Mary's Wandering

Dm / Dm C G/B Am / Dm C F Bb (or Am) / F C Dm

Em / Em D Bm / Em D G C (or Bm) / G D Em

Am / Am G Em / Am G/B C F / C G/B Am

O Mary would go a’wandering, through all the land she went.
That she might find her Son; that she might find her Son.

And had she as she journeyed forth, St. Peter that good man,
who sadly did her scan; who sadly did her scan.

O tell me now have you seen Him yet, the one I love so dear,
the son whom I have lost, God’s Son whom I have lost.

To well, to well I have seen that Son, t’was by a palace gate;
most grievous was His state, most grievous was His state.

And on His head, He wore a crown, a crown of thorns He wore;
a cross He also bore, a cross He also bore.

O Mary would go a’wandering, through all the land she went.
That she might find her Son; that she might find her Son.

Maria Wandered Amid the Thorns

Em G D / G D Bm / Em D C D / Em C Am Em

Maria walks amid the thorn, (Kyrie eleison.)
Maria walks amid the thorn,
Which seven years no leaf has born. (Jesus and Maria.)

What 'neath her heart doth Mary bear?
A little child doth Mary bear,
Beneath her heart He nestles there.

And as the two are passing near,
Lo! roses on the thorns appear,
Lo! roses on the thorns appear.

Am C G / C G Em / Am G F G / Am F Dm Am

Christmas in the Trenches

D Bm G Em
My name is Francis Toliver, I come from Liverpool.
A7 (2) G D
Two years ago the war was waiting for me after school.
D Bm G Em
To Belgium and to Flanders, Germany to here.
A7 (2) D (2)
I fought for King and country I love dear.

A7 (2) G D
Twas Christmas in the trenches, where the frost so bitter hung.
Bm Bm/A G A7
The frozen fields of France were still, no Christmas song was sung.
D Bm G Em
Our families back in England were toasting us that day,
A7 (2) D (2)
Their brave and glorious lads so far away.

D Bm G Em
I was lying with my mess mate on the cold and rocky ground.
A7 (2) G D
When across the lines of battle came a most peculiar sound.
D Bm G Em
Says I, "now listen up me boys." Each soldier strained to hear
A7 (2) D (2)
As one young German voice sang out so clear.

A7 (2) G D
"He's singing bloody well y'know," my partner says to me.
Bm Bm/A G A7
Soon one by one each German voice joined in in harmony.
D Bm G Em
The cannons rested silent, and the gas clouds rolled no more.
A7 (2) D (2)
As Christmas brought us respite from the war.

D Bm G Em A7 (2) G D

D Bm G Em
As soon as they were finished, and a reverent pause was spent,
A7 (2) G D
"God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" struck up some lads from Ghent.
D Bm G Em
Oh the next they sang was "Stille Nacht", 'tis Silent Night says I.
A7 (2) D (2)
And in two tongues one song filled up that sky.

A7 (2) G D
"There's someone coming towards us", the front line sentry cried.
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All sights were fixed on one lone figure trudging from their side.
D Bm G Em
His truce flag like a Christmas star shone on that plain so bright
A7 (2) D (2)
As he bravely strolled unarmed into the night.

D Bm G Em
Then one by one on either side walked into no-man's land.
A7 (2) G D
With neither gun nor bayonet we met there hand to hand.
D Bm G Em
We shared some secret brandy and we wished each other well.
A7 (2) D (2)
And in a flare-lit soccer game we gave 'em hell.

A7 (2) G D
We traded chocolates, cigarettes and photographs from home.
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These sons and fathers far away from families of their own.
D Bm G Em
Young Sanders played the squeezebox and they had a violin.
A7 (2) D (2)
This curious and unlikely band of men.

D Bm D G G D A7 D

D Bm G Em
Soon daylight stole upon us and France was France once more.
A7 (2) G D
With sad farewells we each began to settle back to war.
D Bm G Em
But the question haunted every heart that lived that wondrous night.
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"Whose family have I fixed within my sights?"

A7 (2) G D
’Twas Christmas in the trenches, where the frost so bitter hung.
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The frozen fields of France were warmed as songs of peace were sung.
D Bm G Em
For the walls they kept between us to exact the work of war
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Had been crumbled and were gone forever more.

D Bm G Em A7 (2) G D

D Bm G Em
My name is Francis Toliver, in Liverpool I dwell.
A7 (2) G D
Each Christmas comes since World War I, I've learned its lessons well.
D Bm G Em
For the ones who call the shots won't be among the dead and lame,
A7 (2) D (2)
And on each end of the rifle we're the same.

D Bm D G G D A7 D (hold)

Wexford Carol (Good People All)

C Am G / F C Bb / C Am G / F G C / Gm Cm / Cm Gm Bb / C Am G / F G C

D Bm A / G D C / D Bm A / G A D / Am Dm / Dm Am C / D Bm A / G A D

G Em D / C G F / G Am D / C D G / Dm Gm / Gm Dm F / G Em D / C D G

Good people all, this Christmas-time,
Consider well and bear in mind
What our good God for us has done
In sending his beloved Son.
With Mary holy we should pray
To God with love this Christmas day;
In Bethlehem upon that morn
There was a blessed Messiah born.

2. The night before that happy tide
The noble Virgin and her guide
Were long time seeking up and down
To find a lodging in the town.
But mark how all things came to pass;
From every door repelled alas!
As long foretold, their refuge all
Was but an humble ox's stall.

3. There were three wise men from afar
Directed by a glorious star,
And on they wandered night and day
Until they came where Jesus lay,
And when they came unto that place
Where our beloved Messiah was,
They humbly cast them at his feet,
With gifts of gold and incense sweet.

4. Near Bethlehem did shepherds keep
Their flocks of lambs and feeding sheep;
To whom God's angels did appear,
Which put the shepherds in great fear.
'Prepare and go.' the angels said.
'To Bethlehem, be not afraid;
For there you'll find, this happy morn,
A princely babe, sweet Jesus born.'

5. With thankful heart and joyful mind,
The shepherds went the babe to find,
And as God's angel had foretold,
They did our saviour Christ behold.
Within a manger he was laid,
And by his side the virgin maid,
Attending on the Lord of life,
Who came on earth to end all strife.