friend of mine , Norm "Dale" Desmukes , who
happened to have a recording of this song. There seem to be some minor
differences in the wording according to the earlier post but I'll let
the reader choose his own way. Merry Christmas to all.

Hugh Atkins


		Christmas In The Trenches

				John McCutcheon

	A                  F#m           Bm        E
	My name is Frances Toliver and I hail from Liverpool
	A                  F#m           D              E
	Some years ago the war was waiting for me after school
        A                 F#          D                 Bm
	To Belgium and to Flanders to France and it was there
	A                     E               A
	I fought for King and country I loved dear
    
                     E           
		Twas Christmas in the trenches 
                          D               A
		Where the frost so bitter hung
                    F#m                
		The frozen fields of France were still
                    B                   E
		No Christmas songs were sung

                    A                F#m
		Our families back in England 
                     D                Bm
		Were toasting us that day
                    A                  E          A
		The brave and glorious oh so far away

	I was lying with my mess mate	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 pretty well y'know My partner said to me
	  Soon one by one each German voice Joined in 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 night

	  There's someone coming towards The frontline sentry cried
	  All sights were fixed on one lone 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 mans 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 them hell

	  We traded chocolates, cigarettes and photographs from home
	  These sons and fathers far away From families of their own

	  Young Sanders had his squeezebox and they 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 begin to settle back to war
	The question haunted every heart that lived that wondrous night
	Who 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 Christmas songs were sung


	  But the walls put up between us 
	  To exact the work of war

	  Had been crumbled and were gone forevermore


	My name is Frances Toliver and in Liverpool I dwell
	Each Christmas come since WW I I've learned this lesson 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

	

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