Christmas in the Trenches

Christmas Eve, 1914.  Belgium.  The Great War had started months before, and troops from England were dug in along a line in France.  Across a strip of land, called No Man’s Land, troops from Germany were dug in equally as well, staring across the void at their enemy.

War is obscene.  War is a travesty on the human condition.

But there can be moments of inspiration during the conflict.  Christmas Eve, 1914 was the occasion of one such inspiring moment.

That night, spontaneously, a truce materialized.  A remarkable, if not miraculous event.

My favorite songwriter has written a marvelous song about a fictitious British soldier, Francis Tolliver, who was on the line that night.

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

When across the lines of battle came a most peculiar sound

Says I, "Now listen up, me boys!" each soldier strained to hear

As one young German voice sang out so clear.

****

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

And in two tongues one song filled up that sky

I’ve always been struck by the line “two tongues filled up the sky.”  In the midst of war, with both sides praying to the same God, they can, for a night, respect each other as children of the same Father. 

It only lasted one night, and the bullets started flying the next day.  And the generals on each side gave specific orders to prevent such an unauthorized truce the remaining years of the war.

But that night showed, even in the midst of the horror of war, that there was still hope.

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

The frozen fields of France were warmed 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 forevermore

I wish you, on this holiest of nights, Peace. 

___________________

For the complete lyrics, click here.

To hear John McCutcheon perform this song, click here.