“Christmas in the Trenches” by John McCutcheon
I still vividly remember the best Christmas present I ever got—a maroon Western Flyer bicycle. I was six, maybe seven, years old, and early on that chilly Christmas morning, my dad ran along side me holding me up as I frantically pedaled my one-speed bike. Unexpectedly he let go, and lo and behold, I was riding on my own! It was pure magic, a feeling of freedom deeply embedded in my consciousness even now.
That was almost 60 Christmases ago. And as I contemplate the gift I want for myself, for Shonnie, for my child (who’s nearing 40 now), my grandkids, for all my family and friends, for the people of the planet; it’s the thing we talk about around this time every year but that somehow continues to elude us: Peace on Earth.
Click on the play button below to watch a video production of John McCutcheon’s evocative song, “Christmas in the Trenches” based on a true story about how peace broke out one Christmas during World War I. The lyrics are below. And you can buy the book Christmas in the Trenches with a CD of John singing the song by clicking here.
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 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 towards us!” the front line sentry cried
All sights were fixed on one lone figure coming from their side
His truce flag, like a Christmas star, shone 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 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 wondrous 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 for evermore.
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.
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