Johnnie Cope (1)

Cope sent a challenge frae Dunbar,
"Charlie, meet me an ye dare,
And I'll learn you the art of war,
If you'll meet wi' me in the morning."

CHORUS:  Hey, Johnnie Cope, are ye waking yet?
         Or are your drums a-beating yet?
         If ye were waking I would wait
         To gang to the coals in the morning.

When Charlie look'd the letter upon,
He drew his sword the scabbard from,
"Come, follow me, my merry merry men,
And we'll meet Johnnie Cope in the morning."

Now Johnnie, be as gude's your word,
Come let us try baith fire and sword,
And dinna rin like a frighted bird,
That's chas'd frae its nest i' the morning.

When Johnnie Cope he heard of this,
He thought it wadna be amiss
To hae a horse in readiness,
To flee awa i' the morning.

Fy, now, Johnnie, get up and rin;
The Highland bagpipes make a din,
It's best to sleep in a hale skin,
For 'twill be a bluidie morning.

When Johnnie Cope to Dunbar came,
They speer'd at him, "Where's a' your men?"
The deil confound me gin I ken,
For I left them a' i' the morning.

Now Johnnie, troth ye were na blate,
To come wi' the news o' your ain defeat,
And leave your men in sic a strait,
So early in the morning.

"I faith," quo' Johnnie, "I got a fleg,
Wi' their claymores and philabegs;
If I face them again, deil break my legs!
So I wish you a very gude morning."

• Tune gif midi mov

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Copyright © 2001, Jack Campin