ADD: Across the Hills of Home (McArthur/Bogle)

Subject: Anyone recognise these lyrics?
From: GUEST,Lesleyk
Date: 06 Jul 01 - 05:44 PM

I heard this tune maybe 15 years ago and I just started singing it and can't get it out of my head. If anyone can let me know what it is I'd be so grateful. The lyrics go something like this (not a bad effort after so many years?):

Once I was a young ma? with the river running free
You could see across the hills forever
And you didn't have to pay to walk
To breathe the pleasant? air
You could feel the ?? changing with the weather???

CHORUS
But they've taken it all away, away, they've taken it all away.

Subject: RE: Help: Anyone recognise these lyrics?
From: Amos
Date: 06 Jul 01 - 06:29 PM

Dunno if this is it or not -- these are notes by Eric Bogle on a song called “Across the Hills of Home”:

10. ACROSS THE HILLS OF HOME (Jimmy’s Song)

About two years ago, I was sent a short poem called ‘Across The Hills Of Home’. This poem had been written by a Scotsman, James MacArthur. Originally from East Kilbride in Scotland, James had lived in Melbourne for many years. The poem was sent to me by his son and daughter-in-law, Bill & Marie MacArthur, and I quote from the accompanying letter: “Jim was found to have cancer in 1980, and died a lingering death. He always said he didn’t want to go home to Scotland, but this poem says different. His ashes were scattered in Scotland. He was a great man, and I’m sure you would appreciate this poem of a fellow Scot. I hope you do.”

Well, I did. I added a wee chorus to Jim s original poem, and set it to music, and this song is the result. I’m not claiming, nor would Jim have I think, that it’s a match for Robbie Burns, but as an ordinary man’s longing to see his homeland one more time, it carries an honesty and dignity that instantly appealed tome. Sadly, since he sent me the poem, Jim’s son Bill has also died. So for Jim and Bill, and for Marie who loved them both, this song is respectfully dedicated.

Then there’s Ian Campbell’s record, again no lyrics:

Across the Hills - Rosselson, Leon

1.Campbell, Ian; Folk Group. Rights of Man, Elektra EKS-7309, LP (197?), cut #B.07

Subject: ADD: Across the Hills of Home (Bogle)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 06 Jul 01 - 08:06 PM

Well, it isn't the Bogle song, but I thought I'd post it anyhow.
-Joe Offer-

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ACROSS THE HILLS OF HOME (Jimmy's Song)
(Eric Bogle & James McArthur)

Verse 1.
Where wide the Murrumbidgee flows, the stately gum and wattle grows
And deep within the forests tall the laughing Kookaburra's call
Across the miles and down the years, I dream, my eyes too old for tears
Of other scenes more fair than these and I chase a heather-scented breeze
Across the hills of home.

CHORUS
You take the low road, I'll take the high
And back to Scotland my spirit will fly
To see her one more time before I die
You take the low road and I'll take the high.

Verse 2.
And when the mists of evening rise to hide the starlight in the skies
My heart with longing sadness fills to see again the Scottish hills
Once more as in my boyhood days, I roam the bracken covered braes
And hear them singing in the glen "will ye no' come back again"
Across the hills of home

Verse 3.
Fast flows the river, faster still, the days of youth that never will return
Now only dreams remain, of purple hills and fields of grain
But still I hear across the miles the haunting calls of misty isles
Above the tidal water's roar, but I know that I shall go no more
Across the hills of home

(Words by Eric Bogle & James McArthur, music by Eric Bogle)

JRO

Subject: RE: Help: Anyone recognise these lyrics?
From: John Wood
Date: 07 Jul 01 - 07:08 AM

It's not ``Across the hills´´ as sung by Ian Campell either.
Does sound vaguely familiar though !!
Greetings John.

Subject: RE: Help: Anyone recognise these lyrics?
From: Mr Red
Date: 07 Jul 01 - 07:12 PM

Subject: Lyr Add: ACROSS THE HILLS (Leon Rosselson)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 23 Mar 02 - 12:36 AM

"Across the Hills" is indeed a different song from "Across the Hills of Home."

"Across the Hills" was written by Leon Rosselson and recorded by The Ian Campbell Folk Group on the LP "Across the Hills," in 1964. This LP plus another one were combined and reissued on one CD called "This Is the Ian Campbell Folk Group/Across the Hills" released in 1996. The song "Across the Hills" also appears on the 4-CD anthology "Transatlantic Story," 1998.

Lyrics copied from http://mysongbook.de/msb/songs/a/acrossth.html

ACROSS THE HILLS
(Leon Rosselson)

Across the hills black clouds are sweeping
Carry poison far and wide
And the grass has blackened underfoot
And the rose has withered and died

But the rose is still as red now and the grass is still as green
And it must have been a shadow in the distance you have seen
Yes it must have been a shadow you have seen

Can't you hear the children weeping?
Can't you hear that mournful sound?
No birds sing in the twisted trees
And the silent streets are round

I can hear the children laughing in the streets as they play
And you must have caught the dying of an echo far away
Yes it must have been an echo far away

Can't you see the white ash falling
From the hollow of the skies
And the blood runs red from the blackened walls
Where our ruined city lies

I can see the bright sun shining in the park on the stream
And you must have felt a shiver from the darkness of a dream
Yes it must have been the darkness of a dream

And it shall reap a hellish harvest
Make the desert of this land

But the rose is still as red now and the grass is still as green
Yes, it must have been a shadow you have seen

Subject: RE: Help: Anyone recognise these lyrics?
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 23 Mar 02 - 12:46 AM

Wups! Just noticed the lyrics I just posted above are already in the DT under the title "SHADOW YOU HAVE SEEN" I guess I need to do a bit more research!