Over the Skies and Far Away

By exseraph, in Only War

I ran an Only War game some time ago, and I felt that a theme song would be helpful.

Resolving to steal only from the best, I based the song on " Over the Hills and Far Away " by John Tams, the theme song from Sharpe's Rifles. I modified some of the lyrics for 40k, but I think the spirit remains the same. It uses the same tune.

In-universe, this is a marching song from the Imperial world Arcadia, used by the Arcadian 421st reconnaissance regiment, but I'd imagine it could be sung by many regiments.

Here are the lyrics:

Here's forty rations on the drum
For those who'll volunteer to come,
To 'list and fight the foe today,
Over the skies and far away.

O'er the skies and o'er the main,
Through hive and fortress, forge and plain,
The Throne commands and we obey,
Over the skies and far away.

When duty calls me I must go
To stand and face another foe.
But part of me will always stray
Over the skies and far away.

(Refrain)

Through fire and bolt and shot and shell
And to the very gates of hell
There we shall stand and we shall stay
Over the skies and far away.

(Refrain)

If I should fall to rise no more,
As many comrades did before,
Then ask the fifes and drums to play
Over the skies and far away.

(Refrain)

Let lords and tyrants come and go
I’ll stand adjudged by what I know,
A soldier’s life I’ll ne’er gainsay,
Over the skies and far away.

(Refrain)

Then fall in lads behind the drum,
With colours blazing like a sun,
Along the road to come-what-may,
Over the skies and far away.

(Refrain)

Edited by exseraph

That's BRILLIANT! I'm putting my first campaign together and was thinking about using Sharpes as some inspiration, and this cemented it. And yes, it has both the feel of the old British empire and 40k, excellent writing

Thanks, GrimmSqueeker. I'm glad you liked it.