A song for all of you. This is taken from George Farquar's "The Recruiting Officer" (circa 1706). It obviously refers to the War of Spanish Succession . . . or at least getting the troops for it.
- 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.
-- Jeff
5 comments:
Then it sounds like you may enjoy this, Jeff.
http://jp.youtube.com/watch?v=vTnaD7VtzGo
And I have a CD a friend gave me of music from the Sharpe Napoleonic series that has this song with the "Queen" changed to "King." Very nice tune and lyrics.
Jim
http://colcampbellbarracks.blogspot.com/
Hi Jeff,
Like all "folksongs" with a catchy tune that has been around for a while, I would imagine that there are a lot of verses and variations out there.
Yours,
Martin
John Tams, who played Hagman in the Sharpe series which brought this song new attention, was actually a folk singer before he got into acting, and arranged all the music for the series with Dominic Muldowney.
The maids of France are fond and free,
And Flemish lips are willing;
And soft the maids of Italy,
And Spanish eyes are thrilling;
Still, though I bask beneath their smile,
Their charms, they fail to bind me.
And my heart goes back to Erin's Isle,
To the girl I left behind me.
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