Over The Hills And Far Away
Hark now the drums beat up again
For all true soldier gentlemen
Then let us list and march, I say
Over the Hills and far away
Over the hills and o’er the main
To Flanders, Portugal and Spain
Queen Anne commands and we’ll obey
Over the hills and far away
All gentlemen that have a mind
To serve the queen that’s good and kind
Come list and enter into pay
Then over the hills and far away
Over the hills and o’er the main
To Flanders, Portugal and Spain
Queen Anne commands and we’ll obey
Over the hills and far away
No more from sound of drum retreat
While Marlborough and Galway beat
The French and Spaniards every day
When over the hills and far away
Over the hills and o’er the main
To Flanders, Portugal and Spain
Queen Anne commands and we’ll obey
Over the hills and far away
This is a traditional British 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.
The lyrics refer to the War of the Spanish Succession (1701-1714), the Duke of Marlborough, and Queen Anne of England (1665-1714).