Christmas in the Trenches (D Major)
Artist: McCutcheon, John    Genre: Christmas    Tempo: Waltz    Roman Numerals: I, ii, iii, IV, V7, vi    Instrument: Guitar - Standard Tuning [E,A,D,G,B,E]   
Song Notes:  
Recording @ YouTube
Entered by: PollyEV   
D
(D,F♯,A)
- - D A D F♯
Em
(E,G,B)
E B E G B E
F♯m
(F♯,A,C♯)
F♯ C♯ F♯ A C♯ F♯
G
(G,B,D)
G B D G B G
A7
(A,C♯,E,G)
- A E G C♯ E
Bm
(B,D,F♯)
F♯ B F♯ B D F♯


Verse 1
My [DMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Unison] name is Francis		 [BmMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Major Sixth] Tolliver.
I [GMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Fourth] come from Liver-		 [EmMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Major Second] pool.
Two [A7Dominant 7th Chord (U,M3,P5,m7)
on the Perfect Fifth] years ago the war was waiting
[GMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Fourth] for me after		 [DMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Unison] school.
To Belgium and to [BmMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Major Sixth] Flanders,
to [GMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Fourth] Germany, to		 [EmMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Major Second] here,
I [A7Dominant 7th Chord (U,M3,P5,m7)
on the Perfect Fifth] fought for King and country I love		 [DMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Unison] dear.
Twas [A7Dominant 7th Chord (U,M3,P5,m7)
on the Perfect Fifth] Christmas in the trenches
where the [GMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Fourth] frost so bitter		 [DMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Unison] hung.
The [BmMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Major Sixth] frozen fields of		 [F♯mMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Major Third] France were still,
no [GMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Fourth] Christmas song was		 [A7Dominant 7th Chord (U,M3,P5,m7)
on the Perfect Fifth] sung.
Our [DMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Unison] families back in		 [BmMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Major Sixth] England
were [GMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Fourth] toasting us that		 [EmMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Major Second] day,
Their [A7Dominant 7th Chord (U,M3,P5,m7)
on the Perfect Fifth] brave and glorious lads so far a-		 [DMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Unison] way.

Verse 2
I was [DMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Unison] lyin' with my		 [BmMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Major Sixth] mess-mate
on the [GMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Fourth] cold and rocky		 [EmMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Major Second] ground
When a- [A7Dominant 7th Chord (U,M3,P5,m7)
on the Perfect Fifth] cross the lines of battle
came a [GMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Fourth] most peculiar		 [DMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Unison] sound.
Says I "Now listen [BmMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Major Sixth] up me boys",
each [GMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Fourth] soldier strained to		 [EmMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Major Second] hear
As [A7Dominant 7th Chord (U,M3,P5,m7)
on the Perfect Fifth] one young German voice sang out so		 [DMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Unison] clear.
"He's [A7Dominant 7th Chord (U,M3,P5,m7)
on the Perfect Fifth] singin' bloody well you know",
my [GMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Fourth] partner says to		 [DMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Unison] me.
Soon [BmMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Major Sixth] one by one each		 [F♯mMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Major Third] German voice
[GMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Fourth] joined in in harmo-		 [A7Dominant 7th Chord (U,M3,P5,m7)
on the Perfect Fifth] ny.
The [DMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Unison] cannons rested		 [BmMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Major Sixth] silent.
The [GMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Fourth] gas cloud rolled no		 [EmMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Major Second] more
As [A7Dominant 7th Chord (U,M3,P5,m7)
on the Perfect Fifth] Christmas brought us respite from the		 [DMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Unison] war.

Verse 3
As [DMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Unison] soon as they were		 [BmMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Major Sixth] finished
a [GMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Fourth] reverent pause was		 [EmMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Major Second] spent.
“God [A7Dominant 7th Chord (U,M3,P5,m7)
on the Perfect Fifth] Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen”
struck [GMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Fourth] up some lads from		 [DMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Unison] Kent.
The next they sang was [BmMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Major Sixth] 'Stille Nacht"
"Tis [GMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Fourth] 'Silent Night'" says		 [EmMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Major Second] I
And [A7Dominant 7th Chord (U,M3,P5,m7)
on the Perfect Fifth] in two tongues one song filled up that		 [DMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Unison] sky.

Verse 4
"There's [A7Dominant 7th Chord (U,M3,P5,m7)
on the Perfect Fifth] someone commin’ towards us"
the [GMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Fourth] front-line sentry		 [DMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Unison] cried.
All [BmMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Major Sixth] sights were fixed on		 [F♯mMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Major Third] one lone figure
[GMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Fourth] trudging from their		 [A7Dominant 7th Chord (U,M3,P5,m7)
on the Perfect Fifth] side.
His [DMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Unison] truce flag, like a		 [BmMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Major Sixth] Christmas star,
shone [GMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Fourth] on that plain so		 [EmMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Major Second] bright
As he [A7Dominant 7th Chord (U,M3,P5,m7)
on the Perfect Fifth] bravely strode, unarmed, into the		 [DMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Unison] night.

Verse 5
Soon [DMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Unison] one by one on		 [BmMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Major Sixth] either side
walked [GMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Fourth] into no-mans-		 [EmMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Major Second] land
With [A7Dominant 7th Chord (U,M3,P5,m7)
on the Perfect Fifth] neither gun nor bayonet
we [GMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Fourth] met there hand to		 [DMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Unison] hand.
We shared some secret [BmMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Major Sixth] brandy
and [GMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Fourth] wished each other		 [EmMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Major Second] well
And in a [A7Dominant 7th Chord (U,M3,P5,m7)
on the Perfect Fifth] flare-lit soccer game we gave 'em		 [DMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Unison] hell.
We [A7Dominant 7th Chord (U,M3,P5,m7)
on the Perfect Fifth] traded chocolates, cigarettes
and [GMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Fourth] photographs from		 [DMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Unison] home
These [BmMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Major Sixth] sons and fathers		 [F♯mMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Major Third] far away
from [GMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Fourth] families of their		 [A7Dominant 7th Chord (U,M3,P5,m7)
on the Perfect Fifth] own.
Young [DMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Unison] Sanders played his		 [BmMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Major Sixth] squeeze box
They [GMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Fourth] had a vio-		 [EmMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Major Second] lin
This [A7Dominant 7th Chord (U,M3,P5,m7)
on the Perfect Fifth] curious and unlikely band of		 [DMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Unison] men.

Instrumental Bridge (Air of ‘The Minstrel Boy’):
[DMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Unison] (8)		 [GMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Fourth] (2)		 [DMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Unison] (2)		 [A7Dominant 7th Chord (U,M3,P5,m7)
on the Perfect Fifth] (2)		 [DMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Unison] (2)

Verse 6
Soon [DMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Unison] daylight stole u-		 [BmMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Major Sixth] pon us
and [GMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Fourth] France was France once		 [EmMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Major Second] more.
With [A7Dominant 7th Chord (U,M3,P5,m7)
on the Perfect Fifth] sad farewells we each began
to [GMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Fourth] settle back to		 [DMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Unison] war.
But the question haunted [BmMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Major Sixth] every heart
that [GMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Fourth] beat that wonderous		 [EmMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Major Second] night
"Whose [A7Dominant 7th Chord (U,M3,P5,m7)
on the Perfect Fifth] family have I fixed within my		 [DMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Unison] sights?"
Twas [A7Dominant 7th Chord (U,M3,P5,m7)
on the Perfect Fifth] Christmas in the trenches
where the [GMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Fourth] frost so bitter		 [DMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Unison] hung.
The [BmMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Major Sixth] frozen fields of		 [F♯mMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Major Third] France were warmed
as [GMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Fourth] songs of peace were		 [A7Dominant 7th Chord (U,M3,P5,m7)
on the Perfect Fifth] sung.
For the [DMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Unison] walls they'd kept be-		 [BmMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Major Sixth] tween us
to e- [GMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Fourth] xact the work of		 [EmMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Major Second] war
Had been [A7Dominant 7th Chord (U,M3,P5,m7)
on the Perfect Fifth] crumbled and were gone forever		 [DMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Unison] more.

Verse 7
My [DMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Unison] name is Francis		 [BmMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Major Sixth] Tolliver.
In [GMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Fourth] Liverpool I		 [EmMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Major Second] dwell.
Each [A7Dominant 7th Chord (U,M3,P5,m7)
on the Perfect Fifth] Christmas come since World War One I've
[GMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Fourth] learned its lessons		 [DMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Unison] well.
That the ones who call the [BmMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Major Sixth] shots won't be
a- [GMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Fourth] mong the dead and		 [EmMinor Chord (U,m3,P5)
on the Major Second] lame
And on [A7Dominant 7th Chord (U,M3,P5,m7)
on the Perfect Fifth] each end of the rifle we're the		 [DMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Unison] same.

Outro (repeat bridge):
[DMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Unison] (8)		 [GMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Fourth] (2)		 [DMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Unison] (2)		 [A7Dominant 7th Chord (U,M3,P5,m7)
on the Perfect Fifth] (2)		 [DMajor Chord (U,M3,P5)
on the Perfect Unison] (hold)

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