John Tams was a member of Derbyshire folk group Muckram Wakes in the 1970s, then worked with Ashley Hutchings as singer and melodeon-player on albums including 'Son of Morris On', and as a member of The Albion Band. Splitting with Hutchings in the 1980s he formed Home Service. Now a solo performer - fronting a folk-rock band, or in a duo with Barry Coope.
Tams has released several solo albums including 'Unity' (2001), 'Home' (2002) and 'The Reckoning' (2005); all of which have met with well-deserved critical acclaim. At the 2006 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, Tams won Album of the Year for 'The Reckoning', Best Traditional Track (for 'Bitter Withy') and Singer of the Year. Tams is the only artist to have won the Album of the Year award twice, the first time was with his first solo album 'Unity' in 2001.
Tams may be best known to the general public through having played one of the supporting roles in the ITV drama series Sharpe as one of the "Chosen Men" as rifleman and former poacher Daniel Hagman, a whimsical, sober, steady hand in the 95th Rifles always ready with a deadly eye behind a Baker rifle, a folk remedy for an ailment, or a song for a weary heart. In 1996, Tams collaborated with fellow British folk musician Kate Rusby (and others) on a companion CD to the television series titled Over the Hills & Far Away: The Music of Sharpe.
Tams was a Musical Director and actor at the National Theatre from 1976 to 1985 and then again from 1999 to 2001, working on such shows as The Mysteries, Larkrise to Candleford, Glengarry Glenross, The Crucible, Golden Boy, The Good Hope and The Mysteries Revival in 1999. He was a member of the creative team headed by Bill Bryden.
In 2006, Tams became musical director of the BBC Radio 2 2006 Radio Ballads, an updating of Ewan MacColl's Radio Ballads. The series was short-listed for two Sony Radio Awards in 2007. The song Steelos, written by Tams for the Song Of Steel episode of the 2006 Ballads, was nominated Best Original Song at the 2006 Radio 2 Folk Awards. Tams then worked on a stage version of Steelos performed at The Magna Centre in the Rother Valley in 2009.
Early in 2007, Tams was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from Sheffield Hallam University which was presented in November 2007. He is married to Sally Tams, his manager, and they have a daughter, Rosie.
In 2011-12, Home Service reformed and resumed touring. They were awarded Best Live Act at the BBC Folk Awards 2012.
Spanish Bride
John Tams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Through Flanders, Portugal and Spain
King George commands and we obey
Over the hills and far away
And we sailed out of England bound for Lisbon harbour
With bayonets a-gleaming and pride to the fore
We'd little to hope but we tried hard to cherish
And soon we were transported through hell and its fury
Through smoke and through fire,
Through shot and through flame
And at Telavera we stole Boney's Eagle
And in that short time we were heroes of Spain
And I met with a maiden hair black as the raven
Her eyes they did glister like two diamonds bright
We spoke not a word at our very first meeting
And I lay in her arms all that long Spanish night
And we travelled together o'er mountain and valley
And she by my side through many's the fight
She tended my suffering and she salved me of pity
And bore me a daughter for my heart's delight
And we marched into Lisbon proud Wellington's army
The war being over it's homeward we're bound
And all on the quayside - the weeping and wailing
Four thousand women left on that cold ground
Farewell and adieu to you Spanish lady
Farewell and adieu to you ladies of Spain
For we've received orders to sail home to England
But I know in some time we'll return once again
Once again
Once again
Once again
And if ever I'm returning
It's with gold in great plenty
And if I return it's with gold in great store
I'll search far and wide for my Spanish lady
Who brought me such peace in the midst of such war
Farewell and adieu to you Spanish lady
Farewell and adieu to you ladies of Spain
We've received orders to sail home to England
But I know in some time we'll return once again
Farewell and adieu to you Spanish lady
Farewell and adieu to you ladies of Spain
We've received orders to sail home to England
But I know in some time we'll return once again
And again
And again
Once again
Once again
Once again
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
The song "Spanish Bride" by John Tams tells the story of a soldier's journey through Spain during the Peninsular War. The song speaks of the challenges faced during the war, and the soldier's relationship with a Spanish woman he meets. The opening stanza sets the tone for the song, with the soldier obeying King George's commands to travel over hills and across seas to fight in the war. Throughout the song, the soldier reflects on his experiences during the war, from the battles he fought to his relationship with the Spanish woman, who becomes his wife and the mother of his child. The song ends with the soldier saying farewell to the Spanish women as he sails back home to England, with the promise of one day returning.
The lyrics of the song speak to the brutality of war and the toll it takes on both soldiers and civilians. The relationship between the soldier and the Spanish woman, whom he refers to as his "Spanish lady," is a symbol of hope and love in the midst of war. The song highlights the human toll of war, and the importance of finding love and companionship during difficult times.
Line by Line Meaning
O'er the hills and o'er the main
We traveled across the hills and the sea
Through Flanders, Portugal and Spain
We journeyed through Flanders, Portugal, and Spain
King George commands and we obey
We followed King George's orders without question
Over the hills and far away
Our travels took us far and wide
And we sailed out of England bound for Lisbon harbour
We departed from England heading towards Lisbon
With bayonets a-gleaming and pride to the fore
We were armed with shining bayonets and great pride
We'd little to hope but we tried hard to cherish
Although we had little hope, we held dear thoughts of our loved ones back home
The thoughts of our loved ones on England's fair shore
We held our loved ones on England's fair shore close to our hearts
And soon we were transported through hell and its fury
We were quickly thrown amidst the horrors of war
Through smoke and through fire, Through shot and through flame
We endured the hardships of battle, amidst smoke, fires, and flames
And at Telavera we stole Boney's Eagle
We were able to capture Napoleon's standard at the Battle of Talavera
And in that short time we were heroes of Spain
For that brief moment, we were hailed as heroes of Spain
And I met with a maiden hair black as the raven
I met a woman with jet black hair
Her eyes they did glister like two diamonds bright
Her eyes shone like bright diamonds
We spoke not a word at our very first meeting
We did not say a word initially when we met
And I lay in her arms all that long Spanish night
That night, I found comfort in her arms
And we travelled together o'er mountain and valley
We journeyed together through mountains and valleys
And she by my side through many's the fight
She stood by my side through many battles
She tended my suffering and she salved me of pity
She tended to my wounds and healed me with her kindness
And bore me a daughter for my heart's delight
She gave me a daughter, bringing joy to my heart
And we marched into Lisbon proud Wellington's army
With pride, we entered Lisbon as part of Wellington's army
The war being over it's homeward we're bound
The war being over, we were headed home
And all on the quayside - the weeping and wailing
On the quayside, there was much weeping and wailing
Four thousand women left on that cold ground
Four thousand women were left behind on that cold ground
Farewell and adieu to you Spanish lady
Goodbye and farewell to you, my Spanish lady
Farewell and adieu to you ladies of Spain
Goodbye and farewell to all the ladies of Spain
For we've received orders to sail home to England
We have orders to sail back home to England
But I know in some time we'll return once again
But I know eventually we'll return again
Once again
Once more we'll journey forth
Once again
Once more we'll brave the battlefield
Once again
Once more we'll wander across the hills and sea
And if ever I'm returning
If I ever return
It's with gold in great plenty
I'll be returning with plenty of gold
And if I return it's with gold in great store
If I come back, it will be with a great store of gold
I'll search far and wide for my Spanish lady
I'll search a great distance for my Spanish lady
Who brought me such peace in the midst of such war
Who brought me such peace in the midst of this war
Writer(s): John Tams
Contributed by Noah R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Ross McIntyre
Sublime, poignant, anthem for all soldiers sent to foreign shores, from an old Aussie. Brilliant.
richard mader
i cried like a little baby because of this artists performance as actor in sharpe and for his songs that tell the soldiers life so good. as a war veteran myself i know a lot about courage, sacrifice and devotion to a cause. and we war soldiers will never forget the ladys who gave us love during a time of hate and death. so thanx to you all spanish ladys in the world. and every army and evan a man like the duke of wellington, needs men like sharpe and his comrades in time of war. i personally met a lot of richard sharpe on the battle fields and i will never forget them. as i will never forget our dead!
Dirty_Daz
Also a veteran myself mate.
linda law
Not a veteran but you and your comrades and Spanish Ladies, have my depest respect.
Thorstein Mayes
Hope to sign up soon
Craig McIntosh
Beautiful song by a great singer and actor.
Just Another Googler
What a voice!
matt fincham
wonderful song, wonderful singer
Wendy Devereux
Beautiful song, paints a picture in my mind. Thank you for sharing x
Eleanor Brown
A story of a soldiers life then,now and always....