There's thunderclouds 'round the hometown bay
As I stand out in the rain
I mourn those poor soldiers
Who fought and died this day

I caught a fleeting glimpse of life
In the banners raised so high
The colours of Albion
Leave you young inside

[CHORUS]
There must be a place
Under the sun
Where Harts of olden glory grow young

There's a vision coming soon
Through the faith that cleans your wounds
Harts of olden glory
Will be renewed

Down the road where the headstones stand
I feel a healing through this land
A cross for a people
Like wind through your hands

REPEAT CHORUS

REPEAT CHORUS

It’s better to march, and it’s better to fight
In the Company’s colours, the red and the white
Now raise up the standard, to battle we go
In the red and white colours, like blood on the snow

[CHORUS]
So courage me lads now and into the fight
There’s no colours so fine as the red and the white
So courage me lads now and into the fight
There’s no colours so fine as the red and the white

Well it’s better to lie in a woman’s warm arms
Than wrapped in a blanket and under the stars
But the Captain he leads us to heaven knows where
In the red and the white, like the flowers in her hair

REPEAT CHORUS

Well it’s better to fight and it’s better to die
Than bring shame to the colours the Company fly
So lay me in Albion and I’ll take my rest
In the red and white colours that I love the best

REPEAT CHORUS

They came for him one winter's night.
Arrested, he was bound.
They said there'd been a robbery,
His sabre had been found.

They marched him to the station house,
He waited till the dawn.
And as they led him to the dock,
He knew that he'd been wronged.
"You stand accused of robbery."
He heard the bailiff say.
He knew without an alibi,
Tomorrow's light would mourn his freedom.

Over the hills and far away,
For ten long years he'll count the days.
Over the mountains and the seas,
A soldier's life for him there'll be.

He knew that it would cost him dear,
But yet he dare not say.
Just where he'd been that fateful night,
A secret it must stay.
He had to fight back tears of rage.
His heart beat 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 the seas,
Back in her arms again he'll be.
Over the hills and far away.

Over the hills and,
Over the hills and,
Over the hills and far away.

Each night when he can march no more,
He looks up at the stars.
He reads the letters that she wrote.
One day he'll 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 again she'll be.

Over the hills and far away,
He swears he will return one day.
As sure as the river reach the seas,
Back in his arms is where she'll be.

Over the hills and far away,
She prays he will return one day.
As sure as the rivers reach the sea,
Back in her arms is where he'll be.

Over the hills,
Over the hills and far away.

Over the hills,
Over the hills and far away.

So farewell all you judges and juries
Justice and Old Bailey too
For they bound me to Queen Elspeth's army
So farewell to old Albion, adieu

Now its over the seas that I wander
Bound by my oath to stand true
For they gave me the old Queen's hard bargain
So farewell to old Albion, adieu

As I was a-walking along Ratcliffe Highway
A recruiting party came a-beating my way.
They enlisted me and treated me 'til I did not know
Unto the Queen's barracks they forced me to go.

When first I deserted, I thought myself free
Until my cruel comrade informed against me.
I was quickly followed after and brought back with speed,
I was handcuffed and guarded, heavy irons put on me.

Court martial, court martial, they held upon me
And the sentence passed upon me, one hundred and three.
May the Lord have mercy on them for their sad cruelty,
For now the Queen's duty lies heavy on me.

When next I deserted, I thought myself free
Until my cruel sweetheart informed against me.
I was quickly followed after and brought back with speed
I was handcuffed and guarded, heavy irons put on me.

Court martial, court martial then quickly was got
And the sentence passed upon me, that I was to be shot.
May the Lord have mercy on them for their sad cruelty,
For now the Queen's duty lies heavy on me,

Then up rode Lord Hugo in his carriage and six,
Saying, ``Where is that young man whose coffin is fixed?
Set him free from his irons and let him go free,
For he'll make a good soldier for his Queen and country.''

[CHORUS]
Come one and all and hear our call
Of "Albion forever"
Come put away your troubles all
And let us stand together.
Though times are hard and some may fall
Albion will yet prevail
Come make a stand: defend the land
Of Albion forever

The Greenwood forest deep and dark
It beats strong with the Hunter's heart
And through the glades the wild hunt runs
While Puck cavorts and has his fun

REPEAT CHORUS

In Albion's North, in Eaton's Vale
A keep is held by men in mail
It guards the path to our land's heart
Like beaten dogs our foes depart

REPEAT CHORUS

Marchwood keep, the mouth of hell
From whence come evils foul and fell
At your peril travel here
Where fools alone are free from fear

REPEAT CHORUS

Off Cornwall's cliffs the raging sea
Breeds fisher-folk and farmers free
They ne'er shall be another's slave:
Aggressors find a watery grave.

REPEAT CHORUS

Oh, Albion, Mother of us all
In our hearts we hear her call!
Free, unfettered folk are we;
Before us all our enemies flee.

REPEAT CHORUS

The red hot sun burns up the hill
The winter's bride, the summer's king
I tramp these acres and I feel
Once upon a time

Then it seemed that everything
You saw and touched and felt was real
You turned the tap and you turned the wheel
Breathing free

Once in a lifetime you live and love
Once in a lifetime you die
Once in a lifetime the sun goes down
Protect and survive

You search the open evening sky
Trace the memory in your eyes
The prophet's hard rain and the deluge lie
In tears around your door

Once there were trees and livestock here
A mother's love, the warnings clear
But you chose to turn away from fear
Breathing free

Once in a lifetime you live and love
Once in a lifetime you die
Once in a lifetime the sun goes down
Protect and survive
Protect and survive

Now there's a faceless cross on a distant hill
A hero's voice in silent scream
Where lovers love and the dreamers dream
You stood and died alone

You took your sacrifice to the Gods of war
Traded your own life for many more
You beat your ploughshares into swords
Breathing free

Once in a lifetime you live and love
Once in a lifetime you die
Once in a lifetime the sun goes down
Protect and survive
Protect and survive

Once in a lifetime you lived and loved
Once in a lifetime you died
Once in a lifetime you stood your ground
That we might survive
That we might survive
Yes, we must survive

I still hear the screams in the square
Town ablaze in the evening
The air was so still down that old stormy hill
It's good to be young and daring

Beat the drum
Beat the drum
Like a heartbeat, lonely and strong
Beat the drum

I still see the blood on our hands
Bringing death to the heathen
We counted our dead, when all others had fled
It's good to be young and daring

Beat the drum
Beat the drum
Like a heartbeat, lonely and strong
Beat the drum

Across the bay I can still here the strains
The bugle loud and blaring
The banners raised, the Ancestors praised
It's good to be young and daring

Beat the drum
Beat the drum
Like a heartbeat, lonely and strong
Beat the drum

[BREAK]

We were the pride of the summer that year
Standing firm in our homeland
We fought and we prayed and we ne'er were afraid
It's good to be young and daring

Beat the drum
Beat the drum
Like a heartbeat, lonely and strong
Beat the drum

Beat the drum
Beat the drum
Like a heartbeat, lonely and strong
Beat the drum

Where beggars take flight and the children steal sustenance
From the pockets of wrecks that lie in the road
I came to in my future that was just yesterday
Unsure of my past, that's a knot in my gut

You buy me a drink then you think that you've got the right
To crawl in my head and rifle my soul
You tell me I'm free and you want me to compromise
To sell out my dreams you say you'll make it worthwhile

Oh, boys would you drink to me now
Here on the hill, halfway up, halfway down

You tell me I'm drunk then you sit back and smug a while
Convinced that you're right that you're still in command of your senses
I laugh at your superior attitude
Your insincere plattitudes make me throw up

The sooner you realise I'm perfectly happy
If I'm left to decide the company I choose

Oh, boys would you drink to me now
Here on the hill, halfway up, halfway down
Oh, boys would you drink to me now
Here on the hill, halfway up, halfway down
Oh for the company born to The Company
Live for the company until I die

The sooner you realise that I'm perfectly happy
If I'm left to decide the company I choose
The company I choose is solidly singular
Totally trustworthy, straight and sincere
Polished, experienced, witty and charming
So why don't you just f**k off, this company's my own

Oh, boys would you drink to me now
Here on the hill, halfway up, halfway down
Oh, boys would you drink to me now
Here on the hill, halfway up, halfway down
Oh for the company, dream of The Company
Live for the company until I die
Oh for the company, dream of The Company
Drink to the company until we die
Until we die
Until we die