John McCutheon

Christmas in the Trenches(Chords)

John McCutheon

Key: D

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My name is Francis Toliver, I come from Liverpool. 
 
        A7 (2)                                   G                         D 
Two years ago the war was waiting for me after school.  
 
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To Belgium and to Flanders, Germany to here. 
 
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I fought for King and country I love dear.  
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Twas Christmas in the trenches, where the frost so bitter hung. 
 
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The frozen fields of France were still, no Christmas song was sung.  
 
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Our families back in England were toasting us that day, 
 
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Their brave and glorious lads so far away.  
 
 
 
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I was lying with my mess mate on the cold and rocky ground.  
 
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When across the lines of battle came a most peculiar sound.  
 
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Says I, 'now listen up me boys.' Each soldier strained to hear  
 
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As one young German voice sang out so clear.  
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'He's singing bloody well y'know,' my partner says to me.  
 
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Soon one by one each German voice joined in in harmony.  
 
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The cannons rested silent, and the gas clouds rolled no more. 
 
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As Christmas brought us respite from the war.  
 
  
 
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          D                    Bm                    G                         Em 
As soon as they were finished, and a reverent pause was spent,  
 
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'God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen' struck up some lads from Ghent. 
 
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Oh the next they sang was 'Stille Nacht', 'tis Silent Night says I.  
 
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And in two tongues one song filled up that sky.  
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'There's someone coming towards us', the front line sentry cried. 
 
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All sights were fixed on one lone figure trudging from their side.  
 
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His truce flag like a Christmas star shone on that plain so bright  
 
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As he bravely strolled unarmed into the night.  
 
 
 
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Then one by one on either side walked into no-man's land.  
 
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With neither gun nor bayonet we met there hand to hand.  
 
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We shared some secret brandy and we wished each other well.  
 
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And in a flare-lit soccer game we gave 'em hell.  
 
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We traded chocolates, cigarettes and photographs from home.  
 
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These sons and fathers far away from families of their own.  
 
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Young Sanders played the squeezebox and they had a violin.  
 
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This curious and unlikely band of men.  
 
 
 
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G  D  A7  D 
 
  
 
          D                    Bm                     G                      Em 
Soon daylight stole upon us and France was France once more.  
 
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With sad farewells we each began to settle back to war.  
 
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But the question haunted every heart that lived that wondrous night.  
 
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'Whose family have I fixed within my sights?'  
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?Twas Christmas in the trenches, where the frost so bitter hung.  
 
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The frozen fields of France were warmed as songs of peace were sung.  
 
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For the walls they kept between us to exact the work of war  
 
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Had been crumbled and were gone forever more.  
 
  
 
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A7 (2)        G        D 
 
 
 
      D                      Bm          G                 Em 
My name is Francis Toliver, in Liverpool I dwell.  
 
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Each Christmas comes since World War I, I've learned its lessons well.  
 
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For the ones who call the shots won't be among the dead and lame,  
 
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And on each end of the rifle we're the same.  
 
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G  D  A7  D (hold) 
 
 

	        

Written by John McCutcheon

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