Besides these two songs, five more of Montgomery's singles have reached the top of the country charts: "I Love the Way You Love Me", "Be My Baby Tonight", "If You've Got Love", "I Can Love You Like That", and "The Little Girl", while thirteen more have reached Top Ten. Montgomery's recordings of "I Swear" and "I Can Love You Like That" were both released concurrently with R&B versions by the group All-4-One. Montgomery has also released eleven studio albums, counting a Christmas album.
John Michael joined the family band (which also included his brother, Eddie Montgomery, who would later join Troy Gentry in the duo Montgomery Gentry) as guitarist before taking the lead singing role when his parents divorced. Afterwards, he made a frugal living on the local honky-tonk scene as a solo artist playing what he referred to as "working man's country." Eventually, Atlantic Records signed him.
December 1943
John Michael Montgomery Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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
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
The lyrics of John Michael Montgomery's song "December 1943" tell the story of two Allied soldiers who, during the height of World War II, found themselves in a forest deep in enemy territory on Christmas Eve. Desperate to find shelter from the freezing cold, they stumbled upon a cabin with a light on, where they were greeted by a woman who welcomed them inside but asked them to leave their rifles behind. The soldiers sat by the fire and talked with the woman all night, singing Christmas hymns and sharing pictures of home. Later that night, two German soldiers arrived at the cabin, also seeking shelter from the cold. Despite having been bitter enemies, the soldiers shared in the spirit of the season and all sat down together to praise His name on Christmas Eve. The next morning, they parted ways with a newfound sense of understanding and respect.
The lyrics of "December 1943" are a powerful reminder of the basic humanity that can be found in the most dire of circumstances. Despite being on opposite sides of a brutal war, the soldiers in the song are able to come together in the face of the Christmas spirit and recognize each other as fellow human beings. Additionally, the lyrics showcase the power of music to bring people together, as the soldiers sing Christmas hymns and share pictures of home, finding comfort in their shared experiences and traditions.
Line by Line Meaning
The ending of December 1943
The song takes place at the end of December 1943.
Somewhere in the forest
The scene takes place in a forest, but its location is not specific.
The snow was three feet deep
There is a lot of snow on the ground.
Two allied soldiers walking
There are two soldiers who are fighting on the same side.
Trying not to freeze
They are very cold and trying to keep warm.
Far from home on Christmas Eve
The soldiers are away from their homes on a special day.
A cabin with the light on
They see a cabin that is illuminated by light.
Brought them to its door
They approach the cabin's entrance.
A woman said, "In my home
They are confronted by a woman who objects to their presence.
You can't bring in your war
The woman does not want their war to enter her home.
So leave your rifles outside
She requests that they leave their weapons outside.
Up against a tree
They should lean their rifles against a nearby tree.
There's peace on Earth on Christmas Eve"
The woman is invoking the spirit of peace on a special day.
And they sat by the fire and they talked all night long
The soldiers and the woman have a long conversation by the fireplace.
Sang Christmas hymns and showed pictures of home
They sing songs and share memories with each other.
In the middle of a great war it's so hard to believe
Given the war's circumstances, it is difficult to imagine the current moment.
There's peace on Earth on Christmas Eve
Despite their differences, they can find a moment of peace together.
Later in the evening, footsteps in the night
Later in the night, they hear someone approaching the cabin.
Two German soldiers freezing
Two enemy soldiers approach the cabin, but they are suffering from the cold.
The woman went outside
The woman leaves the cabin and approaches the German soldiers.
"You're welcome here in my home
The woman welcomes the Germans to her home, despite their allegiance.
But your guns will never be
The woman does not want the guns of the German soldiers inside her home.
There's peace on Earth on Christmas Eve"
The woman invokes the spirit of peace once again.
The soldiers all were frightened
At first, the German soldiers are scared.
When they stood face to face
The two sides are confronting each other.
The woman said, "You're brothers
The woman reminds them that they are all human beings.
Part of the human race
They share the same humanity.
Tonight we're all just family
They are all united in the spirit of Christmas.
And we'll get down on our knees
They will pray together.
And praise His name on Christmas Eve"
They will offer gratitude to God for the moment of peace.
Early that next morning
The scene changes to the next day.
They went their separate ways
The German and Allied soldiers leave the cabin and each other.
Shook hands and hugged that woman
They show their gratitude to the woman before departing.
There on Christmas Day
The next day was Christmas Day.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: HARLEY ALLEN, JOHN WIGGINS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind