Taken from the dancing of Hunters Moon and Paradise Islanders, with a few tweaks of our own. The Paradise Islanders call it Uncle Ned, and use it to end their local mummer's play.
The Music
Occasionally, we dance this to singing rather than music. We tend to use verses from the older Queen Anne version of the song.Lyrics at bottom of page.
Instructions
This is a dance for four dancers.
| Figure | Music |
|---|---|
| Walk On | AB |
| Tips and Butts | A |
| Hey | B |
| Sticking | A |
| Swing | B |
The main portion of the dance, from Tips and Butts through to Swing is repeated three times in total.
Walk On (AB) |
|
|---|---|
| Count | Moves |
| 1-32 | Dancers line up in an order of 1,3,4,2. Hold sticks near the top with the butt resting vertically on the ground. Tap sticks in unison as you walk forward. Squire leads dancers onto the dance area, ending by walking in a clockwise circle to get everyone into place in a square, facing their partner. |
Tips and Butts (A) |
|
|---|---|
| Count | Moves |
| 1-4 | Holding the middle of the stick in your right hand, turn in crisply to face your opposite (1 should face 3, 2 faces 4). Tap the tip of the stick with the person facing you, then tap the butts together, then tips, then butts. |
| 5-8 | Turn in to face your partner (1 faces 2, 3 faces 4) and repeat the sticking, tips and butts, tips and butts. |
| 9-12 | Face opposite. Tips and butts, tips and butts. |
| 13-16 | Face partner. Tips and butts, tips and butts. |
Hey (B) |
|
|---|---|
| Count | Moves |
| 1-12 | Meet right shoulders with partner to make a line along the centre of the set and immediately turn right, everyone facing partners in a line. Do a hey of four along the set for a total count of 12 steps, passing alternate shoulders, first past right and then left, right left and so on. When you are on your own at the end of the set, do a left turn of 180 degrees back into the line, instead of passing a left shoulder. End up in a straight line in the position where you started the hey. |
| 13-14 | Two steps on the spot, making sure the line is straight. |
| 15-16 | Stand still while striking the stick twice to the ground on your right. |
Sticking (A) |
|
|---|---|
| Count | Moves |
| 1-16 | Stand facing partner with your feet planted firmly, shoulder width apart. Hold the bottom of the stick firmly in both hands. Clash sticks 16 times forehand/backhand, alternating right to left and left to right. |
Swing (B) |
|
|---|---|
| Count | Moves |
| 1-4 | Swap stick to left hand, tip resting on your left shoulder. Swing for four with your right arm around your partner's waist. |
| 5-8 | Spin out of the swing towards your partner's side of the set, stepping forward for four. |
| 9-12 | Right hand turn on the spot, swapping stick to right hand, and take four steps back into line. |
| 13-16 | Swing for four, left hand round your partner's waist, ending up back in square formation in your original place. |
Do the whole dance three times in total. At the end, raise your stick into the air and yell.
Lyrics
1. 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
Chorus:
Over the hills, and o'er the main
To Flanders, Portugal and Spain
Queen Anne commands and we'll obey
And go over the hills and far away
2. All gentlemen that have a mind,
To serve the queen that's good and kind;
Come list and enter into pay,
Then o'er the hills and far away
3. Here's forty shillings on the drum,
For those that volunteers do come,
With shirts, and clothes, and present pay,
When o'er the hills and far away
4. No more from sound of drum retreat
When Marlborough and Galway beat
The French and Spaniards every day
Over the hills and far away
5. 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
6. 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
7. For if we go 'tis one to ten,
But we return all gentlemen,
All gentlemen as well as they,
When o'er the hills and far away
