Sending out the lyrics for the following song is becoming an annual
custom of mine; one which many of you seem to appreciate.  After the
events of today, renewed bombing of Iraq, I thought the timing was
appropriate.  As many times as I've heard it, it still brings tears to my
eyes.  It's also a nice diversion from the endless repeats of those
commercial carols we all get sick of during this season.  Hopefully
you'll appreciate it as much as I do.


[For those of you who would like to find an album with this song, or to
locate some other more diverse winter holiday music, stay tuned for a
follow-up post.]


This year this message is particularly dedicated to those friends of mine
who are currently serving in the military:  Tabbi with the Navy in Japan;
Daniel who's with an Army Artillery unit in Germany and may soon be in
some portion of the former Yugoslavia; and Steve & Greg who both recently
returned for a tour in the US.  Also for their families and friends who
spend a lot of energy keeping things going at home and waiting for their
return.  Lord & Lady keep these four, and those like them, safe; and may
they NEVER know this scene again.


Stars light your path,

			Quarong


*********************************************************************


<bigger>CHRISTMAS IN THE TRENCHES

</bigger>

[By Canadian Folk Musician John McCutcheon.  

Tune is done by a slow, haunting violin.]



My name is Francis Tolliver,

I come from Liverpool.

Two years ago the war was waiting for me after school.

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.

Our families back in England

Were toasting us that day,

Their brave and glorius lads so far away.


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.


"He's singing bloody well you know."

My partner says to me.

Soon one by one each German voice joined in in harmony.

The cannons rested silent,

The gas cloud rolled no more,

As Christmas brought us respite from the war.


(4 bars of instrumental break)


As soon as they were finished

A reverent pause was spent,

"God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" struck up some lads from Kent.

Oh the next they sang was "Steele Nacht",

"Tis 'Silent Night'" says I.

And in two tongues, one song filled up that sky.


"There's someone coming towards us!"

The forward sentry cried.

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

His truce flag like a Christmas star

Shown on that plain so bright,

As he bravely strode unarmed into the night.


Then one by one on either side

Walked into No-Man's Land;

With neither gun nor bayonet, we met there hand to hand.

We shared some secret brandy,

And wished each other well;

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


We traded chocalates, cigarettes,

And photographs from home.

These sons and fathers far away from families of their own.

Young Sanders played his squeezebox

And they had a violin,

This curious and unlikely band of men.


(4 bars of instrumental music.)


Soon daylight stole upon us

And France was France once more;

With sad farewells we each began to settle back to war.

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 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.


(4 bars of instrumental music.)


Oh my name is Francis Tolliver,

In Liverpool I dwell.

Each Christmas come since World War One, I've learned its lessons well:

That the ones who call the shots

Won't be among the dead and lame,

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


(4 bars of instrumental music, slow and fading.)







<<*><<*><<*><<*><<*><<*><<*><<*><<*><<*><<*><<*><<*><<*><<*><<*><<*><<*><<*>

"The silence of the stars is not easy to hear, but when 

felt, it moves us into the depths of our being."  ----

Please reply to <<quarong@eskimo.com>.  Zhai'helleva!