How stands the glass around? For shame you take no care, my boys, How stands the glass around? Let wine and mirth abound; The trumpet sound, The colors they do fly my boys; To fight, kill or wound; As you would be found, Contented with hard fare, my boys On the cold ground
O why, soldiers why? O why should we be melancholy boys, O why soldiers why? Whose bus'ness is to die; What? sighing? Fye! Drink on, drown fear, be jolly boys; 'Tis he, you or I, wet, hot, cold or dry; We're always bound to follow boys, And scorn to fly.
'Tis but vain; I mean not to upbraid you boys, 'Tis but vain; For a soldier to complain; Should next campaign, Send us to him that made us boys; We're free from pain, But should we remain, A bottle and kind landlady Cures all again.