“How Stands The Glass Around?" (a soldier's drinking song)

[rakehell.livejournal.com]

This rather melancholy song was reportedly sung by Alexander Hamilton in the days before his fatal duel. Hamilton biographer Richard Brookhiser sang it in on Leonard Lopate’s great NPR radio show, New York and Company. I transcribed it with punctuation to reflect the way Brookhiser sang it (he has a decent voice). BTW: “landlady” is a euphemism for a prostitute.

How stands the glass around?
For shame you take no care my boys
How stands the glass around?
Let mirth and wine abound

The trumpets sound
The colors they are flying
To fight, kill, and wound,
May that we be found
Content with our hard fare, my boys, on the cold, cold ground

Why soldiers why?
Should we be melancholy?
Why soldiers why?
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 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
We're free from pain
But should we remain
A bottle and kind landlady
Cures all again!

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[duathir.livejournal.com]