| 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 is where 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 he swears 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 is where he'll be
 | 
| 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 is where she'll be
 | 
| Over the hills
 | 
| Over the hills and far away
 | 
| Over the hills
 | 
| Over the hills and far away |