Belleau Wood
View chords used in this chart
Chords and Tab by David Hooey
E(1)--5--------5-----------5-----------5-----------5----------
B(2)-----3--------3-----------3-----------3-----------3-------
G(3)-----------------2-----------2-----------2-----------2----
D(4)--------0-----------0-----------0-----------0-----------0-
A(5)----------------------------------------------------------
E(6)----------------------------------------------------------
D D/F#
Oh, the snowflakes fell in silence
Bm A D
Over Belleau Wood that night
G D
For a Christmas truce had been declared
A
By both side of the fight
D D/F#
As we lay there in our trenches
G
The silence broke in two
D
By a German soldier singing
A D A
A song that we all knew
D D/F#
Though I did not know the language
Bm A D
The song was "Silent Night"
G D
Then I heard my buddy whisper,
A
"All is calm and all is bright"
D D/F#
Then the fear and doubt surrounded me
G
'Cause I'd die if I was wrong
D
But I stood up in my trench
A D
And I began to sing along
A
Then across the frozen battlefield
G D
Another's voice joined in
G D/F#
Until one by one each man became
Em A
A singer of the hymn
D D/F#
Then I thought that I was dreaming
Bm A D
For right there in my sight
G D
Stood the German soldier
A
'Neath the falling flakes of white
D D/F#
And he raised his hand and smiled at me
G
As if he seemed to say
D
Here's hoping we both live
A D
To see us find a better way
A
Then the devil's clock struck midnight
G D
And the skies lit up again
G D/F#
And the battlefield where heaven stood
Em A
Was blown to hell again
D D/F#
But for just one fleeting moment
G
The answer seemed so clear
D
Heaven's not beyond the clouds
A Bm A
It's just beyond the fear
G D
No, heaven's not beyond the clouds
A D
It's for us to find it here
How to play Belleau Wood
Use the controls above to change the key and text size. Follow the highlighted chords while listening, then practice each section slowly before playing at the original tempo.
What is the starting chord?
The first identified chord is E. You can transpose without leaving the page.
Can I play it on guitar or keyboard?
Yes. The chord progression works on acoustic guitar, electric guitar and keyboard. Adapt the voicings to your instrument and level.