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
[ Tab from: https://www.guitartabs.cc/tabs/m/mccutcheon_john/christmas_in_the_trenches_crd.html ]
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)
