How Stands the Glass Around (Ft. Brandon F.)

The last bit of footage I was able to capture at Stony Point before my camera battery died.

Here we see a group of lads from the 54th (plus one from the 7th), resting under the shade of a few pine trees and singing a solemn rendition of "How Stands the Glass Around," or "Why, Soldiers, Why?"

Brandon F. has a whole video on his channel about the origin and meaning of this tune, which you can view here: https://youtu.be/Hdh66BwkSUQ

Lyrics:

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.

Видео How Stands the Glass Around (Ft. Brandon F.) канала Chris the Redcoat