That was lucky...

[stellar_muddle]

Just caught Fantasia on Greensleeves on the Radio and now it is a lineup of 4 Playford pieces, starting with Greensleeves:) Must be later Playford, since Over the Hills is not that early (mid 1700s? 1st version). Nice instrumental version - wonder what the dance (if there is one) is like?

Playford: 4 Playford Dances; Greensleeeves; Italian Rant; Over the Hills and Far away; Blackheath - Lautten Compagny Berlin Classics 0017842 2 5'33

Edit:
"The tune appeared in Playford's Dancing Master (1714)" from The South Riding Tune Book Volume 1: Song Texts: Over the Hills and Far Away

Its earliest publication appears to be in Pills [to Purge Melancholy], 1706, IV, 99 (1719-1720, V, 316), with music. A version in Scots dialect was reprinted in Allan Ramsay's Tea-Table Miscellany, 1733, II, 192, as an old song, and the Ramsay text is the basis for that found with music in Johnson's The Scots Musical Museum, 1787-1803, I, 62. Another song to the tune found in the 1706 Pills is The Recruiting Officer; Or, The Merry Volunteers, beginning Hark! now the Drums beat up again, with Over the hills and far away occuring in the fourth and eighth line of every stanza (1719-1720, V, 319).

This particular recruiting soldier one refers to Queen Anne, so King George is definitely further down the line.

Hark! now the Drums beat up again,
For all true Soldiers Gentlemen,
Then let us list, and march I say,
Over the Hills and far away;
Over the Hills and o'er the Main,
To Flanders, Portugal and Spain,
Queen Ann commands, and we'll obey,
Over the Hills and far away.

[snip]

Over Rivers, Bogs, and Springs,
We all shall live as great as Kings,
And Plunder get both Night and Day,
When o'er the Hills and far away;
Over the Hills, &c.

We then shall lead more happy Lives,
By getting rid of Brats and Wives,
That Scold on both Night and Day,
When o'er the Hills and far away;
Over the Hills, &c.

Come on then Boys and you shall see,
We every one shall Captains be,
To Whore and rant as well as they,
When o'er the Hills and far away;
Over the Hills, &c.

Talk about accentuate the positive for Army recruiting...

The version used in the Beggar's Opera by John Gay is also fun.

And I would love you all the Day,
Ev'ry Night would kiss and play,
If with me you'd fondly stray
Over the Hills and far away.