Johnny Cope

Cope sent a chaillenge frae Dunbar

Saying, "Charlie, meet me an' ye daur

An' I'll learn ye the airt o' war

If ye gang tae the coals in the morning"

When Charlie viewed the letter upon

He drew his sword his scabbard from

Sayin', "Gang wi' me, my merry men

And we'll meet Johnny Cope in the morning"

Chorus:

Hey, Johnny Cope, are ye a-waukin' yet?

Or are your drums a-beating yet?

Gin ye were waukin' I wad wait

Tae gang tae the coals in the morning

When Johnny Cope, he heard o' this

He thocht it wadna be amiss

Tae hae a horse in readiness

Tae flee frae the coals in the morning

(Chorus)

Well, fie noo, Johnny, get up an' rin

The Heilan bagpipes mak' their din

Ye're best tae sleep in yer ain hale skin

It will be a bloody morning

(Chorus)

When Johnny Cope tae Dunbar cam

They speired him, "Whaur's a' yer men?"

"The de'il confound me gin I ken

I left them a' in the morning"

Well, fie noo, Johnny, ye werena blate

Tae come wi' news o' yer ain defeat

And leave yer men in sic a strait

Sae early in the morning

(Chorus)

Oh faith, quo' Johnny, I got sic flegs

Frae their claymores and their philabegs

If I face them again, de'il brak my legs

I'll bid ye's a' good morning

(Chorus 2x)