Chord Req: Over the Hills and Far Away

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Over the Hills and Far Away
From: leeneia
Date: 05 Apr 07 - 11:12 PM

I meant to say this:

When I was playing this song on the piano, figuring out the chords, I tried the Am for the first time. Suddenly the sound of it opened a picture in my mind of misty hills in soft gray light.

Try it.

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Over the Hills and Far Away
From: leeneia
Date: 05 Apr 07 - 02:42 PM

Just based on experience, my guess is that 1702 is about right. I have played a lot of early dance music,and for some reason, as the 1600's changed to the 1700's, tunes became sweeter and more lilting. "Over the Hills and Far Away" qualifies on that count.

The time from 1702 to 1728 would be a reasonable one for the tune to become well-known enough for John Gay to borrow it for the Beggar's Opera.

The chords that go with the MIDI I posted are below. Each chord fills a measure unless there is a slash (a la Sing Out! book). In this tune,where there is a slash, there are two beats of the first chord and two beats of the second.

One problem with this tune is that the first, third and fifth measures move stepwise and do not lend themselves to any chord. In fact, 50% of the notes are dissonant. I deal with that by playing a G chord, just hitting the chord on the first and third beats and then letting the sound die so it doesn't bang up against the A's to come.

The sitivation is similar at 1st, 3rd, and 5th measures of the B part, where the notes are moving down the scale.

G C G Am G C C/G Am (repeat)

G C G Am G C C/G Am G C G Am G C/Am C G D/G

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Over the Hills and Far Away
From: The Doctor
Date: 05 Apr 07 - 02:41 PM

It's in Digital Tradition under 'So early in the morning'.

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Over the Hills and Far Away
From: GUEST,Pete Peterson
Date: 05 Apr 07 - 09:31 AM

This is a different song than the one I know; mine comes from the Clancy Brothers about 40 years ago:

When I was young and had no sense
I bought me a fiddle for fifteen pence
The only tune that I could play
Was "Over the hills and far away"
   So early in the morning (3X)
   Before the break of day

Anybody recognize that one?

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Over the Hills and Far Away
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 05 Apr 07 - 09:04 AM

The earliest reference I can find dates the tune to 1706; apparently the Queen Anne verses originated in Farquhar's ballad opera "The Recruiting Sergeant". Does anyone have a copy of that?

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Over the Hills and Far Away
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 04 Apr 07 - 11:36 PM

A reference to Queen Anne doesn't necessarily mean that the song was written contemporary to her reign. Anybody have a solid reference for this set of words? (I've heard that it appeared in a ballad opera called "The Recruiting Sergeant", but I've never been able to find a copy of that to check.)

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Over the Hills and Far Away
From: GUEST
Date: 04 Apr 07 - 06:08 PM

Spit idoits out of your mind and use your ears.

Simple

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Over the Hills and Far Away
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 04 Apr 07 - 06:03 PM

Unless anyone knows of words predating teh "Queen Anne Commands" variant, the song (I accept the tune alone may be earlier) would have to be 1702 or later.

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Over the Hills and Far Away
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 04 Apr 07 - 12:44 PM

Anyone have any idea on how old the tune is? It was certainly well enough known in the early 1700s to be widely parodied; it showed up in the French and Indian War, it was used in The Beggar's Opera (1728). And it was at least referred to in Mother Goose:
Tom, Tom, the piper's son
Stole a pig and away he run
The only tune that he could play
Was "Over the hills and far away".

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Over the Hills and Far Away
From: clueless don
Date: 04 Apr 07 - 09:20 AM

So, there really is a traditional song called "Over the Hills and Far Away"? When I hear that title, I can't help thinking of

Over the hills, and far away,
Teletubbies come to play!

That's what comes of being the father of a child "of a certain age" (she turns 11 later this month.)

Don

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Over TheHills and Far Away
From: open mike
Date: 04 Apr 07 - 01:16 AM

do not be fooled..if someone asks you to sing "Over TheHills and Far Away" it is not a song they are requesting, it is a location!@

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Over TheHills and Far Away
From: The Doctor
Date: 03 Apr 07 - 05:16 AM

There is also a version by Martyn Wyndham-Read on 'Songs and Music of the Redcoats', and Argo recording from the '70s, based on the book of the same name by Lewis Winstock.

Subject: RE: Chord Req: over the hills and far away
From: Genie
Date: 03 Apr 07 - 04:26 AM

Ah, so there really is a song by that title! LOL

One corny, hackneyed joke I've been known to use at gigs is to tell the audience that I'll gladly take requests, "... as long as you don't ask me to sing 'Over the Hill And Far Away'."

G

Subject: RE: Chord Req: over the hills and far away
From: Joe Offer
Date: 03 Apr 07 - 03:11 AM

Here's another try at the tune, a MIDI from Leeneia:

---

Click to play

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Over TheHills and Far Away
From: Greg B
Date: 02 Apr 07 - 07:52 PM

No, but if you hum a few bars I can fake it...

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Over TheHills and Far Away
From: Ref
Date: 02 Apr 07 - 07:12 PM

Jacqued:

I've read everything he's written except the modern one or two. Also liked Gallows Thief , Starbuck Chronicles, and the one-off he wrote about the American revolution. Pity he never (yet) got Mr. sharpe to North America!

Pyewacket:

That's the John Tams' version, isn't it?

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Over TheHills and Far Away
From: GUEST,Jacqued
Date: 02 Apr 07 - 04:45 PM

Many thanks everyone - the wandering thread was great!

And thanks Pyewacket, I think memsahib will make something of that.
Out of curiosity, you don't hail from Grimsby?   I used to work a patch that had Pyewipe in it and I just thought ---------------?

Jacqued

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Over TheHills and Far Away
From: pyewacket
Date: 02 Apr 07 - 02:16 PM

Hope this Helps.
pyewacket

K = Capo        K3/C = Key D

    Over The Hills and Far Away

(C) If I should fall to (F) rise no more
As (C) many comrades (G) have before
(C) Then ask the pipes and (F) drums to play
(C) Over the hills and (G) far away.

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.

(C) O'er the hills and (F) o'er the Main
Through (C) Flanders, Portu (G) gal and Spain
King (C) George commands and (F) we obey
(C) Over the hills and (G) far away.

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

Here's forty shillings on the drum
To those who'll volunteer to come
To list and fight - to fall today
Over the hills and far away.

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.

Note: You can hear the tune here.

http://www.contempplator.com/folk.html

Folk Music of England ,Scotland,Ireland,Wales and America.

Click on American.

Background music is the song.
(click song )
Popular Songs in American History

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Over TheHills and Far Away
From: leeneia
Date: 02 Apr 07 - 12:01 PM

Hi Jacqued. This tune would be a good one for my early music group, so I decided to work up an arrangement in the key of G. I will send the MIDI to Joe and see if he can post it.

Once he does, listen to it and see if it's what you want. I made it an AABB tune. You can easily change it to AABA if you want.

Once the MIDI is posted, I will type in the chords for it in a separate post. If the key is bad for you, it is easy to figure out a new version from this one.

Anything to postpone working on the taxes...

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Over TheHills and Far Away
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 01 Apr 07 - 05:49 PM

Those are the words I use but the dots do not look like the TV tune, which I also use and have not yet had queried by any assiduous morrisman. But I don't exactly play it in chords so it may take a while for me to get back with chord symbols.

OP, before I get to that do you use the TV show tune? If not I'd be wasting my time.

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Over TheHills and Far Away
From: GUEST,Jacqued
Date: 01 Apr 07 - 03:54 PM

Ref.,

Try 'Stonehenge' a read-and-a-half!

Jacqued

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Over TheHills and Far Away
From: Ref
Date: 01 Apr 07 - 03:24 PM

I like the John Tams version and would like to hear the other. I think John (or someone) wrote a new verse for each Sharpe film. The films are ...okay, best in small group portrayals and appallingly low-budget in battle scenes. I'm told Cornwell personally chose Sean Bean for his role. If you like them, be sure to read Cornwell's books, which are better. His Arthurian trilogy and his current series in progress about King Alfred The Great are also wonderful.

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Over TheHills and Far Away
From: Little Robyn
Date: 01 Apr 07 - 03:18 PM

I've just been given a copy of Sharpe's Waterloo and I just love John Tams singing that.
Robyn

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Over TheHills and Far Away
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 01 Apr 07 - 11:26 AM

Peace - I hope you'll be singing the Queen Anne version, not the updated King George version popularised by John Tams for a television series (Sharpe) about the Napoleonic wars a century later!

Kitty

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Over TheHills and Far Away
From: Peace
Date: 01 Apr 07 - 11:03 AM

From the DT.

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Over TheHills and Far Away
From: Peace
Date: 01 Apr 07 - 10:57 AM

OK, I just saw the problem. There is a midi file here.

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Over TheHills and Far Away
From: GUEST,Jacqued
Date: 01 Apr 07 - 10:50 AM

Thanks, Peace.   Tried it and all it brought up was the Gary Moore lyrics mainly interpreted by either Led Zepplin or Night wish!

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Over TheHills and Far Away
From: Peace
Date: 01 Apr 07 - 10:42 AM

over the hills and far away, chords

google that

Subject: Chord Req: Over TheHills and Far Away
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Apr 07 - 10:31 AM

I have checked out all previous threads on this I can find, with no result.   Anyone got the guitar chords for this trad song, please?

Jacqued

Subject: RE: Chord Req: over the hills and far away
From: Charmion
Date: 26 Apr 06 - 11:00 AM

I play it in C/Am:

Am    C    Am       C      Am
Here's forty shillings on the drum
    C         Am   F       G
For those who volunteer to come
    C       Am       C   G
And 'list to fight the foe today
Am       C         F    G
Over the hills and far away

Chorus

C       Am       C       Am
O'er the hills and o'er the main
   C         Am   F       G
To Flanders, Portugal and Spain
    C         Am       C   G
King George commands and we obey
Am       C         F    G
Over the hills and far away

Et cetera, und so weiter.

Subject: RE: Chord Req: over the hills and far away
From: greg stephens
Date: 25 Apr 06 - 03:09 PM

Not sure if the lines will come out right.Try this(two main beats per bar, I've marked the chord for each)
/DD/GG/DD/A7A7/DD/GG/GD/A7A7/
Repeat as necessary, this sequence is right for the A music and the B music. Mind you, as always with folk music, I am talking about the version I know. Which may, for all I know, be different from the Sharpe one, because I've never seen the programme. Give it a try, anyway. Some versions end differently, so it's not guaranteed.

Subject: RE: Chord Req: over the hills and far away
From: GUEST,Allan S.
Date: 25 Apr 06 - 03:04 PM

I am not sure about the chords but try the following
www.contemplator.com/england/faraway
also something called    wikipedia,the free encyclopedia

gives lots of info on it. such as Trad English early 1700's
also lyrics by George Farquhar from his play " The recuiting officer" dated 1706

Subject: Chord Req: over the hills and far away
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 25 Apr 06 - 01:00 PM

Can anyone help with chords for over the hill and far away (not the Led Zep version)the sharp one please.
Thank you