Over the Hills and Far Away
John Tams Lyrics


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Here's forty shillings on the drum
For 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 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 did before, Then ask the fifes 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. 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. 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. 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.(...fade out...)

Overall Meaning

John Tams's song, "Over The Hills And Far Away" tells of the journey of soldiers who leave their homes to fight in wars for their country. The song starts with the words "Here's forty shillings on the drum" which means paying forty shillings to the drummer boy to gather the troops to make them ready for the war. The soldiers are motivated and encouraged to volunteer to fight and protect their country. They leave their homes and go through different countries such as Flanders, Portugal, and Spain to face their foes. King George's command is respected, so they obey and fight to protect their country.


The song tells us that the responsibility of the soldiers is to stand and face any threat that comes their way. Even though they left their homes, a part of them always wants to go back home. The soldiers are ready to fight until their last breath to protect their country. If a soldier falls in the battle, the song suggests playing the fifes and drums as a sign of their bravery and to give them a final send-off.


The chorus of the song emphasizes the determination of soldiers to keep on marching and fighting with King George's command on their minds. The song captures the spirit of the soldiers who are willing to sacrifice their lives to protect their country, and their families at home. The song encourages us to appreciate the bravery and sacrifice of the soldiers who fought and died for their country.


Line by Line Meaning

Here's forty shillings on the drum
I offer forty shillings to anyone who volunteers to come and fight alongside me


For those who'll volunteer to come
For those who are brave enough to join me in battle


To 'list and fight the foe today
To enlist and fight the enemy 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.
We will travel far and wide to fight for King George's commands, no matter where they lead us


When duty calls me I must go
When my duty as a soldier requires me to go, I must answer that call


To stand and face another foe
To stand up and face another enemy


But part of me will always stray
A part of me will always long for the freedom and adventure of traveling 'over the hills and far away'


If I should fall to rise no more, As many comrades did before, Then ask the fifes and drums to play.
If I fall in battle and can't get back up, ask the fifes and drums to play this song


Then fall in lads behind the drum, With colours blazing like the sun. Along the road to come-what may.
Join together and march boldly forward, no matter what challenges may come our way


O'er the hills and o'er the main. Through Flanders, Portugal and Spain. King George commands and we obey.
We will travel far and wide to fight for King George's commands, no matter where they lead us


(...fade out...)
The song trails off, but the spirit of adventure and loyalty to duty lives on




Writer(s): John Tams

Contributed by Madison F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@donwright3429

Found this:
Over Old Hills and Far Away was a poem written by J.R.R. Tolkien between December 1915 and February 1916, and rewritten at Oxford in 1927. It was published and commented in The Book of Lost Tales Part One, where Christopher Tolkien compares the earlier readings.[1]

The poem


It was early and still in the night of June,
And few were the stars, and far was the moon,
The drowsy trees drooping, and silently creeping
Shadows woke under them while they were sleeping.

I stole to the window with stealthy tread
Leaving my white and unpressed bed;
And something alluring, aloof and queer,
Like perfume of flowers from the shores of the mere
That in Elvenhome lies, and in starlit rains
Twinkles and flashes, came up to the panes
Of my high lattice-window. Or was it a sound?
I listened and marveled with eyes on the ground.
For there came from afar a filtered note
Enchanting sweet, now clear, now remote,
As clear as a star in a pool by the reeds,
As faint as the glimmer of dew on the weeds.

Then I left the window and followed the call
Down the creaking stairs and across the hall
Out through a door that swung tall and grey,
And over the lawn, and away, away!

It was Tinfang Warble that was dancing there,
Fluting and tossing his old white hair,
Till it sparkled like frost in a winter moon;
And the stars were about him, and blinked to his tune
Shimmering blue like sparks in a haze,
As always they shimmer and shake when he plays.

My feet only made there the ghost of a sound
On the shining white pebbles that ringed him round,
Where his little feet flashed on a circle of sand,
And the fingers were white on his flickering hand.
In the wink of a star he had leapt in the air
With his fluttering cap and his glistening hair;
And had cast his long flute right over his back,
Where it hung by a ribbon of silver and black.

His slim little body went fine as a shade,
And he slipped through the reeds like mist in the glade;
And laughed like thin silver, and piped a thin note,
As he flapped in the shadows his shadowy coat.
O! the toes of his slippers were twisted and curled,
But he danced like a wind out into the world.

He is gone, and the valley is empty and bare
Where lonely I stand and lonely I stare.
Then suddenly out in the meadows beyond,
Then back in the reeds by the shimmering pond,
Then afar from a copse were the mosses are thick
A few little notes came a trillaping quick.

I leapt o’er the stream and I sped from the glade,
For Tinfang Warble it was that played;
I must follow the hoot of his twilight flute
Over reed, over rush, under branch, over root,
And over dim fields, and through rustling grasses
That murmur and nod as the old elf passes,
Over old hills and far away
Where the harps of the Elvenfolk softly play.
Over Old Hills and Far Away was a poem written by J.R.R. Tolkien between December 1915 and February 1916, and rewritten at Oxford in 1927. It was published and commented in The Book of Lost Tales Part One, where Christopher Tolkien compares the earlier readings.[1]

[edit] The poem
It was early and still in the night of June,
And few were the stars, and far was the moon,
The drowsy trees drooping, and silently creeping
Shadows woke under them while they were sleeping.

I stole to the window with stealthy tread
Leaving my white and unpressed bed;
And something alluring, aloof and queer,
Like perfume of flowers from the shores of the mere
That in Elvenhome lies, and in starlit rains
Twinkles and flashes, came up to the panes
Of my high lattice-window. Or was it a sound?
I listened and marveled with eyes on the ground.
For there came from afar a filtered note
Enchanting sweet, now clear, now remote,
As clear as a star in a pool by the reeds,
As faint as the glimmer of dew on the weeds.

Then I left the window and followed the call
Down the creaking stairs and across the hall
Out through a door that swung tall and grey,
And over the lawn, and away, away!

It was Tinfang Warble that was dancing there,
Fluting and tossing his old white hair,
Till it sparkled like frost in a winter moon;
And the stars were about him, and blinked to his tune
Shimmering blue like sparks in a haze,
As always they shimmer and shake when he plays.

My feet only made there the ghost of a sound
On the shining white pebbles that ringed him round,
Where his little feet flashed on a circle of sand,
And the fingers were white on his flickering hand.
In the wink of a star he had leapt in the air
With his fluttering cap and his glistening hair;
And had cast his long flute right over his back,
Where it hung by a ribbon of silver and black.

His slim little body went fine as a shade,
And he slipped through the reeds like mist in the glade;
And laughed like thin silver, and piped a thin note,
As he flapped in the shadows his shadowy coat.
O! the toes of his slippers were twisted and curled,
But he danced like a wind out into the world.

He is gone, and the valley is empty and bare
Where lonely I stand and lonely I stare.
Then suddenly out in the meadows beyond,
Then back in the reeds by the shimmering pond,
Then afar from a copse were the mosses are thick
A few little notes came a trillaping quick.

I leapt o’er the stream and I sped from the glade,
For Tinfang Warble it was that played;
I must follow the hoot of his twilight flute
Over reed, over rush, under branch, over root,
And over dim fields, and through rustling grasses
That murmur and nod as the old elf passes,
Over old hills and far away
Where the harps of the Elvenfolk softly play.



All comments from YouTube:

@AntPDC

Please be respectful of all points of view when expressing opinions here. Good manners cost nothing. In the UK and in other civilised nations, manners define both the man, the woman, and the culture. Vulgar yobs seeking to advance some nutjob agenda via foul language, extreme discourtesy, should look elsewhere. Whilst I completely support the right to Free Speech, as first expressed in English Common Law throughout the ages, I don't have time to police comments on an hourly basis. Please keep it sane; keep it respectful. Common sense defines the boundaries - boundaries even my pet rabbit can discern.

@suilvenmountain2395

But, sir, this is a political song.

@johnlawrence7150

Well done ant ,for those very kind and wise words ,my sentiments exactly!

@AntPDC

@Suilven Mountain Nothing wrong with politics. What is your quibble?

@poort33

@AntPDC maybe the fact you said "This is not a political Channel" whilst posting a political protest song?

@AntPDC

stuart burdett This is a Channel focussed primarily on music. You presume too much.

120 More Replies...

@GailFynes

I love this song. My 4 x great grandfather fought & was wounded at Hougoumont at the Battle of Waterloo, but lived to be an old man, blinded in one eye & respected by all around him.

@calvaryn

Three cheers for your 4 x great grandfather 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

@tabletsam5624

As an old Soldier this song brings Tears in my Eyes. One of the best Soldiers Songs. Greetings from Germany

@SwarmDoctor

I'm not British, nor am I even of British heritage. But I absolutely love this song. The British have so much to be proud of.

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