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Christmas In The Trenches

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Christmas in the Trenches
By John McCutcheon
Winter Solstice (1984)
As interpreted by Joe G
Capo on 2
INTRO: D, G, A, D  
My Dname is D/C#Frances BmTolliBm/Aver, I coGme from LG/F#iver-poEmol
Two Ayears ago the Asus4war was Awaiting Gfor me after Dschool
To DBelgium D/C#and to BmFlandeBm/Ars, to GGermanyG/F#, to Emhere
I Afought for AKing and Asus4country AI love DdearD  
'Twas AChristmas in the Asus4trencheAs, where the Gfrost so bitter Dhung
The Bmfrozen fields of Bm/AFrance were still, no ChGristmas song was Asus4sungA  
Our Dfamilies D/C#back in BmEngland Bm/Awere Gtoasting G/F#us that Emday
Their Abrave and glorious Asus4lads so Afar a-DwayD  
I was Dlying D/C#with my BmmessmateBm/A, on the Gcold and G/F#rocky Emground
When a-Across the lines of Asus4battle Acame a Gmost peculiar Dsound
Says DI, now D/C#listen Bmup me boysBm/A, each Gsoldier sG/F#trained to Emhear
As Aone young German Asus4voice sang Aout so DclearD  
He's Asinging bloody Asus4well you Aknow, my Gpartner says to Dme
Soon Bmone by one each Bm/AGerman voice, joined Gin in har-mo-nAsus4yA  
The Dcannons D/C#rested BmsilenBm/At, the Ggas clouds G/F#rolled no Emmore
As AChristmas brought us Asus4respite from Athe DwarD  
As Dsoon as D/C#they were BmfinisheBm/Ad, and a Greverent G/F#pause was Emspent
God ARest Ye Merry Asus4GentlemAen, struck Gup some lads from DKent
The Dnext they D/C#sang was "BmStille Bm/ANacht", 'tis "GSilent G/F#Night" says EmI
And Ain two Asus4tongues, one Asong filled Gup that Dsky
There's Asomeone comin' Asus4t'wards usA, the Gfrontline sentry Dcried
All Bmsights were fixed on Bm/Aone lone figure Gtrudging from their Asus4sideA  
His Dtruce flag D/C#like a BmChristmas Bm/Astar shone Gon that G/F#plain so Embright
As he Abravely strode un-Asus4armed inAto the DnightD  
Then Done by D/C#one, on Bmeither Bm/Aside, walked Ginto G/F#No Man's EmLand
With Aneither gun or Asus4bayonetA, we Gmet there hand to Dhand
We Dshared some D/C#secret BmbranBm/Ady and Gwished each G/F#other Emwell
And Ain a flare-lit Asus4soccer Agame, we Ggave 'em Dhell
We Atraded chocolates, Asus4cigaretAtes and Gphotographs from Dhome
These Bmsons and fathers Bm/Afar away from Gfamilies of their Asus4ownA  
Young DSanders D/C#played his BmsqueezebBm/Aox and they Ghad a G/F#vi-o-Emlin
This cAurious and un-Asus4likely Aband of DmenD  
Soon Ddaylight D/C#stole u-Bmpon uBm/As, and GFrance was G/F#France once Emmore
With Asad farewells we Asus4each beAgan to Gsettle back to Dwar
But the Dquestion D/C#haunted Bmevery Bm/Aheart that Glived that G/F#wondrous Emnight
Whose Afamily have I Asus4fixed withGin my Dsights
'Twas AChristmas in the Asus4trencheAs where the Gfrost so bitter Dhung
The Bmfrozen fields of Bm/AFrance were warmed as GChristmas songs were Asus4sungA  
For the Dwalls they D/C#kept be-Bmtween uBm/As to ex-Gact the G/F#work of Emwar
Had been Acrumbled and are Asus4gone for Aever-DmoreD  
Oh my Dname is D/C#Frances BmTollivBm/Aer, in GLiverG/F#pool I Emdwell
Each AChristmas come since Asus4World WAar One, I've Glearned it's lessons Dwell
That the Dones who D/C#call the BmshotsBm/A, won't be a-Gmong the G/F#dead and Emlame
And on Aeach end of the Asus4rifle, we'Are the Dsame

All chords in this song (9)

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XXO232

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D major

This shape is home. Capo 2 makes it sound in E major. End the line on this chord.

Christmas In The Trenches

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Christmas In The Trenches

by John McCutcheon

Lyrics & chords · Original key · Capo on fret 2 (as written in this song)

Chords in this song · guitar

D/C#

Bm/A

G/F#

Asus4

Christmas in the Trenches

By John McCutcheon

Winter Solstice (1984)

As interpreted by Joe G

Capo on 2

D G A D

INTRO: , , ,

D D/C# Bm Bm/A G G/F# Em

My name is Frances Tolliver, I come from Liver-pool

A Asus4 A G D

Two years ago the war was waiting for me after school

D D/C# Bm Bm/A G G/F# Em

To Belgium and to Flanders, to Germany, to here

A A Asus4 A D D

I fought for King and country I love dear

A Asus4 A G D

'Twas Christmas in the trenches, where the frost so bitter hung

Bm Bm/A G Asus4 A

The frozen fields of France were still, no Christmas song was sung

D D/C# Bm Bm/A G G/F# Em

Our families back in England were toasting us that day

A Asus4 A D D

Their brave and glorious lads so far a-way

D D/C# Bm Bm/A G G/F# Em

I was lying with my messmate, on the cold and rocky ground

A Asus4 A G D

When a-cross the lines of battle came a most peculiar sound

D D/C# Bm Bm/A G G/F# Em

Says I, now listen up me boys, each soldier strained to hear

A Asus4 A D D

As one young German voice sang out so clear

A Asus4 A G D

He's singing bloody well you know, my partner says to me

Bm Bm/A G Asus4 A

Soon one by one each German voice, joined in in har-mo-ny

D D/C# Bm Bm/A G G/F# Em

The cannons rested silent, the gas clouds rolled no more

A Asus4 A D D

As Christmas brought us respite from the war

D D/C# Bm Bm/A G G/F# Em

As soon as they were finished, and a reverent pause was spent

A Asus4 A G D

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, struck up some lads from Kent

D D/C# Bm Bm/A G G/F# Em

The next they sang was "Stille Nacht", 'tis "Silent Night" says I

A Asus4 A G D

And in two tongues, one song filled up that sky

A Asus4 A G D

There's someone comin' t'wards us, the frontline sentry cried

Bm Bm/A G Asus4 A

All sights were fixed on one lone figure trudging from their side

D D/C# Bm Bm/A G G/F# Em

His truce flag like a Christmas star shone on that plain so bright

A Asus4 A D D

As he bravely strode un-armed into the night

D D/C# Bm Bm/A G G/F# Em

Then one by one, on either side, walked into No Man's Land

A Asus4 A G D

With neither gun or bayonet, we met there hand to hand

D D/C# Bm Bm/A G G/F# Em

We shared some secret brandy and wished each other well

A Asus4 A G D

And in a flare-lit soccer game, we gave 'em hell

A Asus4 A G D

We traded chocolates, cigarettes and photographs from home

Bm Bm/A G Asus4 A

These sons and fathers far away from families of their own

D D/C# Bm Bm/A G G/F# Em

Young Sanders played his squeezebox and they had a vi-o-lin

A Asus4 A D D

This curious and un-likely band of men

D D/C# Bm Bm/A G G/F# Em

Soon daylight stole u-pon us, and France was France once more

A Asus4 A G D

With sad farewells we each began to settle back to war

D D/C# Bm Bm/A G G/F# Em

But the question haunted every heart that lived that wondrous night

A Asus4 G D

Whose family have I fixed within my sights

A Asus4 A G D

'Twas Christmas in the trenches where the frost so bitter hung

Bm Bm/A G Asus4 A

The frozen fields of France were warmed as Christmas songs were sung

D D/C# Bm Bm/A G G/F# Em

For the walls they kept be-tween us to ex-act the work of war

A Asus4 A D D

Had been crumbled and are gone for ever-more

D D/C# Bm Bm/A G G/F# Em

Oh my name is Frances Tolliver, in Liverpool I dwell

A Asus4 A G D

Each Christmas come since World War One, I've learned it's lessons well

D D/C# Bm Bm/A G G/F# Em

That the ones who call the shots, won't be a-mong the dead and lame

A Asus4 A D

And on each end of the rifle, we're the same

About Christmas In The Trenches Chords by John McCutcheon

Learn how to play Christmas In The Trenches by John McCutcheon with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Christmas In The Trenches chords”, “Christmas In The Trenches guitar chords”, or “John McCutcheon Christmas In The Trenches chords” and you will find this page — transpose to any key, tap chords for diagrams, and use auto-scroll while you play. Perfect for beginners looking for easy Christmas In The Trenches chords and for experienced players who want accurate Christmas In The Trenches lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include G, D, A, D/C#, Bm, Bm/A.

FAQ — Christmas In The Trenches by John McCutcheon

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