The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #51259   Message #780999
Posted By: GUEST,stoulmin1@aol.com
11-Sep-02 - 12:21 AM
Thread Name: Origins: Over the Hills and Far Away / O'er the...
Subject: Lyr Add: OVER THE HILLS AND FAR AWAY (Toulmin)
I don't know the answer to your question. But I have a semi-modern version in which I added some verses that may be appropriate; see below.

OVER THE HILLS AND FAR AWAY

Traditional, originally c. 1620 Napoleonic version, c. 1812

Semi-modern version revised and with new verses, 2002 by Llewellyn M. Toulmin

Here's fourteen shillings on the drum,
For those who'll 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.
The captain calls, we must obey.
Over the hills and far away.

When evil stalks upon the land,
I'll nyther hold nor stay me' hand,
But fight to win a better day.
Over the hills and far away.

Through fire and smoke and shot and shell,
Unto the very mouth of hell.
We'll fight until the Devil pay,
Over the hills and far away.

In Spain we fought the French four years,
Torres Vedras brought them tears.
At Badajoz they ran away,
Over the hills and far away.

Now though I travel far from Spain,
A part of me shall yet remain.
For she is with me night and day,
Over the hills and far away.

If I should fall to rise no more,
As many comrades did before,
Ask the pipes and drums to play,
Over the hills and far away.

And now I fight in foreign lands.
My foes - and friends - are both Afghans.
We'll fight until a peaceful day,
Over the hills and far away

So 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.