How Stands the Glass Around (Why, Soldiers, Why?)
How stands the glass around
for shame you take no care, my boys,
How stands the glass around
Let wine and mirth abound.
 the trumpet sound
 the colors they do fly my boys
 To fight kill and wound
 as you would be found,
 Contented with hard fare, my boys
 on the Cold ground
O why, soldiers why
O why should we be melancholy boys
O why soldiers why
Whose Business is to die
 What sithing [sighing] fye
 Let[s] not fear, Drink and be Jolly, boys
 you and I through wet Cold or Dry
 Our orders are to follow boys
 we scorn to flye
It is in vain
I mean not to upbraid you boys
It is in vain
for a soldier to Complain
 for the next Campaign
 we go to him that made us boys
 free from all pain
 But if you should Remain
 A Bottle and kind Landlady
 will Cure all again
from Contentment, Jim Douglas
Collected from notebook of Thos. Fanning, 1780
According to Dolph ("Sound Off!"), appeared in a London broadside
in 1710; was part of ballad opera The Patron, 1729. Sometimes
called "Wolfe's Song"
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play.exe HOWSTAND
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