Johnnie Cope

Cope sent a challenge frae Dunbar
Sayin' "Charlie meet me an' ye daur
An' I'll learn ye the airt o'war
If ye'll meet me in the morning"

Chorus

Hey! Johnnie Cope are ye waukin' yet?
Or are your drums a-beating yet?
If ye were waukin' I wad wait
Tae gang tae the coals in the morning

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

Now Johnnie, be as good as your word,
Come, let us try baith fire and sword
And dinna flee like a frichted bird
That's chased frae its nest i' the morning

When Johnnie Cope he heard a' this
He thocht it wouldna be amiss
Tae hae a horse in readiness
Tae flee awa in the morning

Fly now, Johnnie, get up an' rin
The Highland bagpipes mak' a din,
It's better tae sleep in a hale skin,
For it will be a bluidie morning.

When Johnnie Cope tae Dunbar cam
They speirde at him, "Where's a' your men?"
The de'vil confound me gin I ken
For I left them a' in the morning"

Now Johnnie, troth ye werena blate
Tae come wi' news o' your ain defeat
And leave your men in sic a strait
Sae early in the morning.

In faith, quo Johnnie, I got sic flegs,
Wi' their claymores an' philabegs
Gin I face them again, de'il brak my legs
So I wish you a'good morning.