b"\n_START_ARTICLE_\nChristmas in the Trenches\n_START_SECTION_\nLiriko\n_START_PARAGRAPH_\nMy name is Francis Tolliver, I come from Liverpool._NEWLINE_Two years ago the war was waiting for me after school._NEWLINE_To Belgium and to Flanders, to Germany to here_NEWLINE_I fought for King and country I love dear._NEWLINE_'Twas Christmas in the trenches, where the frost so bitter hung,_NEWLINE_The frozen fields of France were still, no Christmas song was sung_NEWLINE_Our families back in England were toasting us that day_NEWLINE_Their brave and glorious lads so far away._NEWLINE_I was lying with my messmate on the cold and rocky ground_NEWLINE_When across the lines of battle came a most peculiar sound_NEWLINE_Says I, ``Now listen up, me boys! each soldier strained to hear_NEWLINE_As one young German voice sang out so clear._NEWLINE_``He's singing bloody well, you know! my partner says to me_NEWLINE_Soon, one by one, each German voice joined in harmony_NEWLINE_The cannons rested silent, the gas clouds rolled no more_NEWLINE_As Christmas brought us respite from the war_NEWLINE_As soon as they were finished and a reverent pause was spent_NEWLINE_``God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen struck up some lads from Kent_NEWLINE_The next they sang was ``Stille Nacht. ``Tis `Silent Night', says I_NEWLINE_And in two tongues one song filled up that sky_NEWLINE_``There's someone coming toward us! the front line sentry cried_NEWLINE_All sights were fixed on one long figure trudging from their side_NEWLINE_His truce flag, like a Christmas star, shown on that plain so bright_NEWLINE_As he, bravely, strode unarmed into the night_NEWLINE_Soon one by one on either side walked into No Man's Land_NEWLINE_With neither gun nor bayonet we met there hand to hand_NEWLINE_We shared some secret brandy and we wished each other well_NEWLINE_And in a flare-lit soccer game we gave 'em hell_NEWLINE_We traded chocolates, cigarettes, and photographs from home_NEWLINE_These sons and fathers far away from families of their own_NEWLINE_Young Sanders played his squeezebox and they had a violin_NEWLINE_This curious and unlikely band of men_NEWLINE_Soon daylight stole upon us and France was France once more_NEWLINE_With sad farewells we each prepared to settle back to war_NEWLINE_But the question haunted every heart that lived that wonderous night_NEWLINE_``Whose family have I fixed within my sights?_NEWLINE_'Twas Christmas in the trenches where the frost, so bitter hung_NEWLINE_The frozen fields of France were warmed as songs of peace were sung_NEWLINE_For the walls they'd kept between us to exact the work of war_NEWLINE_Had been crumbled and were gone forevermore_NEWLINE_My name is Francis Tolliver, in Liverpool I dwell_NEWLINE_Each Christmas come since World War I, I've learned its lessons well_NEWLINE_That the ones who call the shots won't be among the dead and lame_NEWLINE_And on each end of the rifle we're the same"