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Christmas In The Trenches

John Mccutcheon

Text File

From: Barrie McCombs CHRISTMAS IN THE TRENCHES Time: 4/4 Key: E - John McCutcheon, 1984 - Record: John McCutcheon, Winter Solstice / Water From Another Time INTRO: 1, 4, 57, 1 1 6m 4 2m My name is Frances Tolliver, I come from Liver-pool 5 * 4 1 Two years ago the war was waiting for me after school 1 6m 4 2m To Belgium and to Flanders, to Germany, to here 5 * 1 * I fought for King and country I love dear 5 * 4 1 'Twas Christmas in the trenches, where the frost so bitter hung 1 6m 4 5 The frozen fields of France were still, no Christmas song was sung 1 6m 4 2m Our families back in England were toasting us that day 5 * 1 * Their brave and glorious lads so far a-way 1 6m 4 2m I was lying with my messmate, on the cold and rocky ground 5 * 4 1 When a-cross the lines of battle came a most peculiar sound 1 6m 4 2m Says I, now listen up me boys, each soldier strained to hear 5 * 1 * As one young German voice sang out so clear 5 * 4 1 He's singing bloody well you know, my partner says to me 1 6m 4 5 Soon one by one each German voice, joined in in har-mo-ny 1 6m 4 2m The cannons rested silent, the gas clouds rolled no more 5 * 1 * As Christmas brought us respite from the war 1 6m 4 2m As soon as they were finished, and a reverent pause was spent 5 * 4 1 God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, struck up some lads from Kent 1 6m 4 2m The next they sang was "Stille Nacht", 'tis "Silent Night" says I 5 * 1 * And in two tongues, one song filled up that sky (SILENT NIGHT) 5 * 4 1 There's someone comin' t'wards us, the frontline sentry cried 1 6m 4 5 All sights were fixed on one lone figure trudging from their side 1 6m 4 2m His truce flag like a Christmas star shone on that plain so bright 5 * 1 * As he bravely strode un-armed into the night CHRISTMAS IN THE TRENCHES (page 2) 1 6m 4 2m Then one by one, on either side, walked into No Man's Land 5 * 4 1 With neither gun or bayonet, we met there hand to hand 1 6m 4 2m We shared some secret brandy and wished each other well 5 * 1 * And in a flare-lit soccer game, we gave 'em hell 5 * 4 1 We traded chocolates, cigarettes and photographs from home 1 6m 4 5 These sons and fathers far away from families of their own 1 6m 4 2m Young Sanders played his squeezebox and they had a vi-o-lin 5 * 1 * This curious and un-likely band of men 1 6m 4 2m Soon daylight stole u-pon us, and France was France once more 5 * 4 1 With sad farewells we each began to settle back to war 1 6m 4 2m But the question haunted every heart that lived that wondrous night 5 * 1 * Whose family have I fixed within my sights 5 * 4 1 'Twas Christmas in the trenches where the frost so bitter hung 1 6m 4 5 The frozen fields of France were warmed as Christmas songs were sung 1 6m 4 2m For the walls they kept be-tween us to ex-act the work of war 5 * 1 * Had been crumbled and are gone for ever-more 1 6m 4 2m Oh my name is Frances Tolliver, in Liverpool I dwell 5 * 4 1 Each Christmas come since World War One, I've learned it's lessons well 1 6m 4 2m That the ones who call the shots, won't be a-mong the dead and lame 5 * 1 * And on each end of the rifle, we're the same Notes: - Break after verses 4 and 6: The Minstrel Boy - Break at V3L4: Silent Night SYMBOLS: - Asterisk (*) = new measure, play same chord - Period (.) = 1/8 note rest at start of a measure - Underline(_) = sustain note into next measure CHORDS (Number System): - Example: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 - Key of C: C D E F G A B - Detailed description: /pub/guitar/other_stuff/numbering_system.txt - Submitted by: Barrie McCombs (bmccombs@acs.ucalgary.ca)
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