They came for him one winterâs night.
Arrested, he was bound.
They said thereâd been a robbery
His pistol had been found.
They marched him to the station house,
He waited for the dawn.
And as they led him to the dock
He knew that heâd been wronged.
âYou stand accused of robbery,â
He heard the bailiff say.
He knew without an alibi,
Tomorrowâs trial would mourn his freedom.
Over the hills and far away,
For ten long years heâll count the days.
Over the mountains and blue seas,
A prisonerâs life for him thereâll be.
He knew that it would cost him dear,
But yet he dare not say.
Where he had been that fateful night,
A secret it must stay.
He had to fight back tears of rage.
His heartbeat like a drum.
For with the wife of his best friend,
He spent his final night of freedom.
Over the hills and far away,
He swears he will return one day.
Far from the mountains and blue seas,
Back in her arms is where heâll be.
Over the hills and far away.
Over the hills and, over the hills and,
Over the hills and far away.
Each night within his prison cell,
He looks out through the bars.
He reads the letters that she wrote.
One day heâll know the taste of freedom.
Over the hills and far away,
She prays he will return one day.
As sure as the rivers reach the seas,
Back in his arms he swears sheâll be.
Over the hills and far away,
He swears he will return one day.
Far from the mountains and blue seas,
Back in her arms is where heâll be â¦