kaydee's first lyricspam.

[kaydeefalls]

I think. Anyway, this is a nontraditional Christmas song setting a poem by John McCutcheon to this sad, sweet music by a Celtic group, Aengus. It's the story of a true incident during WWI, and it's one of maybe three songs I've ever heard that consistently makes me cry. The lyrics are beautiful.


"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 loved dear
'Twas Christmas in the trenches, where the frost so bitter hung
The frozen fields of France were still, no Christmas songs were 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 a cold and rocky ground
When across the lines of battle came a most peculiar sound
Says I, "Now listen up, my 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 wer finished and a reverend 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 frontline sentry cried
All sights were fixed on one lone figure trudging from their side
His truce flag like a Christmas star shone on that plain so bright
As he bravely strolled unarmed into the night

Then one by one on either side walked into no mans land
With neither gun nor bayonet we met there hand to hand
We shared some secret brandy and wished each other well
And in a flarelit soccer game we gave them hell
We traded chocolates, cigarettes, and photographs from home
These sons and fathers far away from families of their own
Young Sanders played his squeezebox 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 warm 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 nevermore

My name is Francis Tolliver, in Liverpool I dwell
Each Christmas come since World War One I've learned its lessons well
But 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

Shalom, peace be with you.

Comments

*awed*

[lianara.livejournal.com]

I read about that Christmas in Ms. Lewis's class back in ninth grade. It's beautiful and sad.

Re: *awed*

[kaydeefalls.livejournal.com]

You should listen to the song, it's gorgeous...