Yin and Yang: Garth Brooks - Belleau Wood

  Anyone keeping up with my Christmas songs hopefully got the chance to listen to Snoopy's Christman by The Royal Guardsmen. If not, scoot over there and give it a listen before going on. It leads a little context, possibly...
  I'm a Garth fan, always have been and always will be. The amazing thing that I've learned when it comes to listening to any Garth Brooks album is the fact that the hits he puts out are amazing, but the stuff on the album that isn't released is just as amazing, and probably much more powerful. This fact is defined with such songs as The Night I Called the Old Man Out, The Night Will Only Know, and Ireland. However, one little gem was packed away at the end of Sevens, and that song is called Belleau Wood. Not a Christmas song, by definition, but takes on the very real aspect of soldiers at war during Christmas. Very similar to Snoopy and the Red Baron, there was pause in this barbaric war against each other for country sake, and the raw, powerful, human side steps in. Full of emotion and consideration for one another, Belleau Wood woefully tells the story of two sides at war, stopping momentarily to observe a holiday that most people almost take for granted in today's day and age. However, at the end of the day, Snoopy and the Red Baron parted ways "knowing they'll see each other" again. Unfortunately, in Brook's tale parting ways is not an option. "When the devil's clock stuck midnight" the unspoken truce and unrestrained human consideration were both gone. A deep cut off an album that most people missed, sit back and give this song a listen. Be thankful for those who gave all so we can be free this holiday season. If you do AT LEAST that, then this holiday is not one taken in vain. Garth Brooks - Belleau Wood (Live).