They came for him one winter's night
Arrested, he was bound
They said there'd 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 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 prisoner's life for him there'll 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 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 within his prison cell,
he looks out through the bars
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
Far from the mountains and the seas,
back in her arms again he'll be