Large Fierce Mammal

When evil stalks upon the land,
I’ll nyther hold nor stay me’ hand,
But fight to win a better day,
Over the hills and far away.

~ Over the Hills and Far Away, John Tams arrangement ~

At the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, in a railway car outside Compiégne, France, Germany signed the armistice agreement that officially concluded the War to End All Wars. History has proven that, while well intentioned, this act was ineffective.

Today is Armistice Day; or Remembrance Day depending on your preference. The one day out of the year when it will take an all out, absolute, fucking thirteen alarm emergency to send me out to work. Today we remember the fallen, those who’ve served, and who continue to serve … wherever evil stalks.

Mrs. LFM and I have recently started rewatching the wonderful Sharpe series starring Sean Bean, and featuring the talents of John Tams in the screen role of Hagman. His musical skills are woven through most of the Sharpe series, on and off screen, and one particular piece – the one I quoted from above – is more than appropriate to today’s sentiment. So, today I’m presenting John Tams in a recording of Over the Hills and Far Away, along with the complete lyrics as he has arranged them.

Here’s fourteen shillings on the drum
For those who’ll 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

When duty calls me I must go
To stand and face another foe
Part of me will always stray
Over the hills and far away

[chorus]

Through smoke and fire and shot and shell
Unto the very walls of hell
We shall stand and we shall stay
Over the hills and far away

[chorus]

Now though I travel far from Spain
A part of me shall still remain
For you are with me night and day
Over the hills and far away

[chorus]

So 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]

When evil stalks upon the land
I’ll nyther hold nor stay me’ hand
But fight to win a better day
Over the hills and far away

[chorus]

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]

Let Kings and tyrants come and go
I’ll stand ajudged by what I know
A soldier’s life I’ll ne’er gainsay
Over the hills and far away

[chorus]