John McDermott (Canadian) - Christmas in the Trenches

[Athlynne]

Chills every time. Thank you for posting this!

[friendlygiant307]

When I was a Child I wanted to Join up, but Illness forced me not to. As well, when I was a child I heard that the word "War" Was acutely an acronym. It meant "We. Are. Right" and everyone that commits war is trying to prove that. In the end, It always saddened me that we never want to commit "Wats" ..."We. Are. The. Same"

[jalen77232]

goos bumps every time. God bless our troops

[spudhead]

I am one of the boots on the ground I enjoy this song thanks for posting this...

[pg1171]

Beautiful! Not enough people like that today! He who hesitates is NOT always lost. He may just make a friend instead of an enemy!

[bohemianspiritmn]

Peace on Earth. Good will to all. Someday, perhaps, we will all learn the lesson of this song and teach our children to practice peace.

[randomquotage]

My grandfather was born in 1898 and was 16 in the trenches of the Western Front in 1914. He died in 1997, when I was 5 years old. It is one of my most vivid memories, sitting on his lap in his big dark bottle green leather chair, as he sucked on a pipe, telling me stories of the trenches. He told me about this night, the last he spent in the trenches. He shared his tobacco with a German soldier, and the next day was injured. He later found out the German man was killed the day after.

[juds2u]

My 10 year old and I just finished a novel, "In the Trenches" that included that scene. My son will love this video!

[SW28fan]

My Grandfather was on the Western Front in 1914. What a wonderful Song.

[TheJSarge]

@SW28fan Did he take part in the Christmas Truce?

[SW28fan]

@TheJSarge I don't know, he died before I was born. I just know when he was called up and that he served on the Western Front.

[heerlen8186]

A wonderful performance with a true heartfelt message.

[seanhiscock]

A true Christmas song showing that even the best of people can come out at the worst of times. Unfortunately, those who are power hungry will never realize what is really important in life.

God Bless the world.

Merry Christmas

Peace on Earth

[HaMicah87]

This is the true meaning of Christmas, I just wish more people were aware of it.

[ariaofdreams]

So beautiful, yet so heartbreaking when one realizes that not every Christmas was this magical.

[gothangel9099]

my mother loved this song befor she died

[crimsonkyuubi]

truly haunting song. bravo john.

cheers from sunny San Diego

[Manajah85]

Thats very beautiful song. And the Christmas Truce a very beautiful Event in this nasty dark time (WWI)

Greetings from Germany!

[pearceyman]

=,( that was so upseting =,(

[girlsk8er45]

that made me cry

[partyinkingstondot]

beautiful... and Merry Christmas to all

[Magistos1]

I've had his CD with this on it for years, and it always makes me pause, think, and pray. But watching this video just made tears come to my eyes, with no way for me to control them. Thank you so much for this video. The song and the video, both, are so powerful with their message.

[karlschlaussen]

karlschlaussen

Thanks for this video.He sings from the heart. Met him at Saint John NB. Great show.

As an aside my grandfather could never sing Silent Night. In one unguarded moment he told me why.His family immigrated to America and Canada from East Prussia(Germany). He served with the Seaforth Highlanders. His kinfolk served in Prussian units.All of them could sing the same song, with the same message, and in the next moment end a relatives life?

It broke his heart.

[kaijakoira]

Karlschlaussen, that is a beautiful message every bit as powerful as the song. Thank you for sharing your grandfather's story with us. It made me a bit teary-eyed.

[ParkerAllen2]

I love John McDermott's version of this song, and what a great live staging of it. Thanks very much for posting.

[susanmudgee]

Anything else from the performance Mac? This was wonderful. Thanks so much for posting anything by John McDermott. I'm a big fan. Will never have a chance to see him perform as I live in Mudgee NSW Australia.

[GlasgowCeltic88]

I find the strains of 'Minstrel Boy' (at 5.16) a very poignant addition to this song.

Coming from someone who lost loved ones during a much more recent conflict, this song will aways bring a tear to my eye.

What's hapeend to civilisation in the last 90 years that we've gone from this (The christmas truce) to suicide bombings of civilians and non military targets???

May God forgive us our trespasses...

Thank you for posting this macrosent.

5*'s

GC88.

[macrosent]

Thank you for your comments. -Mac

[GenghisKhan44]

@GlasgowCeltic88 Hmmm...

It is too bad that both sides have also been brainwashed - one into believing that the war over there is to liberate them from tyranny, the other into believing that killing "the enemy" will grant them a place in Heaven...

'Tis too bad we cannot fight more diplomatic "wars". I wonder if ever Moslem and Christian will find a day they will lay down their arms and live in peace with each other...

[van1980]

@GlasgowCeltic88 Our civilization has not changed.  Neither has theirs. That is your accurate answer.