Christmas in the Trenches - written and performed by John McCutcheon

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Christmas in the Trenches - John McCutcheon

Christmas in the Trenches by John McCutcheon

My name is Francis Tolliver, I come from Liverpool.
Two years ago the war was waiting for me after school.
To Belgium and to Flanders, to Germany to here
I fought for King and country I love dear.
'Twas Christmas in the trenches, where the frost so bitter hung,
The frozen fields of France were still, no Christmas song was sung
Our families back in England were toasting us that day
Their brave and glorious lads so far away.

I was lying with my messmate 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 bloody well, you know!" my partner says to me
Soon, one by one, each German voice joined 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 sky
"There's someone coming toward us!" the front line sentry cried
All sights were fixed on one long 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 Man's 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 'em hell
We traded chocolates, cigarettes, and photographs from home
These sons and fathers far away from families of their own
Young Sanders played his squeezebox and they had 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 prepared to settle back to war
But the question haunted every heart that lived that wonderous night
"Whose 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 songs of peace were sung
For the walls they'd kept between us to exact the work of war
Had been crumbled and were gone forevermore

My name is Francis Tolliver, in Liverpool I dwell
Each Christmas come since World War I, I've learned its lessons 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

© 1984 John McCutcheon - All rights reserved

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[gamcpa123]

Is this song about brits hiding in trenches?

[FolkFaves]

@gamcpa123 No.

[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...

[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!

[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!!

[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.

[MLLamble]

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

[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..........

[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.

[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!