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John Martyn — Over The Hill
Album: Solid Air
Avg rating:
7.3

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1547









Released: 1973
Length: 2:47
Plays (last 30 days): 0
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I'm going away to leave you
Going to leave you in disgrace
Nothing in my favour
Got the wind in my face
I'm going home
Hey, hey, hey, over the hill
Over the hill
Hey, hey, hey, over the hill

Can't get enough of sweet cocaine
Get enough of Mary Jane
Going back to where I come from
Going to roll 'em back home again
Over the hill
Hey, hey, hey, over the hill
Over the hill
Hey, hey, hey, over the hill

I've been worried about my babies
Been worried about my wife
There's just one place for a man to be
When he's worried about his life
I'm going home
Hey, hey, hey, over the hill
Over the hill
Hey, hey, hey, over the hill

Well, I'm going away to leave you
Going to leave you in disgrace
I got nothing in my favour
The rain in my face
I'm going home
Hey, hey, hey, over the hill
Over the hill
Hey, hey, hey, over the hill

Over the hill
Hey, hey, hey, over the hill
Over the hill
Hey, hey, hey, over the hill
Comments (61)add comment
 oldsaxon wrote:

I love John Martyn, as good a song writer as Dylan or Waits but with a voice you can actually listen to.



Posted 1 year ago by ashbeyrichard    [ Reply ]
 garrettb wrote:

I'm over the hill now - but still love this



and those of us over that hill, some of us did figure out the sweet cocaine and Mary Jane , and some didn't.  but thank the gods for the journey!
Posted 1 year ago by rezadent    [ Reply ]
I'm over the hill now - but still love this
Posted 2 years ago by garrettb    [ Reply ]
 idiot_wind wrote:

I kind of hear Cat Stevens here. 

Funny how you hear different things at different times.  And them like gossamer...it's gone!

great word, gossamer, evokes so many memories as I get older

Posted 2 years ago by xcranky_yankee    [ Reply ]
I kind of hear Cat Stevens here. 

Funny how you hear different things at different times.  And them like gossamer...it's gone!
Posted 2 years ago by idiot_wind    [ Reply ]
Oh this album is a real treat… I had a friend that worked in a studio with John and unfortunately he was a terrible addict. both my friend and John. Real shame because every musician wanted to be John when he was writing shit like this.
Posted 3 years ago by tm    [ Reply ]
Great to hear this track again.  
Posted 3 years ago by ukrainian    [ Reply ]
Some how I completely missed John Martyn until hearing him a few years ago on RP. What a talent.
Posted 3 years ago by bridgelti    [ Reply ]
Richard Thompson on mandolin
Posted 3 years ago by ecojot    [ Reply ]
 stunix wrote:
One of my repertoire, back when my fingers could do things like this. 
 
Just a little more research needed into the songwriting credits is required!
Posted 4 years ago by LoudshirtsBand    [ Reply ]
OMG - A brand new set of headphones and this is the first song...........

Holy Shit that man could play!
Posted 4 years ago by DanFHiggins    [ Reply ]
Sounds like three songs being played at once...
Posted 4 years ago by Dave-Rogs    [ Reply ]
Yup. Nice.
Posted 4 years ago by BCarn    [ Reply ]
 stunix wrote:

He didn't write the song.  It's a cover version.
 
The only 'cover' on the album is I'd Rather Be The Devil written by Skip James all other tracks self-penned by JM
Posted 4 years ago by LoudshirtsBand    [ Reply ]
The album I discovered JM by; managed to see him live three times, twice in the early 80s and again later in his life when he was compelled to his wheelchair. R.I.P. JM
LLRP
Posted 4 years ago by LoudshirtsBand    [ Reply ]
 stunix wrote:

He didn't write the song.  It's a cover version.
 

Eh? Where'd you get that idea from? All the sources I check tell me that this was indeed written by JM.
Posted 5 years ago by paulprior61    [ Reply ]
I saw John M  play in Hull, He invited Paul Kossof on for the last few songs.
Posted 5 years ago by matadorsuns    [ Reply ]
Long a travelling song companion for my journeys across the continent and into the Pacific Northwest mountains and wilderness. While I was lucky enough to see/hear John Martyn live, it was in a cavernous hockey arena (the old Montreal Forum). Memorable, but not for the acoustics. So my lasting experience of John's music, especially this album, is primarily infused with the wildness of those later road trips and forest adventures. For me, these are timeless tunes.  I so appreciate RP for keeping them in rotation. 
Posted 5 years ago by raenvald    [ Reply ]
One of my all-time favourite artists, and albums..!
Posted 5 years ago by paulbrun55    [ Reply ]
In 1973 I was in the Students Union of Queens University, Belfast and there was poster saying "Playing Tonight - John Martyn". Never heard of him but I had nothing better to do so I bought a ticket and went into the hall to see what he was like. He was pretty amazing but he never really made the 'big time' and I did not hear much from him until his death a few years ago.  By all accounts he was not a very nice person and drank way too much in his later years but you can't take it away from him -  he was a good singer/songwriter and guitarist.  
Posted 5 years ago by Stephen_Phillips    [ Reply ]
This is nice! So nice I may actually play this to the students and do no teaching :-)
Thanks Bill
Posted 5 years ago by Egctheow    [ Reply ]
This is another artist I would never have known without RP. Nice.
c.
Posted 6 years ago by cc_rider    [ Reply ]
Oh Bill this is so much better than the Solid Air single
Posted 6 years ago by LaurieinTucson    [ Reply ]
I love this song
{#Crown}
Posted 7 years ago by Martin_9124    [ Reply ]
Yay! for John Martyn :)
 
Posted 7 years ago by garrettb    [ Reply ]
 Lazarus wrote:

This song is good for the ears...
 

 
So true Lazarus (good for the Heart too : ) !!!
Posted 8 years ago by hayduke2    [ Reply ]
2nd JM tune today.{#Bananajam}{#Bananajam}Woo Hoo!!!
Posted 8 years ago by the_jake    [ Reply ]
Soothing Solid Color.
Posted 8 years ago by twoplain2sea    [ Reply ]
 forestcowboy wrote:
Great song. Love JM for more than 30 years.  
 
Holy smokes....it's over 40 for me. What the what?
Posted 9 years ago by funkyalfonso    [ Reply ]
 Relayer wrote:
"Can't get enough of sweet cocaine, get enough of mary-jane "

Well no wonder you died at age 60.  Amazing you made it that long when you profess that you can't get enough of sweet cocaine (he should have stuck with MJ).  But I hate to judge him, the real stupidity lies with those people who follow dead rockers' advice on drugs and end up hooked as well. Duh.

 
He didn't write the song.  It's a cover version.
Posted 9 years ago by stunix    [ Reply ]
One of my repertoire, back when my fingers could do things like this. 
Posted 9 years ago by stunix    [ Reply ]
Great song. Love JM for more than 30 years.  
Posted 9 years ago by forestcowboy    [ Reply ]
Great artist!  Strong musician
Posted 9 years ago by hayduke2    [ Reply ]
What the hell was I thinking, maybe an off day - had been a 9.

Always a 10! 
Posted 10 years ago by DanFHiggins    [ Reply ]
I love John Martyn, as good a song writer as Dylan or Waits but with a voice you can actually listen to.
Posted 11 years ago by oldsaxon    [ Reply ]
 Relayer wrote:
"Can't get enough of sweet cocaine, get enough of mary-jane "

Well no wonder you died at age 60.  Amazing you made it that long when you profess that you can't get enough of sweet cocaine (he should have stuck with MJ).  But I hate to judge him, the real stupidity lies with those people who follow dead rockers' advice on drugs and end up hooked as well. Duh.

 


hard to argue with these statements, although i think his obesity probably had more to do with it.  he died of a double pneumonia according to wikipedia.
Posted 11 years ago by myersei    [ Reply ]
"Can't get enough of sweet cocaine, get enough of mary-jane "

Well no wonder you died at age 60.  Amazing you made it that long when you profess that you can't get enough of sweet cocaine (he should have stuck with MJ).  But I hate to judge him, the real stupidity lies with those people who follow dead rockers' advice on drugs and end up hooked as well. Duh.
Posted 11 years ago by Relayer    [ Reply ]

This song is good for the ears...
 
Posted 11 years ago by Lazarus    [ Reply ]
Love every song on this album and know most of the words
Posted 11 years ago by Lacapella    [ Reply ]
I don't claim to be comprehensively educated about all things music, but I have to admit I've never heard of John Martyn until this week, here on RP.  Why was he never in the US FM classic rock music rotations with his contemporaries, LZ et al?   Is it a UK vs US thing?  (Before you start slinging virtual rotten tomatoes, I gave up on FM radio many many moons ago, and on classic rock long before that)
Posted 11 years ago by NeuroGeek    [ Reply ]
Been exactly 40 yrs and still love this album....thx RP
 
Posted 11 years ago by Larry_Rosenow    [ Reply ]
Good one.
Posted 11 years ago by Dave_Mack    [ Reply ]
Boring to me!
Posted 11 years ago by Stingray    [ Reply ]
Love it.
Posted 12 years ago by funkyalfonso    [ Reply ]
 We all are missing you!
mik 
Posted 12 years ago by tunstene    [ Reply ]
 2cats wrote:
John Martyn twice in one day, priceless.
 
At least twice today ass well by my count.  And at least one tribute song on top of that.  I am certainly not complaining.
Posted 12 years ago by Groogrux69    [ Reply ]
 vit wrote:
Wow that's Richard Thompson and Simon Nicol on the mandolin for this song. It sounded so much like what Led Zep was reaching for on The Battle of Evermore that I had to see what was up. But get this. It was John Paul Jones' mandolin that you hear (played by Page) on The Battle of Evermore. JPJ played mandolin for  Martyn when he performed Over the Hill at the 2008 BBC Folk Awards when Martyn was presented with a lifetime achievement award. I wonder if it was the same mandolin. It's all a big conspiracy man.
 
Very cool info thanks.
Posted 12 years ago by icemang    [ Reply ]
 vit wrote:
Wow that's Richard Thompson and Simon Nicol on the mandolin for this song. It sounded so much like what Led Zep was reaching for on The Battle of Evermore that I had to see what was up. But get this. It was John Paul Jones' mandolin that you hear (played by Page) on The Battle of Evermore. JPJ played mandolin for  Martyn when he performed Over the Hill at the 2008 BBC Folk Awards when Martyn was presented with a lifetime achievement award. I wonder if it was the same mandolin. It's all a big conspiracy man.
 
The kind of conspiracy I like.
Posted 12 years ago by tonypf    [ Reply ]
 kaybee wrote:
This whole album is splendid!  I think maybe John Martyn's best work.
 

It is.  Simply it is his best work by far.

At the time this was being made John M was the cause of me getting banned from my favorite local pub when he grabbed a sax my pal was carrying and tried it out; I am glad he stuck to guitar after that episode {#Angel}

Posted 13 years ago by Stropatus    [ Reply ]
This whole album is splendid!  I think maybe John Martyn's best work.
Posted 13 years ago by kaybee    [ Reply ]
Play more old Johnny Martyn. Love it!
Posted 13 years ago by mike_chouinard    [ Reply ]
Wow that's Richard Thompson and Simon Nicol on the mandolin for this song. It sounded so much like what Led Zep was reaching for on The Battle of Evermore that I had to see what was up. But get this. It was John Paul Jones' mandolin that you hear (played by Page) on The Battle of Evermore. JPJ played mandolin for  Martyn when he performed Over the Hill at the 2008 BBC Folk Awards when Martyn was presented with a lifetime achievement award. I wonder if it was the same mandolin. It's all a big conspiracy man.

Posted 13 years ago by vit    [ Reply ]
 the_jake wrote:
John Martyn seems to have jumped up in the playlist rotation recently.
Excellent, most excellent............... 
 
I know right?  I had almost completely forgotten about Mr. Martyn....then yesterday I heard one that sent me down the wormhole of researching him....now, today I've heard two just since I've been at work....I have always loved him and forgot!  Thanks Bill
Posted 13 years ago by Randomax    [ Reply ]
RP started my John Martyn obsession, I think with his cover of Portishead's Glory Box. He's now #3 on my Last.fm profile, and it's only a matter of time before he hits 2nd place.

Thanks, Radio Paradise! 

Posted 13 years ago by Elliot    [ Reply ]
John Martyn seems to have jumped up in the playlist rotation recently.
Excellent, most excellent............... 
Posted 13 years ago by the_jake    [ Reply ]
John Martyn twice in one day, priceless.
Posted 13 years ago by 2cats    [ Reply ]
One of my all time fave songs. . . which makes me happy

Reminds me that I miss seeing John live. . . which makes me sad

Bitter sweet.

Sigh. 
Posted 13 years ago by SquiddlyDiddly    [ Reply ]
RP does surprise! It's been decades since I heard this! Thanks-feeling younger and less over the hill.....
Posted 13 years ago by Atindell    [ Reply ]
Another long forgotten song....for me anyway!!  Didn't even remember who this was...but sure remember the song (now that I've been reminded that is)!!   
Posted 13 years ago by Randomax    [ Reply ]
This was a nice album with some great guitar playing on it.
Posted 19 years ago by Fenderbelly_Bodine    [ Reply ]
like, far out man. time to fire up a Camberwell Carrot
Posted 20 years ago by 4999thnewuser    [ Reply ]