HOW STANDS THE GLASS AROUND?
The writer and composer of this song are unknown. It appeared as a broadside in
1710. In 1729 it was produced at a little theatre in the Hay Market, London, under the title
"Why, Soldiers, why?" in " The Patron, or the Statesman's Opera." Collections made in
1775 have both words and^music, and Shield introduced the song into "The Siege of Gib-
ralter." Tt is usually called " General Wolfe's song," and is said to have been sung by him
on the eve of the battle of Quebec. There is a story, which seems to be authentic, that as
his night expedition against the city was floating down the St. Lawrence, he repeated
several stanzas from Gray's "Elegy," and remarked that he "would rather have written
that poem than take Quebec to-morrow." It is not unlikely that this anecdote, together
with the fact that he had sometimes sung " How stands the glass around ?" was what gave
rise to the story which makes it his death-song.
Quartette.
Harmonized by Edward S. Cnmminga.
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1. How standi- the glass
2. Why, sol - diers,
3. 'Tls but in
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round? For shame! ye take no care, my boys; How
why, Should we be mel - an- eho - ly, boys?Why,
vain— I mean not to up-braid you,boys—"Tls
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stands the glass-
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vain For sol - diers to com - plain.
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May we still be found Con- tent with our hard fate, my boys, On the cold ground 1
Cold, hot, wet, or dry, We're always bound to fol-low, boys,And scorn to fly J
But, If we re - main, A bot-tle and a kind landlady Cure all a • gainl
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