Popular Music Of The Olden Time Vol 2

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REIGN OF QUEEN ANNE TO GEORGE II.		669

HOW STANDS THE GLASS AROUND. This ia commonly called General Wolfe's song, and is said to have been written by him on the night before the battle of Quebec; but this tradition is sufficiently disproved by a copy of the tune, under the title of "Why, soldiers, why?" in The Patron, or The Statesman's Opera, performed at the little theatre in the Haymarket, in 1729. Probably General Wolfe sang it on that occasion. The words and music are contained in Vocal Music, or The Songster's Companion, ii. 49 (1775), and were introduced by Shield in The Siege of Gibraltar. In Vocal Music they are entitled " A Soldier's Song."


Why, soldiers, why Should we be melancholy, boys ? Why, soldiers, why? Whose business 'tis 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're free from pain; But should we remain, A bottle and kind landlady Cures all again.