Updated for 2009
This poem was written by Lance Corporal James M. Schmidt in 1986. It was recorded by Father Ted Berndt of Bread of Life Charismatic Episcopal Church in Dousman, Wisconsin, who was also a Marine and WWII Purple Heart recipient.
His son has a website dedicated for the song: SoldiersSilentNight.com (Updated – the site has apparently been taken down.)
Lyrics, courtesy of the Tank Master Gunner:
TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS, HE LIVED ALL ALONE,
IN A ONE BEDROOM HOUSE MADE OF PLASTER AND STONE.
I HAD COME DOWN THE CHIMNEY WITH PRESENTS TO GIVE,
AND TO SEE JUST WHO IN THIS HOME DID LIVE.
I LOOKED ALL ABOUT, A STRANGE SIGHT I DID SEE,
NO TINSEL, NO PRESENTS, NOT EVEN A TREE.
NO STOCKING BY MANTLE, JUST BOOTS FILLED WITH SAND,
ON THE WALL HUNG PICTURES OF FAR DISTANT LANDS.
WITH MEDALS AND BADGES, AWARDS OF ALL KINDS,
A SOBER THOUGHT CAME THROUGH MY MIND.
FOR THIS HOUSE WAS DIFFERENT, IT WAS DARK AND DREARY,
I FOUND THE HOME OF A SOLDIER, ONCE I COULD SEE CLEARLY.
THE SOLDIER LAY SLEEPING, SILENT, ALONE,
CURLED UP ON THE FLOOR IN THIS ONE BEDROOM HOME.
THE FACE WAS SO GENTLE, THE ROOM IN SUCH DISORDER,
NOT HOW I PICTURED A UNITED STATES SOLDIER.
WAS THIS THE HERO OF WHOM I’D JUST READ?
CURLED UP ON A PONCHO, THE FLOOR FOR A BED?
I REALIZED THE FAMILIES THAT I SAW THIS NIGHT,
OWED THEIR LIVES TO THESE SOLDIERS WHO WERE WILLING TO FIGHT.
SOON ROUND THE WORLD, THE CHILDREN WOULD PLAY,
AND GROWNUPS WOULD CELEBRATE A BRIGHT CHRISTMAS DAY.
THEY ALL ENJOYED FREEDOM EACH MONTH OF THE YEAR,
BECAUSE OF THE SOLDIERS, LIKE THE ONE LYING HERE.
I COULDN’T HELP WONDER HOW MANY LAY ALONE,
ON A COLD CHRISTMAS EVE IN A LAND FAR FROM HOME.
THE VERY THOUGHT BROUGHT A TEAR TO MY EYE,
I DROPPED TO MY KNEES AND STARTED TO CRY;
THE SOLDIER AWAKENED AND I HEARD A ROUGH VOICE,
“SANTA DON’T CRY, THIS LIFE IS MY CHOICE;
I FIGHT FOR FREEDOM, I DON’T ASK FOR MORE,
MY LIFE IS MY GOD, MY COUNTRY, MY CORPS.”
THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER AND DRIFTED TO SLEEP,
I COULDN’T CONTROL IT, I CONTINUED TO WEEP.
I KEPT WATCH FOR HOURS, SO SILENT AND STILL
AND WE BOTH SHIVERED FROM THE COLD NIGHT’S CHILL.
I DIDN’T WANT TO LEAVE ON THAT COLD, DARK, NIGHT,
THIS GUARDIAN OF HONOR SO WILLING TO FIGHT.
THEN THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER, WITH A VOICE SOFT AND PURE,
WHISPERED, “CARRY ON SANTA, IT’S CHRISTMAS DAY, ALL IS SECURE.”
ONE LOOK AT MY WATCH, AND I KNEW HE WAS RIGHT.
“MERRY CHRISTMAS MY FRIEND, AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT.”
Also see: A Soldier’s Christmas
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December 19th, 2008 - 11:31 am
This goes to the heart strings of all active and formerly active services members that have spent so many Christmases from their families and friends. I was one of the fortunate ones while on active duty before I retired to not have to have spent any Christmases away form my two girls. My heart felt feelings go out to each and everyone of you who proudly serve and protect our country and still let freedom ring. Well done to all and a Merry Christmas stay safe.
December 28th, 2008 - 2:46 pm
O my gosh! I’ve never read anything so beautiful. I’m tiering up as we speak. I didn’t hear the song yet but I am about to.
November 28th, 2009 - 2:55 pm
Every time I hear this I can’t help but to cry …..There are so many out there fihgting all over the world to keep us safe so we can have those moments in time we take for granted …… those bal games…those picknics anywhere we want to have …….and those moments that only 50% of the US population excersize THE RIGHT TO VOTE!!!!! Every time you don’t vote you tell every service person that has served or is serving …there sacrafice was not worth it …..I VOTE FOR THEM …. if you don’t Vote you have no right to bitch about whats wrong with our Government ….. this song should be played year round …..SEMPER FI TILL I DIE
December 10th, 2009 - 5:32 pm
thats exactly what my husband says when i cry cuz hes in iraq right now he says oh well its my job i gotta do it… hes right and im proud of him and all soldiers they protect us and ask for nothing in return all i ask is he return home safely
December 11th, 2009 - 11:41 am
November 29, 2009
I heard this beautiful Christmas song for the first time. I had just parked the car to begin my Christmas shopping…I sat and listened to every word and my eyes welled up with tears. Today marked the second anniversary of our oldest daughter’s death. Crying comes so easy for me these days. I told my husband about how much it had touched me. We married as teenagers in 1966, he was drafted three months later and served in Viet Nam ’67-’68. He honored his country well, but doesn’t talk about it that much. Yesterday he heard the song, as he listened his head was down and turned away from mine. When the song ended he began walking away, I saw the tears he had tried to hide. Once a soldier, always a soldier. Thank you for this music and beautiful that somber voice of lyrics. It tugged the hearstrings of an aging Viet Nam veteran and his wife whom so proudly loves God, her country, and that Viet Nam soldier she married forty four years ago!
God Bless you for sharing this website and this beautiful song. Let us be more thankful to God and our brave soldiers, past and present, for keeping us safe as we reap our blessings of “FREEDOM”!
December 23rd, 2009 - 1:00 pm
I have been waiting since Christmas songs started before Thanksgiving to hear this song and never did. I heard it allot last season, if I had it my way it would be played everyday so we never forget our men and women serving their country. Freedom comes at a high price , yes I will pray with my family this Christmas eve, for all the famlies and services men at home and across seas, God bless you and Thank you.
December 24th, 2009 - 12:51 pm
I heard this poem “song” for the first time today in my car. I couldnt shut it off! I have never served but this hit the heart hard! It makes you wonder what the men and women of this country go through everday they are away from there familys!! Espcially around the holidays! I know one thing I thank them for the freedom we all have here in these UNITED STATES!!
December 24th, 2009 - 9:33 pm
My heart goes out to all of the men and women serving our gret country. I am a veteran too, I may not have served during war-time, but I kind of know what they are going through. My son served twice in Afghanistan, and was injured the second time around, but he continues to serve and that makes any parent real proud of our children.
December 26th, 2009 - 8:17 pm
What a beautiful song and a beautiful poem. I can’t say anything else.
Who was the artist of the song? I know who wrote the poem and who recorded it. I’m curious who the artist was who composed the music.
December 27th, 2009 - 8:15 am
I don’t know, Scott – I haven’t been able to find out who composed the music, and the original website is now down. I’m sorry.
-Jenn
January 1st, 2010 - 2:48 am
The song is named Stille Nacht (Silent Night). But I don’t know who originally recorded it. However, Mannheim Steamroller has covered it on their Christmas Celebration album.
January 1st, 2010 - 10:19 am
Thanks, so much, BK!