John McDermott - Christmas in the Trenches lyrics

rate me

Oh my name is Francis Tolliver, I come from Liverpool

Two years ago the war was waiting for me after school

From Belgium and to Flanders, Germany to here

I fought for King and country I love dear.

Twas Christmas in the trenches and the frost so bitter hung

The frozen fields of France where still no Christmas songs were sung

Our families back in England were toasting us that day

There brave and glorious lads so far away.

I was lying with my mess mates 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 in harmony

The cannons rested silent and the gas cloud 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 thing sang was Stille Nach tis Silent Night says I

And in two tongues one song filled up that sky

There's someone coming towards us now the front line sentry said

All sights were fixed on one lone figure trudging from their side

His truce flag like a Christmas Star shone on the plane so bright

As he bravely trudged unarmed into the night.

Then one by one on either side, walked in to No Mans 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 football game we gave them hell.

We traded chocolates, cigarettes and photographs from home

These sons and father far away from families of their own

Ton Sanders played the squeeze box 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 began 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 and the frost so bitter hung

The frozen fields of France were warmed, the 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 forever more.

Oh my name is Francis Tolliver, from Liverpool I dwell

Each Christmas comes since World War I have learned its lesson well

For the one who calls the shots won't be among the dead and lame

And on each end of the rifle we're the same