My wife and I have been watching the Sharpe's TV series on DVDs and can't seem to get enough! Going through the whole set for about the 4th time right now. I'm not sure why Genie dislikes the song -- my wife and I love it and catch ourselves singing snatches of it frequently.

Liz the squeak's comment is a little out of date since she posted it. There are now 16 episodes plus an additional "retrospective" summary called "Sharpe's Legacy" narrated by Rifleman Cooper {who mysteriously "disappears" during the series - the others, except Sharpe and Harper are all killed off during the series}. After "Sharpe's Waterloo" which originally ended the 14 part series there are now 2 more, "Sharpe's Challenge" and "Sharpe's Peril." "Peril" is not yet available in the U.S. as far as I know, but is in the UK, I believe.

Kevin Rietman asked what is a Sharpe's Rifle? The name Sharpe is that of Sean Bean's character, not of the gun. In the TV series the riflemen are using Baker Rifles. [Except for Harper's 7 barrel heavy gun.]

Now to the main concern: Over the Hills and Far Away. Mr. Happy posted only some of the John Tams verses, and Guest has added one more. Here's what I've cobbled together: [The "Chorus" is sung after each verse and sometimes twice at the end.]

OVER THE HILLS AND FAR AWAY - [John Tams' version from Sharpe]

Here's forty shillings on the drum
For those who volunteer to come.
To list and fight the foe today,
Over the hills and far away.

   Chorus: O'er the hills and o'er the main,
          Through Flanders, Portugal and Spain
          King George commands and we obey,
          Over the hills and far away.

Then fall in lads behind the drum,
With colours blazing like the sun,
Along the road to come what may,
Over the hills and far away.

CHO:

When duty calls me I must go,
To stand and face another foe,
But part of me will always stray,
Over the hills and far away.

CHO:

Through smoke and fire and shot and shell,
And to the very walls of Hell,
But we shall stand and we shall stay,
Over the hills and far away.

CHO:

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,

CHO:

Though I may travel far from Spain,
A part of me shall still remain,
For you are with me night and day,
Over the hills and far away.

CHO:

Let kings and tyrants come and go,
I'll stand adjudged by what I know.
A soldier's life I'll ne'er gainsay,
Over the hills and far away.

CHO:

Old Wellington, he scratched his bum,
Says, "'Boney, lad, thee's had thy fun.
My riflemen will win the day,
Over the hills and far away."

CHO:

If I should fall to rise no more,
As many comrades have before,
Then ask the pipes and drums to play,
Over the Hills and Far Away,

CHO: [twice]

************

As far as I know there is no set order for the verses. I've arranged them arbitrarily, in the order that makes the most chronological sense to me. Starting with the volunteer enlisting and ending with his final wish if he should die. But that's my very linear mind at work. I don't think it really matters in what order or sequence they're sung. Oh, yes, someone asked which King George is referred to in the chorus. I think that would be George III, although if my memory serves me there was a regency of his son along about that time. But I think George III was still considered the King during the Napoleonic Wars [1805-1815]. Someone correct me if I'm wrong. [I live on the wrong side of the "pond."]

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