Johnny Cope

Hey Johnny Cope, are you a-walking yet
Or are your drums a-beating yet?
If you were walking, I would wait
To gang to the coals in the morning

Cope sent a challenge from Dunbar
Saying, "Charlie, meet me and you dare
And I'll learn ye the art o' war
If ye'll gang with me in the morning"

When Charlie looked the letter upon
Well, he drew his sword, the scabbard from
Come join with me, my merry men
We'll meet Johnny Cope in the morning

"Now Johnny, be as good as your word
Come, let us try both fire and sword
And do not flee like a frighted bird
That's chased from its nest in the morning"

When Johnny Cope, he heard of this
Well, he thought it wouldn't be amiss
To have a horse in readiness
To flee awa' in the morning

Hey Johnny Cope, are you a-walking yet
Or are your drums a-beating yet?
If you were walking, I would wait
To gang to the coals in the morning

Fye now, Johnny, get up and run
For the Highland bagpipes make a din
It's best for tae sleep in a hale skin
For 'twill be a bloody morning

When Johnny Cope to Dunbar came
Well, they spiered at him, "Where's all your men?"
"The Devil confound me gin I ken
For I left them all in the morning"

"In faith now, Johnny, ye were not blate
To come with news of your own defeat
And leave your men in such a strait
So early in the morning"

"In faith," quo' Johnny, "I got such flegs
From their claymores and their philabegs
If I meet them again, Devil break my legs
I'll bid you all good morning"

Hey Johnny Cope, are you a-walking yet
Or are your drums a-beating yet?
If you were walking, I would wait
To gang to the coals in the morning