This tune was published in Thomas D’Urfey’s Pills to Purge Melancholy (Originally in 1706). It appeared in The Recruiting Officer, a comedy by George Farquhar and in John Gay’s The Beggar’s Opera (1728). The lyrics refer to the War of the Spanish Succession (1701--1714), the Duke of Marlborough, and Queen Anne of England (1665 --1714).
The painting: “British Soldier 1702“ , is mine. You can see it here in my gallery:
Hark now the drums beat up again
For all true soldier gen