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"

@soldier @war

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