Discuss: Over the Hills and Far Away

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Over the Hills and Far Away
From: Fliss
Date: 27 Sep 07 - 05:48 AM

"Can't remember the actor's name, but he's a bona-fide folkie when he's not at work."   

..Steve, think you find that John Tams is at work as a rather special folk artist, its the acting that is the add on extra.

fliss

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Over the Hills and Far Away
From: GUEST,LTS pretending to work
Date: 26 Sep 07 - 07:43 AM

Put it down to the old tradition of changing the words to fit the era/situation.

I'm pretty sure I read somewhere (maybe on the sleeve notes to the Sharpe music CD?) that Mr Tams "tweaked" a few of the traditional songs to fit the Peninsular War and the Sharpe storylines, but he wouldn't be the first and he's certainly one of the more sympathetic "tweakers".

LTS

Subject: Lyr Add: OVER THE HILLS AND FAR AWAY (John Tams)
From: Mr Happy
Date: 26 Sep 07 - 07:22 AM

Here's the full John Tams version from 'Sharpe'

Over the hills and far away.

Here's forty shillings on the drum.
To those who'll volunteer to come.
To list and fight the foe 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.


When duty calls me I must go
To stand and face another foe
But a part of me will always stray
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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Over the Hills and Far Away
From: IanC
Date: 25 Sep 07 - 06:38 AM

The earliest known printing is in the 1706 edition of D'Urfey's "Pills To Purge Melancholy", though an excerpt of this version is also printed in George Farquhar's play "The Recruiting Officer", also first performed in 1706.

:-)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Over the Hills and Far Away
From: stallion
Date: 25 Sep 07 - 05:56 AM

That was because the original is from "The Beggars Opera" and that was set, if not written, during the reign of Queen Anne and adapted, probably by Mr Tams, for the prog., or maybe had been "folked" over the years to suit whichever campaign. Ask Mr Tams

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Over the Hills and Far Away
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 25 Sep 07 - 03:50 AM

Martin Carthy sings ' Queen Anne Commands and We Obey '

eric

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Over the Hills and Far Away
From: IanC
Date: 25 Sep 07 - 03:06 AM

Richard

Check in the other threads ... 1706 is a bit early for King George.

:-)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Over the Hills and Far Away
From: Dead Horse
Date: 24 Sep 07 - 06:32 PM

Twa Recruiting Sergeants

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Over the Hills and Far Away
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 24 Sep 07 - 06:29 PM

Fist fights have been known over whether it's Queen Anne or King George though...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Over the Hills and Far Away
From: Dead Horse
Date: 24 Sep 07 - 06:21 PM

Many verses to this one, some authentic, some cobbled together by Mr Tams et al.
There is also a Scottish version "Twa Recruiting Sergeants" I believe its called.
Worth looking up and comparing.
Probably mentioned on previous threads listed above.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Over the Hills and Far Away
From: Mr Happy
Date: 24 Sep 07 - 05:12 AM

John Tams here:


http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=rcydJjNKfF8

Subject: RE: Lyrics needed:
From: AndyG
Date: 24 Feb 99 - 06:31 AM

For those interested the definitive pages are The Sharpe Information Pages Where info about the CD can be found:
I quote:
"A Collection of Twenty Songs, Orchestral Themes and Regimental Marches Featuring John Tams (Rifleman Hagman), Dominic Muldowney and the Band of the Light Division"

AndyG

Subject: RE: Lyrics needed:
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 24 Feb 99 - 03:33 AM

As a matter of interest, did you know that the sig. tune was recorded by the guy who plays the long-haired ex-poacher crack shot (Daniel??). Can't remember the actor's name, but he's a bona-fide folkie when he's not at work.

Steve

Subject: RE: Lyrics needed:
From: Bruce O.
Date: 23 Feb 99 - 05:59 PM

Song and tune are on my website. Click on 'Recruiting Officer' in title list of Scarce Songs 2 file. www.erols.com/olsonw

---

TV's theme song for Sharpe's Rifles series. [Pills to Purge Melancholy, 1706, but here from reprint of 1719 edition, V, p. 319.]

The Recruiting Officer: Or, the Merry Volunteers: Being an Excellent New Copy of Verses upon raising Recruits.

To the foregoing Tune. [Over the Hills and far away = Jockey's Lamentation, comm: Jockey met with Jenny fair. Here, tune B360 in file BM3. And JACLP- Jack the Piper in S2.]

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;
   Over the Hills and o'er the Main,
  To Flanders, Portugal and Spain,
  Queen Ann commands, and we'll obey,
  Over the Hills and far away.

All Gentlemen that have a Mind,
To serve the Queen that's good and kind;
Come list and enter into Pay,
Then o'er the Hills and far away;
  Over the Hills, &c.

Here's Forty Shillings on the Drum,
For those that Volunteers do come,
With Shirts, and Cloaths, and present Pay,
When o'er the Hills and far away;
  Over the Hills, &c.

Hear that brave Boys, and let us go,
Or else we shall be prest you know;
Then list and enter into Pay,
And o'er the Hills and far away;
  Over the Hills, &c.

The Constables they search about,
To find such brisk young Fellows out;
Then let's be Volunteers I say,
Over the Hills and far away;
  Over the Hills, &c.

Since now the French so low are brought,
And Wealth and Honour's to be got,
Who then behind wou'd sneaking stay?
When o'er the Hills and far away;
  Over the Hills, &c.

No more from sound of Drum retreat,
While Marlborough, and Gallaway beat,*
The French and Spaniards every Day,
When o'er the Hills and far away;
  Over the Hills, &c.

He that is forc'd to go and fight,
Will never get true Honour by't,
While Volunteers shall win the Day,
When o'er the Hills and far away;
  Over the Hills, &c.

What tho' our Friends our Absense mourn,
We all with Honour shall return,
And then we'll sing both Night and Day,
Over the Hills and far away;
  Over the Hills, &c.

The[n] Prentice Tom he may refuse,
To wipe his angry Master's Shoes;
For then he's free to sing and play,
Over the Hills and far away;
  Over the Hills, &c.

Over Rivers, Bogs, and Springs,
We all shall live as great as Kings,
And Plunder get both Night and Day,
When o'er the Hills and far away;
  Over the Hills, &c.

We then shall lead more happy Lives,
By getting rid of Brats and Wives,
That Scold on both Night and Day,
When o'er the Hills and far away;
  Over the Hills, &c.

Come on then Boys and you shall see,
We every one shall Captains be,
To Whore and rant as well as they,
When o'er the Hills and far away;
  Over the Hills, &c.

For if we go 'tis one to Ten,
But we return all Gentlemen,
All Gentlemen as well as they,
When o'er the Hills and far away;
  Over the Hills, &c.

* Henry de Massue, French, created Earl of Galway by the English in 1697, reviving extinct title. In 1707 he lost the battle of Almanza. The tune, presumeably Irish, "Lord Gallaway's Lamentation", probably refers to him. [D. O'Sullivan's 'Carolan', II, p. 128-9]

Play: B360- Over the Hills and Far Away Click to play

Subject: Lyrics needed:
From:
Date: 23 Feb 99 - 05:45 PM

at the end of most episodes of "Sharpe's Rifles" there's part of a song being song by Sharpes soldiers with a refrian/chorus of:

Over the hills and far away, For King George commands and we obey, Over the hills and far away

does anyone know the entire lyrics, origins, music of the song?

thanks