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