Capo 2nd fret

Standard (EADGBE)

Intro

[G/f#]

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

Two years ago the war was waiting for me after school

[G/f#]

To Belgium and to Flanders, to Germany, to here

I fought for King and country I love dear

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

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

[G/f#]

Our families back in England were toasting us that day

Their brave and glorious lads so far a-way

[G/f#]

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

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

[G/f#]

Says I, now listen up me 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 har-mo-ny

[G/f#]

The cannons rested silent, the gas clouds rolled no more

As Christmas brought us respite from the war

[G/f#]

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

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

[G/f#]

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 comin' t'wards us, the frontline sentry cried

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

[G/f#]

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

As he bravely strode un-armed into the night

[G/f#]

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

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

[G/f#]

We shared some secret brandy and wished each other well

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

We traded chocolates, cigarettes and photographs from home

These sons and fathers far away from families of their own

[G/f#]

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

This curious and un-likely band of men

[G/f#]

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

With sad farewells we each began to settle back to war

[G/f#]

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 warmed as Christmas songs were sung

[G/f#]

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

Had been crumbled and are gone for ever-more

[G/f#]

Oh my name is Frances Tolliver, in Liverpool I dwell

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

[G/f#]

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

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