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)