december 1943

John Michael Montgomery

The ending of December 1943
Somewhere in the forest
The snow was three feet deep
Two allied soldiers walking
Trying not to freeze
Far from home on Christmas Eve

A cabin with the light on
Brought them to its door
A woman said, "In my home
You can't bring in your war
So leave your rifles outside
Up against a tree
There's peace on Earth on Christmas Eve"

And they sat by the fire and they talked all night long
Sang Christmas hymns and showed pictures of home
In the middle of a great war it's so hard to believe
There's peace on Earth on Christmas Eve

Later in the evening, footsteps in the night
Two German soldiers freezing
The woman went outside
"You're welcome here in my home
But your guns will never be
There's peace on Earth on Christmas Eve"

The soldiers all were frightened
When they stood face to face
The woman said, "You're brothers
Part of the human race
Tonight we're all just family
And we'll get down on our knees
And praise His name on Christmas Eve"

And they sat by the fire and the talked all night long
Sang Christmas hymns and showed pictures of home
In the middle of a great war, bitter enemies
Found peace on Earth on Christmas Eve

Early that next morning
They went their separate ways
Shook hands and hugged that woman
There on Christmas Day