Earworm
I recently got a Netflix account, and my wife and I have been watching the Sharpe’s Rifles series. We’re now up to #8, Sharpe’s Sword. Pretty good series, I recommend it. It gives you at least some idea of the culture of Georgian England, and the differences in class that were carried through to their military.
One of the characters, Hagland Hagman (thanks, Chris), is British actor and folk singer John Tams. He was chosen as much for his voice as for his acting ability. Remember, no iPods back then. Somebody sang and played an instrument, or you did without music. The song that’s stuck in my head, though is a very old one, and the song they end each episode with, Over the Hills and Far Away. John Tams added stanzas for some of the episodes. I’ve even gone so far as to copy down the damned song.
Over the Hills and Far Away – John Tams & Dominic Muldowney
Here’s forty shillings on the drum
To 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 to far away.Mid smoke and fire, shot and shell,
And to the very walls of hell,
But we shall stand and we shall stay
Over the hills and far away.(Chorus)
Though I may travel far from Spain
A part of me shall still remain,
For you are with me night and day
And over the hills and far away.(Chorus)
When Evil stalks upon the land
I’ll neither hold nor stay me hand
But fight to win a better day,
Over the hills and far away.(Chorus)
Let kings and tyrants come and go,
I’ll stand adjudged by what I know.
A soldiers life I’ll ne’er gainsay.
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)
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.
Here’s a video compilation done by someone even worse off than me:
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16D8ZSXeVXw&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0&w=480&h=385]
I wouldn’t be surprised if this is the closest thing most Brits AND most Americans get to any knowledge about the Napoleonic wars. It certainly is for me.