Christmas Truce

Album: The War to End All Wars (2021)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • On December 24, 1914, German World War I troops began decorating the area around their trenches in the region of Ypres, Belgium, for Christmas. As they did so, they celebrated by singing Christmas carols, including "Stille Nach." The British troops in the trenches across from them responded by singing English carols. The two sides shouted Christmas greetings to each other, and as word spread, men from both sides of the Western Front ventured into no-man's-land to mingle and exchange food and souvenirs. They even played some football. It was a rare few hours of peace amidst the bloody conflict.

    That momentous first Christmas Eve of World War I serves as the basis for this Sabaton track.
  • Sabaton recorded "Christmas Truce" for The War to End All Wars, a concept album that deals with themes tied to the atrocities, miracles and events of the First World War. Bassist Pär Sundström said recording a song about the ceasefire was the band's highest priority when they wrote the record. "Not only was it the most requested topic from our fans, but it was, for us, the most emotional story from the war," he explained. "This song took us years to create since we wanted the music to reflect the mood honesty, and it was a big challenge; but we feel we managed to write a song that captures the spirit of that day, over a century ago."
  • Sabaton base most of their songs on war, historical battles, and acts of heroism. The War to End All Wars is the Swedish heavy metal band's second consecutive album about World War I following 2019's The Great War.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

James Bond Theme Songs

James Bond Theme SongsMusic Quiz

How well do you know the 007 theme songs?

Tim McIlrath of Rise Against

Tim McIlrath of Rise AgainstSongwriter Interviews

Rise Against frontman Tim McIlrath explains the meanings behind some of their biggest songs and names the sci-fi books that have influenced him.

Colin Hay

Colin HaySongwriter Interviews

Established as a redoubtable singer-songwriter, the Men At Work frontman explains how religion, sobriety and Jack Nicholson play into his songwriting.

Charlotte Caffey of The Go-Go's

Charlotte Caffey of The Go-Go'sSongwriter Interviews

Charlotte was established in the LA punk scene when a freaky girl named Belinda approached her wearing a garbage bag.

Jello Biafra

Jello BiafraSongwriter Interviews

The former Dead Kennedys frontman on the past, present and future of the band, what music makes us "pliant and stupid," and what he learned from Alice Cooper.

Soul Train Stories with Stephen McMillian

Soul Train Stories with Stephen McMillianSong Writing

A Soul Train dancer takes us through a day on the show, and explains what you had to do to get camera time.