Biography:
John McCutcheon has emerged as one of our most respected and loved folksingers. As an instrumentalist, he is a master of a dozen different traditional instruments, most notably the rare and beautiful hammer dulcimer. His songwriting has been hailed by critics and singers around the globe. His twenty-four recordings have garnered every imaginable honor, including five Grammy nominations. He has produced over twenty albums of other artists, from traditional fiddlers to contemporary singer-songwriters to educational and documentary works.
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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
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
By John McCutcheon
Winter Solstice (1984)
As interpreted by Joe G
Capo on 2
INTRO: D, G, A, D
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
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