John McDermott~Christmas in the Trenches

I've been listening to John for a while now, first with The Irish Tenors and now during his solo venture. This particular song is one of my favourites.

Such a sad and moving song, yet it celebrates a period during the Great War that, to ME was a perfect example of what Christmas should be about! I especially like the strains of 'The Ministrel Boy' at 4.29-4.42.

MY tribute to those men (on both side of the wire) who took part in that special and remembered event... The Christmas Truce of 1914.

"I never expected to shake hands with Germans between the firing lines on Christmas Day and I don't suppose you thought of us doing so..." Exert from a letter belonging to an unknown British soldier.

God bless them.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• John
• McDermott
• Christmas
• in
• the
• Trenches
• World
• War
• One

[GlasgowCeltic88]

@catsrock494

As an Irishman living in the uk and dating an American lass, I can say that legokid5827 is right... Over in America the game is called "Soccer", yet the English (& the Irish) call the game "Football".

[GlasgowCeltic88]

@catsrock494

As an Irishman living in the uk and dating an American lass, I can say that legokid5827 is right... Over in America the game is called "Soccer", yet the English (& the Irish) call the game "Football".

[girlsk8er45]

god bless you

[GlasgowCeltic88]

And God bless YOU too girlsk8er45.

Thank you for watching.

[Leathee]

Best Christmas song ever. Fuck Jingle Bells and all those overly-happy whatsits. After seeing a slideshow with this song in U.S. History, it'll always have a place in my heart. Thanks for putting it up.

[GlasgowCeltic88]

Leathee,

Thank you for taking the time to watch this video.

I agree with you... All thes 'sappy', 'happy-go-lucky' xmas tunes - NOT including Frairytale of New York - can go whistle! Christmas In The Trenches is a more reflective and appropriate tune for this time of year...

Regards,

GC88

[jbrandiwine]

the best and the worst that is within, all wrapped evocatively into song... touches the humanity of all. a timeless message

[indikid24]

really peaceful song. Well done

[legokid5872]

@catsrock494 no its football cos thats what us Brits call it and thats what it should be called

[catsrock494]

good song but the part where he sayin we played a football game its suppoes to be a soccer game

[franciscollins49]

I sing for the Veterns For Peace and will be singing it at thier next meeting, let us remember the line for the one's who call the shots won't be among the dead and slain, and on each end of the rifle were the same.

[staccatomusicstudio]

This is one of my favourite songs. I first heard it sung by Terry Kelly, but found this one looking for it on Youtube. This really exemplifies how many times honest, decent people end up fighting each other and how we wrestle not against flesh & blood.

[Alpinegremlin]

"For the ones that call the shots won`t be among the dead and lain. And on each end of the rifle...we`re the same."

One of the most meaningful lines that I`ve ever heard. Thanks so much for uploading this.

[mirgil1964]

@33andahalf

Robert E. Lee said "It is good that war is so terrible, lest we become too fond of it." Unfortunately, we are led by people who have no regard for life. We can, at least, keep striving to end the madness. God will do the rest.

[Remington700BDL1]

War will always be among us. The evil will always take up arms to defeat the good and put up a hell of a fight, but I believe goodness will prevail in the end. We who are fortunate to enjoy freedom and liberty feel in our hearts that it's God's will for all of mankind, not just a fortunate few. This song beautifully shows that wars are not fought as individuals against individuals, but against ideologies. 

[Caledonia1986]

Wow, its not even christmas and here I sit, crying because its so beautiful and peaceful. Thank you so much for uploading this. When I hear it, I think of my Granddad, who told me of his experiences in WWII. He taught me everything I knew and was everything I ever wanted to be. Now I hear this and its like I can hear him talking to me about the time when he didn't shoot a soldier of the other side, even though he was armed. Wow, thanks so much for uploading this!