Christmas 1914

Jimmy Lee Morris is a UK folk artist who has been playing in clubs and festivals for over thirty years. Many years ago he began writing tonight’s featured song. He finished and released it this year. Morris tells the story much better than I.

“The song was mostly written when I was 16 years old, way back when. It was inspired by an eye opening and inspiring history lesson I had about the Christmas armistice in 1914. I thought with the 100 year anniversary of the end of the war I should finish the song and record and release it to mark this important moment in history. My aim was to portray the song from a soldiers point of view, as if writing letters home.”

It’s a lovely and touching song.

Christmas 1914

December 1914 and as you see we’re all still here
In a war that should be over by Christmas or New Year
But we’re still out here fighting for your name
While everyone at home is treating this more like a game

Fighting has just finished for another night at least
Friends of mine who started out are no longer here with me
It’s Christmas eve but what does that mean now
It’s just another day for us to live another hour

And the rain falls on the fields
While the wounded pray to be healed
Yes the rain falls as we lie here
Knowing that our fates are sealed

It’s Christmas 1914 and we all wish we weren’t here
Remember loved ones and the warmth of home this time of year
But here we are entrenched each man alone
So raise a glass to all the lads who’ll never make it home

The night is getting colder and our sleep is wearing thin
And then across the battlefield men began to sing
They sang in German but the tune was clear
A silent night a holy night came drifting through the air

And slowly to begin the soldiers started to sing
Together as one they all threw down their guns
And called each other a friend

Christmas 1914 and the peace was over soon
We’re back down in our trenches as this war brings darker gloom
We’re fighting just the same as we fought before
But the night had shown us hope we could have peace and not have war
And we pray to see another Christmas
Yes we pray to see another Christmas
Yes we pray to see another Christmas Day

JimmyLeeMorris.com
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Jimmy Lee Morris – Christmas 1914

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