Over the Hills and Far Away

"Over the Hills and Far Away: The Music of Sharpe", Virgin Music, 1997, Image used without permission.One of the strong points of the Sharpe movie series was it's music provided by Dominic Muldowney and John Tams (who also played the ex-poacher, Hagman). As well as the powerful theme music which introduced each film, there were numerous soldier's folk songs scattered throughout the films, often (but not exclusively) sung by John Tams. From "Eagle" onwards, one of these tunes became the closing credit theme for the series: "Over the Hills and Far Away". This soldier's song dates back to the time of Queen Anne (see Lesley Nelson's excellent website) but was freely adapted over the next hundred years plus. It was freely adapted again for the series, with John Tam writing new verses for it for each of the films from Eagle to Sword.

"Over the Hills" is included on a CD of music from the series: "Over the Hills and Far Away: The Music of Sharpe".

(Eagle)
There's forty shillings on the drum
To those who 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.
King George commands and we obey
Over the hills and far away. 		Sharpe (UK release, Carlton). Image used without permission.
(Company)
Mid smoke and fire and shot and shell,
And to the very walls of hell,
But we shall stand and we shall stay
Over the hills and far away

(chorus) 		Sharpe's Company (OZ release, Reel/ABC). Image used without permission.
Assumpta Serna as Teresa with Sean Bean as Sharpe, from Carlton's Sharpe series. Image used without permission.(Enemy)
Though I may travel far from Spain
A part of me shall still remain,
And you are with me night and day
Over the hills and far away.

(chorus) 		Sharpe's Enemy (UK release, Carlton). Image used without permission.
(Honour)
Then 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.

(chorus) 		Sharpe's Honour (Oz release, Reel/ABC). Image used without permission.
(Gold)
When Evil stalks upon the land
I'll neither hold nor stay me hand
But fight to win a better day,
Over the hills and far away.

(chorus) 		Sharpe's Gold (UK release, Carlton). Image used without permission.
Lyndon Davis as Perkins, from the Carlton series "Sharpe". Image used without permission.(Battle)
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.

(chorus) 		Sharpe's Battle (UK release, Carlton). Image used without permission.
(Sword)
Let kings and tyrants come and go,
I'll stand adjudged by what I know.
A soldiers life I'll ne'er gainsay.
Over the hills and far away.

(chorus) 		Sharpe's Sword (UK release, Carlton). Image used without permission.

Text printed without permission.

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Last update 1/2/03