How Stands The Glass Around? (Why Soldiers Why?)

 This song first appears in print in 1729. According to a story, probably apocryphal, it was sung by British General James Wolfe on the night before he was killed in the Battle of the Plains of Abraham at Quebec in 1759.

"How stands the glass around for shame you take no care, my boys. How stands the glass around Let mirth and wine abound. the trumpet sound the colors they are flying boys To fight, kill or wound May we still be found, Content with hard fare, my boys on the cold, cold ground Why, soldiers why Should we be melancholy boys Why soldiers why Whose business is to die What sighing fye Let[s] not fear, Drink and be Jolly, boys T''is he, you or I Cold, hot, wet or dry We're always bound to follow boys and scorn to fly. O, T'is is in vain I mean not to upbraid you boys O, T'is is in vain for soldiers to complain Should next campaign send us to him who made us boys We're free from pain But should we remain A Bottle and kind Land lady cure's all again"