Over the Hills and Far Away (traditional song)

Not to be confused with the other songs of the same name.

"Over the Hills and Far Away" is a traditional English song, dating back to at least the late 17th century. One version was published in Thomas D'Urfey's Wit and Mirth, or Pills to Purge Melancholy; a very different one appeared in George Farquhar's 1706 play The Recruiting Officer. A version also appears in John Gay's The Beggar's Opera of 1728.

The words have changed over the years, as can be seen in the versions below. The only consistent element in early versions is the title line and the tune. D'Urfey's and Gay's versions both refer to lovers, while Farquhar's version refers to fleeing oveseas to join the army. The tune was provided with another set of lyrics for the Sharpe movies, based on Farquhar's version. This version was also recorded by John Tams who played Dan Hagman in the series.

The nursery rhyme "Tom, Tom, the Piper's Son" mentions a piper who knows only one tune, this one. Early versions of this, known as "The distracted Jockey's Lamentations", may have been written (but not included) in Thomas D'Urfey's play The Campaigners (1698):

Jockey was a Piper's Son,

And fell in love when he was young;

But all the Tunes that he could play,

Was, o'er the Hills, and far away.

War memorials

The Royal Military College of Canada Memorial Arch includes the text "Hark now the drums beat up again for all true Soldiers Gentlemen" on the inside top right face.

D'Urfey lyrics

Jocky met with Jenny fair

Aft by the dawning of the day;

But Jockey now is fu' of care

Since Jenny staw his heart away.

Altho' she promis'd to be true

She proven has, alake! unkind

Which gars poor Jockey aften rue

That e'er he loo'd a fickle mind.

Tis o'er the hills and far away

Tis o'er the hills and far away

Tis o'er the hills and far away

The wind has blown my plaid away

[verses omitted]

Since that she will nae pity take

I maun gae wander for her sake

And, in ilk wood and gloomy grove

I'll, sighing, sing," Adieu to love.

Since she is fause whom I adore

I'll never trust a woman more;

Frae a' their charms I'll flee away

And on my pipes I'll sweetly play,"

O'er hills and dales and far away

O'er hills and dales and far away

O'er hills and dales and far away

The wind has blawn my plad away.

George Farquhar lyrics

A version of the lyrics by George Farquhar for his play The Recruiting Officer from 1706.

Our 'prentice Tom may now refuse

To wipe his scoundrel Master's Shoes,

For now he's free to sing and play

Over the Hills and far away.

Over the Hills and O'er the Main,

To Flanders, Portugal and Spain,

The queen commands and we'll obey

Over the Hills and far away.

We all shall lead more happy lives

By getting rid of brats and wives

That scold and bawl both night and day -

Over the Hills and far away.

Over the Hills and O'er the Main,

To Flanders, Portugal and Spain,

The queen commands and we'll obey

Over the Hills and far away.

Courage, boys, 'tis one to ten,

But we return all gentlemen

All gentlemen as well as they,

Over the hills and far away.

Over the Hills and O'er the Main,

To Flanders, Portugal and Spain,

The queen commands and we'll obey

Over the Hills and far away.

John Gay lyrics

In The Beggar's Opera the song is a duet between the antihero Macheath and his lover Polly. It is a romantic dream of escape, with no military references.

MACHEATH:

Were I laid on Greenland's Coast,

And in my Arms embrac'd my Lass;

Warm amidst eternal Frost,

Too soon the Half Year's Night would pass.

POLLY:

Were I sold on Indian Soil,

Soon as the burning Day was clos'd,

I could mock the sultry Toil

When on my Charmer's Breast repos'd.

MACHEATH:

And I would love you all the Day,

POLLY:

Every Night would kiss and play,

MACHEATH:

If with me you'd fondly stray

POLLY:

Over the Hills and far away

See also

• Over the Hills & Far Away: The Music of Sharpe

References

• http://www.contemplator.com/england/faraway.html
• http://www.warof1812.ca/songs.htm

Further reading

• Chappell, W. (1 October 1864), "Old Songs :Dumbarton's Drums and Over the hills and far away", Notes and queries, 3, 6, pp. 272, 273, http://www.archive.org/stream/s3notesqueries06londuoft#page/323/mode/1up/search/hills