Johnnie Cope (2)

Cope sent a challenge from Dunbar,
Saying, sir, come fight me, if you daur,
If it be not by the chance of war,
   I'll catch you all in the morning.

Charlie look'd the letter upon,
He drew his sword the scabbard from,
Saying "Follow me, my merry men,
   And we'll visit Cope in the morning.

"My merry men, come follow me,
For now's the time I'll let you see,
What a happy nation this will be be,
   And we'll visit Cope in the morning."

'Tis Coppie, are you waking yet?
Or are you sleeping?  I would wit;
'Tis a wonder when your drums do beat,
   It wakens na you in the morning.

The Highland men came down the load,
With sword and target in their hand,
They took the dawning by the hand,
   And they visited Cope in the morning.

For all their bombs, and bomb-grenades,
O when they saw the Highland lads,
They shook wi' fear like awkward squads,
   And scour'd awa in the morning.

For all their bombs, and their bomb-shells,
When they saw the lads o' the hills,
They took to their heels like frighted wolves,
   Pursued by the clans in the morning.

The Highland men with loud huzza,
Cried, Johnnie Cope, are you quite awa?
O bide a wee, and shake a paw,
   And we'll give you a merry morning.

When Coppie went to Haddington,
They ask'd of him where were all his men;
O, pox take me if I do ken,
For I left them all in the morning.

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Copyright © 2001, Jack Campin