Christmas in the Trenches - written and performed by John McCutcheon

[Neptoony]

I have listened to this song every Christmas since the year it was released...1984?, I think. It really isn't Christmas without it. I think it is the perfectly crafted song...every word precisely right. I couldn't change a single one. Check out John's album "Winter Solstice" which has Christmas music but so much more. Perfect.

[haynes1966]

My father was right this should be heard by all at x-mas time, I am here only because my grandfather came home from POW camp after 5 years and moved to Australia as a British return soldier, Wars just don't get them. RIP Ronald Haynes MM Bravery in the field Duke of Wellington Regiment 51st Div

[teddyoneills]

Easily the best and most beautiful anti war Christmas song. John McCutcheon is a legend as a singer and songwriter, Happy Christmas from Dublin to all John's fans out there!

[whotoinfinity]

God Bless John. And of course all the young men and women all over the world, who for what ever reason are at risk for what they believe in.

[brillianthurrah1957]

My grand uncle was married in 1914, and was called to the colours (he was a reservist). Did he share that Christmas with his wife and young son? We will never know. In 1915, he was in Flanders, where, on the 16th May, he was killed in action....... Thank you John, for such a moving song..........

[Neptoony]

A perfect song. Perfectly crafted, each word. Performed beautifully by John. First appearing on his "Winter Solstice" album (in *vinyl*) it has played many times during our Christmas holidays since 1985 & we always quiet down & just listen. This video is precious.

[JEdwardRN]

This haunting song really leaves me in tears!

What a brilliant song!

[tennis11ish]

This leaves me in tears. So wonderful, great message.

[gamcpa123]

Is this song about brits hiding in trenches?



[FolkFaves]

@gamcpa123 No.

[winny1203]

@gamcpa123

Yes Gam... since World War I was fought almost entirely via "Trench Warfare". And in this song, the British and German soldiers, whose trenches were probably only 100 or so yards from each other... created their own Christmas truce. So they were more "fighting" from Trenches, as opposed to "hiding" in them.... although I'm sure there was plenty of THAT involved (from the cannons), as well.

[msglam521]

Oh my. I remember him coming to my school, and our concert choir were the back up singers. This was one of my fav tunes we performed. Just such a beautiful melody=))))

[festus490]

I love this song so much my dad used to sing it to me when I was little it holds so much meaning for me and anyone that was connected or knew about WW1

[padraigpurseal]

Thanks for the post alot of water under bridge but still we keep at it, will we ever learn

[giuseppegagliardi1]

"Carissimo Presidente Giorgio Napolitano Le chiedo a nome mio, e a nome di tutti coloro che condivideranno questa mia lettera, di indire una prima giornata Italiana senza guerra per quest'anno, non serve che sia festiva, il prossimo anno sara' festeggiato nello stesso giorno piu' il giorno successivo ed ogni anno si aggiungera' un giorno solo cosi...Mostra altro

[Mrmilbeijos1]

My great uncle at the age of 21 gave his life at 10:30 am November 11th 1918, those of you that understand that date know the the importance , many thank,s for this video and god speed to frank buckle the last.

[shawzerful]

Ive never heard this song before, its beautifull, my great, great uncle faught at and survived the Somme, we still have his brass cigeratte box and service medals, gonna have to rob this and put it on FB since its Christmas Eve, happy christmas one and all, stay safe :-)

[pr0666]

Wonderful song. When all terrible things human race had done from start of time to today. Things like "Christmas truce" shows that maybe human race is not doom. There could always be hope

[pheenix42]

And for a few glorious moments...the slaughter STOPPED.

[guitmartiman]

Great song, well written and well sung! I've heard this song before, but I don't think it was John who sang it. I can imagine there are many who have covered it.

[moffa18]

sounds a lot like Stan Rogers... I like!!

[FolkFaves]

@moffa18

Great point! I love Stan Rogers & Archie Fisher music.

John McCutcheon is am amazingly diverse musician too...

[Fol4all]

@moffa18 I just put together a little Stan Rogers clip - today would have been his 61st birthday (November 29th) "The Mary Ellen Carter" youtube (dot) com/watch?v=dG9QytMj6SU

This song is a good uplifting one after the somber message from John...

[MLLamble]

@moffa18 you know... I've never seen them in the same room >.>

[498332]

Hearing John perform this at Winfield some years ago made me an instant McCutcheon fan - it is a sublime song, performed with sensitivity and feeling. Now I never miss a chance to hear him...

[Lintflas]

Especially English and Germans should listen closely to this song.

It's about time to put aside all those stupid prejudices and start a new chapter in english-german relations.

[QuentinQuark]

Wow. Thank you. I wept.

[deanamonrae]

You miss the point, this is about small part of an obscene and perverted event in the history of man. Granted a spot of light in Hell, a spot of light no less. Try listening to "The Green Fields of France"

[hoax4254]

This song is so powerful, especially considering how brutal the war was. Fighting in mud up to your knees or higher, living and dying in your own excrement. None of us can imagine what it was like that night.

[antichoiceextremist]

!!! I heard this song once years ago, and wanted to find it but didn't know the name of it! I'm so happy and blessed that I just found this by mistake. Beautiful -- It's Christmas in July!

[helpmetony]

wonderful

[geekerdoerick]

this is the first time i heard this song and it touched me as soon as it starts.

[frevr18]

Brings tears at every listen

[WE12WE22]

This song is true because allot of men have died to preserve our countries freedom and they need not be forgotten even though most of them have most likely been.

[Aslaug75]

To those who fought and never came home to celebrate Christmas again ... rest in peace. World War One was one long exercise in futility and stupidity, and should never have been fought in the first place ... but it is just a double tragedy, that the decent men who celebrated Christmas together at Ypres in 1914 were punished so harshly by foolish commanders who thought "fraternization" was "bad for the war effort". Maybe so, but it was good for humanity. Don'tlet the "forgotten war" be forgotten.

[TXRedDevil888]

this is actually a true story our pastor's dad had been in ww1 and he had told him so for our Christmas eve sermon he told us this story.

[olmmbill]

Thank you for this classic song. It and "The Band Played Waltzing Matilda" are my favorite anti-war songs. It's great to hear it again. Peace in 2010 !!!

[BeeMichael]

Great song from a wonderful entertainer - a powerful peace message - it brings to mind a line from Joni Mitchell's wistful song, California:

"Sitting in a park in Paris France

Reading the news and it sure looks bad

They won't give peace a chance

That was just a dream some of us had

[antispamdinista]

I've met John many years ago on the Great Peace March. This was just one of the songs he performed for free just to say "thank you" to all we were trying to do back in 1985.

Memories... :)

[bigsister718]

The most poignant lines of this song are the last two, in my opinion:

"Those who call the shots won't be among the dead and lame....

And on each end of the rife, we're the same."

[gryphontamer]

This is heartbreaking. Beautiful, but heartbreaking.

[ozma1010]

This one is so very sobering. A true story, I know, but I always wonder who that brave soul was that walked out with the truce flag. I first read about this in my local newspaper in 1968.

[badcrooner]

Search " badcrooner " on youtube to listen to Pete Russell's moving new Christmas song " At this time of year " written for the lost and the lonely

[RicardosRealm]

Great song. Great message. Great bloke.

[koirasdad]

Very few songs can move me to tears. This is one of them. Just a beautiful, beautiful tune. Thank you so much for posting!!

[Aslaug75]

I end up weeping every time I hear this one too. The Christmas Truce was probably the last recorded example of true chivalry and decency in war.

[koirasdad]

I played this at a show at a VFW over the weekend... Not a dry eye in the house! I'll try to get my version recorded and post it.

[PINkMONSTErBUNNIEs]

He is an awesome person. I've seen lots of his shows, he's totally awesome.

[caminefee110]

Thats my uncle John I"m so proud of him

[FolkFaves]

Very cool!

Too bad he is a Johnny! *L* I am a Concordia Cobber *wink* Keeping it in the Minnesota intercollegiate Athletic Conference at least..

Then again, that's part of the point of the song - our similarities far outweigh our differences in things that truly matter. I am the child of a mixed marriage couple - Irish Catholic & Norwegian Lutheran, so I was raised to have tolerance for others views!

PS - I still pull for the Johnnies when they are the only MIAC team left in the playoffs!

[lisaj62]

@caminefee110 Our local community station (WMNF) shared this - such a wonderful song your uncle has given us! FolkFaves - thx so much for posting it up!

[rarebirdproductions]

@caminefee110

An uncle to be proud of indeed. Beautifull song.

[camus82485]

@caminefee110 You from Wausau?

[MusiciansMuse]

John is fantastic. He's an absolute wonder. He's an old family friend of ours, and played at my uncle's funeral. It was beautiful, and he's an absolute wonder. :D

[noobummer]

PS...love the video / song.....

[mountnhome]

I have always loved this tune! What a beautiful piece of writing.

[FolkFaves]

Thanks for the comments!

Yes, I can't think of a song that encapsulates an event more effectively than this... John is an amazing musician (check out some of the others that have been posted) and not just guitar & voice.... "Leviathan" on the Hammered dulcimer is sublime.

John's homepage is linked under "more info" at the top right...

[galoblue]

That song touched my heart..<3

[masteller1]

it is a shame people can't undersatnd this verase "on each end of the rifle we're the same" V_V

to the men and women in the armed forces thank you for making the choice to fight for our freedom (stands and solutes)

sarry for the miss spellings :p

[Mulrankin]

A song well sung, for such brave men,they would have been very proud of you,well done.

[nuckers212]

best christmas song ever!!!

[jbigblue]

A BEAUTIFUL, THOUGHTFUL, TIMELY song!!!

BLESS YOU for posting it!

[TheTMP]

Wonderful song about a terrible time in a horrible war, many wars have come and gone since that Christmas in the trenches and we seem to have yet to learn the lesson so skillfully stated in simple words of this tune.

[TinkGerman]

bringing tears in my eyes..and i dont cry easilly, touched me deeply, thank you for posting!