John Tams – Over the hills and far away
An evening pause: I’m not sure if John Tams is singing, but these are his lyrics used in the British historical television series, Sharpe, set to a traditional British song from the 18th century (hence the line “King George commands and we obey). I like this lyric however:
When Evil stalks upon the land
I’ll neither hold nor stay me hand
But fight to win a better day,
Over the hills and far away.
Hat tip Alton Blevins.
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The Melody is much older still.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Over_the_Hills_and_Far_Away_(traditional_song).
In the 1706 version the line is, “The Queen Commands and we obey.” That would be Queen Anne.
Here is a site with the full lyrics.
https://mainlynorfolk.info/martin.carthy/songs/overthehills.html.
I have no reason to doubt them, but, it is “the internet” after all.
Lyrics
Martin Carthy sing O’er the Hills on Landfall
Hark! now the drums they beat again
For all true soldiers gentlemen,
To list and enter into pay,
Over the hills and far away.
Chorus (repeated after each verse):
O’er the hills and o’er the main,
Through Flanders, Portugal and Spain.
Queen Anne commands and we obey,
Over the hills and far away.
You gentlemen who have a mind
To serve a Queen that is good and kind,
Come join with us and march away,
Over the hills and far away.
He that is forced to go to fight
Will never win true honour by it,
For volunteers will win the day
Over the hills and far away.
Although our friends our absence mourn
We with all honour shall return,
And we shall sing both night and day,
Over the hills and far away.
(repeat first verse)
Strawhead sing Over the Hills and Far Away
Hark! now the drums beat up again
For all true soldiers gentlemen,
Then let us list, and march I say,
Over the hills and far away.
Chorus (repeated after each verse):
And it’s over the hills and o’er the main,
Through Flanders, Portugal and Spain.
Queen Anne commands and we’ll obey,
Over the hills and far away.
Hear that brave boys, and let us go,
Or else we shall be prest you know;
Then list and enter into pay,
And over the hills and far away.
The constables they search about
To find such brisk young fellows out;
Then let’s be volunteers I say,
For over the hills and far away.
He that is forc’d to go to fight
Will never get true honour by’t,
While volunteers shall win the day
When over the hills and far away.
No more from the sound of the drum retreat,
While Marlborough, and Galloway beat
The French and Spaniards every day
When over the hills and far away.
For if we go ’tis one to ten,
But we return all gentlemen,
All gentlemen as well as they
When over the hills and far away.
Shirley Collins sings Over the Hills and Far Away
Tom, Tom, the piper’s son,
Played to me when I was young;
And the only tune that he could play
Was Over the Hills and Far Away.
Were I laid on Greenland’s coast
And in my arm embraced my lass,
Warm against the eternal frost,
Too soon the half year’s night would pass.
Chorus:
And I would love you all the day,
Ev’ry hour would kiss and play,
If with me you’d fondly stray
Over the hills and far away.
Were I sold on Indian soil,
Soon as the burning day would close,
I could mock the sultry toil,
When on my charmer’s breast reposed.
(Chorus)
Over the hills and a long way off
The wind doth blow my top-knot off
Martin Carthy and Isla St Clair sing Over the Hills and Far Away on 70 Golden Nursery Rhymes
Tom, he was a piper’s son,
He learnt to play when he was young;
And all the tunes that he could play
Was Over the Hills and Far Away.
Chorus (repeated after each verse):
Over the hills and a long way off
The wind shall blow my top-knot off
Tom with his pipe made such a noise
That he pleased both the girls and boys;
They all stopped to hear him play
Over the Hills and Far Away
Tom on his pipe played with such skill
That those who heard him couldn’t keep still.
As soon as he played they began to dance;
Even the pigs began to prance.
As Dolly was a-milking a cow one day,
Tom took his pipe and began to play.
So Dolly and the cow did The Cheshire Round –
The pail was broke and the milk ran on the ground.
Tom, Tom, the piper’s son,
Stole a pig and away he’d run.
The pig was eat and Tom was beat;
Tom went howling down the street.
Tim Hart sings Over the Hills and Far Away
Oh Tom, he was a piper’s son,
He learned to play when he was young;
And the only tune that he could play
Was Over the Hills and Far Away.
Chorus (repeated after each verse):
Over the hills and a long way off
The wind shall blow my top-knot off
Now Tom with his pipe made such a noise
That he pleased both the girls and boys;
And they did dance when he did play
Over the Hills and Far Away
1706. It appears in print. How old that melody is, well that’s anyone’s guess.
Now Tom did play with such a skill
That those nearby could not stand still
And all who heard him they did dance
Down through England, Spain and France
(repeat first verse)
And I thought that Led Zepplin’s Over the Hills and Far Away was the best song ever. I stand corrected after listening to this version. Quite moving. Thank you for posting this.
Thanks for that. I had never heard the song or the melody.