How Stands the Glass Around
How Stands the Glass Around , also known as General Wolfe's Song , is an English-language folk song . The lyrics express the suffering of soldiers , which is why the song used to be popular with members of the army. Treatments include helplessness in war and the bravery required in the military , but also the "drowning" of fear and pain with alcohol .
background
According to myths, the song is said to have been created by James Wolfe before the siege of Québec in 1759, which is where the name General Wolfe's Song comes from. Other representations attribute Wolfe merely to singing the song. In fact, traces of the song can be found several decades before the said siege.
text
English text:
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 colors flying are, my 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
Why, soldiers, why
Whose business 'tis to die
What sighing fie
Damn fear, drink on, be jolly boys
' Tis he , you and 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 that made you, boys
We're free from pain
But should we remain
A bottle and kind landlady
Cures all again
German translation:
How can the glass stand around?
Don't have any false shame boys!
How can the glass stand around?
Let serenity and wine reign!
The trumpets sound,
the flags wave, boys,
to fight, kill or injure.
May we still be found,
Satisfied with our hard way,
On the cold, cold ground.
Why soldiers why
should we be melancholy boys?
Why, soldiers, why,
whose business it is to die -
ugh that sigh!
Damn the fear, keep drinking, be happy guys!
He, you and me,
cold, hot, wet or dry -
We are obliged to follow,
And the escape despises.
Nothing but useless,
I do not want to reprimand you guys,
Nothing but useless,
To whine for soldiers.
Should the next campaign
send Us to Him who made us,
We are free from pain.
But we should stay -
a bottle and a nice landlady
heal everything again.
Trivia
- Alexander Graydon quotes the song in his memoir .
- An article published in 1955 argues that How Stands the Glass Around may have been Alexander Hamilton's favorite song .
- The composer William Shield used the song for his opera Siege of Gibraltar (1780).
Web links
- John Townley: How Stands the Glass Around. Music recording on YouTube .
- Ben Walker: How Stands the Glass Around. Music recording on YouTube .
- Rex Rideout: How Stands the Glass Around. Music recording on YouTube .
- Notes and text
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b c d e f W. Chappell: A Collection of National English Airs, Consisting of Ancient Song, Ballad, & Dance Tunes, Interspersed with Remarks and Anecdote, and Preceded by an Essay on English Minstrelsy . 1838, p. 48 (British English, limited preview in Google Book Search).
- ↑ a b c d e The Country 'squire: together with How stands the glass. In: americanantiquarian.org. American Antiquarian Society, accessed June 1, 2020 (American English).
- ↑ a b Brandon Fisichella: The Soldier's Lament: How Stands the Glass Around? Video essay. In: YouTube . October 12, 2017, accessed June 1, 2020 .
- ↑ Alexander Graydon : Memoirs of His Own Time: With Reminiscences of the Men and Events of the Revolution . Ed .: John Stockton Littell. Lindsay & Blakiston, 1846, p. 164 (English, preview in Google Book Search).
- ↑ What Was Hamilton's "Favorite Song"? In: Omohundro Institute of Early American History and Culture (Eds.): The William and Mary Quarterly . Vol. 12, No. 2 , April 1955, p. 298-307 , doi : 10.2307 / 1920510 (English).