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How Stands the Glass Around / Why, Soldier, Why?

[ Roud 9397 ; Ballad Index DalC146 ; Bodleian Roud 9397 ; DT HOWSTAND ; Mudcat 151127 ; trad.]

William Chappell: Popular Music of the Olden Time Karl Dallas: The Cruel Wars

The Druids sang How Stands the Glass Around? in 1972 on the Argo album Songs and Music of the Redcoats that was inspired by Lewis Winstock’s book of the same title, a history of the war music of the British Army 1642-1902

Grimsby band The Galley sang Why, Soldier, Why? on their 1975 album Hail Smiling Morn / Joke and Push About the Pitcher. They noted:

There is a legend that James Wolfe wrote this song on the evening before he and his regiment scaled the Heights of Abraham and defeated Montcalm’s French army before Quebec City, thus ensuring Canada’s inclusion in the Empire. The fact that Major-General Wolfe and the Marquis of Montcalm, both unusually gifted and popular commander, died that day, 13 September 1759, adds further poignancy to the tale. It is sad to record however, on Chappell’s authority, that the song formed part of The Patron, or The Stateman’s Opera performed in the Haymarket in 1729. Possibly Wolfe sang it; he was a thoughtful and literate man although a zealous and stern disciplinarian.

Lyrics

The Galley sing Why, Soldier, Why?

How stands the glass around?
For shame, ye take no care, my boys
How stands the glass around?
Let mirth and wine abound,
The trumpets sound,
The colours they are flying, boys,
To fight, kill or wound:
May we still be found
Content with our hard fare, my boys,
On the cold, cold ground.

Why, soldiers, why
Should we be melancholy, boys,
Whose business is to die.
What, sighing? Fie!
Damn fear, drink on, be jolly, boys,
’Tis he, you or I,
Cold, hot, wet or dry.
We’re always bound to follow, boys,
And scorn to fly.

’Tis but in vain,
I mean not to upbraid you, boys,
’Tis but in vain
For soldiers to complain.
Should next campaign send us to Him
Who made us, boys.
We’er free, free from pain.
But should we-remain,
A bottle and kind landlady
Cures all again.